Miscellaneous

Questions:

Answer:

General Questions

1. Looking For Employment
   General Questions #1:
   Looking For Employment:
   

   The best way to find employment whether part time or full time is to visit the Virginia Workforce Connection website.

   • The Virginia Workforce Connection is your doorway to employment and labor market information in Virginia. You will have access to new job search tools, a resume builder, employment information, wage data, occupational skill requirements, as well as industry and occupational trends. You will have access to jobs posted on numerous websites in one location.
   • You can download the state application from the link in the left menu. The application is available in either Adobe PDF, Word Perfect or Microsoft Word formats from this site.

    

   
   
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2. Wage, Work Hours/Breaks, Labor Disputes, Final Paychecks & Failure To Pay Overtime
   General Questions #2:
   Wage, Work Hours/Breaks, Labor Disputes, Final Paychecks & Failure To Pay Overtime:
   These are issues handled by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. You may send an email to laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov or visit their website address at http://www.doli.virginia.gov.
   
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3. Work Permits For Youth
   General Questions #3:
   Work Permits For Youth:
   Work permits are required for individuals 14 and 15 years of age. The student should contact their junior or high school's guidance counselor. The guidance counselors have all the information and permission forms that need to be signed by a parent or guardian. For further information concerning this matter, please go to the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s website at: http://www.doli.virginia.gov/
   
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4. Minimum Wage
   General Questions #4:
   Minimum Wage:
   The minimum wage is $6.55 (as of July 24, 2008) and is applicable to employers of 4 or more employees. The minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009. The Virginia state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the state adopts the Federal minimum wage rate by reference. For more information you may contact the Department of Labor and Industry at (804) 371-2327.
   
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5. Problems with State Job Application
   General Questions #5:
   Problems with State Job Application:
   The State Job Application is located on the DHRM website. If you are having any problems with the state Job Application, please contact their Webmaster.
   
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6. VEC Workforce Center Hours
   General Questions #6:
   VEC Workforce Center Hours:
   

   Workforce Centers are generally open weekdays 8:30 am till 4:30 pm. Our offices have the option to adjust hours of service based on local community and/or agency needs. It is suggested that you contact your nearest office to determine their specific hours of operation. Part-time offices have the specific days and hours of service noted with their listing on this page.

   
   
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Internet Filing Questions

1. Who can file on-line?
   Internet Filing Questions #1:
   Who can file on-line?:
   You CANNOT file on-line if you live in Virginia but do not have Virginia wages in the base period. You need to file an Interstate claim with a state that you did have wages.
   
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2. Is there any difference between filing a claim on-line or filing a claim in the VEC Workforce Center?
   Internet Filing Questions #2:
   Is there any difference between filing a claim on-line or filing a claim in the VEC Workforce Center?:
   The questions asked on-line and in the VEC Workforce Center concerning your claim are identical. The information provided on-line and in the Workforce Center is the same. When visiting the Workforce Center you are given the opportunity to ask questions.
   
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3. How much time do I have to complete the on-line claim?
   Internet Filing Questions #3:
   How much time do I have to complete the on-line claim?:
   You have 7 calendar days to complete the claim once the process has begun. If 7 days have passed, any information you have entered will be erased and you must begin the process anew.
   
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4. The Internet claim filing system does not have my job title. What should I do?
   Internet Filing Questions #4:
   The Internet claim filing system does not have my job title. What should I do?:
   Search for a job title that most closely represents your job title. You will be mailed a job seeker registration form that will allow you to provide detailed information about your job title and duties and the positions you are seeking. Your job title does not affect your unemployment benefits.
   
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5. What if I entered incorrect information concerning my claim?
   Internet Filing Questions #5:
   What if I entered incorrect information concerning my claim?:
   You should contact the VEC Workforce Center you selected when entering your claim and advise the Workforce Specialist of the correct information.
   
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Glossary

1. Actively seeking work
   Glossary #1:
   Actively seeking work:
   

   “Actively seeking work” means that you personally visit several employers each week in your efforts to find work. You are required to provide the VEC, when requested, with information about each employer or company you visit while seeking work. These visits are called job contacts.

   
   
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2. Base Period
   Glossary #2:
   Base Period:
   

   The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the effective date of your claim. If your claim is filed in January, February, or March 2009, your base period is October 2007 through September 2008. If your claim is filed in April, May, or June 2009, your base period is January 2008 through December 2008. If your claim is filed in July, August, or September 2009, your base period is April 2008 through March 2009. If your claim is filed in October, November, or December 2009, your base period is July 2008 through June 2009. The wages earned in the base period determine your monetary entitlement. Click here to determine your base period.

   
   
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3. PIN
   Glossary #3:
   PIN:
   

   It is your personal identification number. You must use it each time you claim your weekly benefits through the VRS. You will be asked to provide the last four digits if you make a telephone inquiry about your claim. Your PIN will be sent to you in a separate mailing after your file your claim. It is very important that you keep the number confidential and do not share it.

   
   
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4. Double dip claim
   Glossary #4:
   Double dip claim:
   

   If you drew benefits in a prior benefit year and have not worked as many as 30 days or 240 hours for one employer since the beginning of that year, you may monetarily qualify for a new benefit year, but you will not be eligible to draw those benefits until you have 30 days or 240 hours of employment and are subsequently unemployed.

   
   
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5. Eligibility Review Program
   Glossary #5:
   Eligibility Review Program:
   

   This program helps us offer you assistance in searching for work and enables us to make sure you are still meeting the eligibility requirements. When you receive an Eligibility Review Questionnaire, it is important that you complete the form and the Record of Contacts for Employment and report as scheduled to the VEC Workforce Center. Failure to do so may result in the delay of denial of your benefits.

   
   
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6. Quality Control Program
   Glossary #6:
   Quality Control Program:
   

   This program is designed to detect and correct both error and fraud in the unemployment insurance program. It is a review of the records of a sample group of claimants, selected at random, to test the accuracy of the payments they received. You will be notified to report to the VEC Workforce Center if your claim is selected for review. Failure to report may result in the delay or denial of your benefits.

   
   
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7. Extended Benefits (EB)
   Glossary #7:
   Extended Benefits (EB):
   

   Unemployment benefits paid to a claimant after regular benefits have been exhausted, during periods of prescribed high national or state unemployment levels. §60.2-610, §60.2-611

   
   
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8. Overpayment
   Glossary #8:
   Overpayment:
   

   An overpayment means unemployment insurance benefits paid to and received by you to which you were not entitled. This includes amounts paid while an appeal by your former employer is pending prior to a decision being rendered against you, and amounts paid because you did not notify the VEC of information which would have reduced or eliminated your benefit entitlement. You also are required to repay any benefits that are paid to you in error.

   
   
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9. Acquisition
   Glossary #9:
   Acquisition:
   The transaction by which an individual or organization obtains the organization, trade, business, or assets of another individual or organization and, thereby, becomes subject to the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act. §60.2-210
   
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10. Agricultural Labor
    Glossary #10:
    Agricultural Labor:
    Any services performed on a farm or in farm-related work in the handling, planting, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, storing, or delivering to storage or to market of any agricultural or horticultural commodity. §60.2-201
    
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11. Audit
    Glossary #11:
    Audit:
    A formal, official examination and verification of the records of an employer.
    
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12. Benefit Year
    Glossary #12:
    Benefit Year:
    The fifty-two-week period beginning with the first day of the week in which an individual files a new claim. §60.2-206
    
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13. Calendar Quarter
    Glossary #13:
    Calendar Quarter:
    The period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, or December 31st.
    
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14. Claimant
    Glossary #14:
    Claimant:
    An unemployed individual who files a claim for unemployment compensation.
    
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15. Corporation
    Glossary #15:
    Corporation:
    An entity formed and authorized by law to operate and conduct business in the same manner as an individual.
    
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16. Delinquent Employer
    Glossary #16:
    Delinquent Employer:
    An employer who has failed to submit required quarterly tax reports, payments, interest, and/or penalties by the due dates. §60.2-513, §60.2-538
    
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17. Duration of Benefits
    Glossary #17:
    Duration of Benefits:
    The number of total weeks of benefits a claimant may potentially draw during a benefit year. §60.2-602, §60.2-607
    
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18. Employer
    Glossary #18:
    Employer:
    An employing unit that meets the liability requirements under the law and is required to pay unemployment insurance taxes. §60.2-210
    
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19. Employing Unit
    Glossary #19:
    Employing Unit:
    Any individual, organization, or governmental entity that has one or more individuals performing services for it within the state. §60.2-211
    
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20. Employment
    Glossary #20:
    Employment:
    Any service performed by an individual for remuneration under any written or oral contract of hire with an employing unit. §60.2-212 (For references on exemptions to "employment," see Section §60.2-219.)
    
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21. Experience Rating
    Glossary #21:
    Experience Rating:
    A system used to establish employer tax rates based on past employment and unemployment experience. §60.2-530, §60.2-531
    
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22. Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
    Glossary #22:
    Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN):
    The registration number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to an employer.
    
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23. FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act)
    Glossary #23:
    FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act):
    The tax imposed by the federal government on employers with respect to having individuals in their employ. §60.2-218
    
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24. Inactive Account
    Glossary #24:
    Inactive Account:
    Status assigned to an employer’s account when it has been found that the employer no longer has employees and, therefore, no payroll report or taxes to submit.
    
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25. Insolvent
    Glossary #25:
    Insolvent:
    The condition of a legal entity that is unable to pay its debts.
    
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26. Insured Employment
    Glossary #26:
    Insured Employment:
    Term used to describe employment covered by the Unemployment Compensation Act of Virginia or any other state.
    
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27. Interest
    Glossary #27:
    Interest:
    Monetary charge, which is computed and added to the amount of taxes, owed and remaining unpaid after the date such taxes were due. §60.2-519
    
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28. Last Thirty-Day Employer
    Glossary #28:
    Last Thirty-Day Employer:
    The most recent employer for whom a claimant performed services for any part of a day for thirty days, whether or not such days were consecutive, or a total of 240 hours.
    
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29. Liability Date
    Glossary #29:
    Liability Date:
    The date that an employer meets the statutory criteria for liability coverage with the Virginia Employment Commission.
    
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30. Maximum Benefit Amount
    Glossary #30:
    Maximum Benefit Amount:
    The total amount of benefits that an individual may receive during his benefit year. (This amount is determined by multiplying his weekly benefit amount and the number of weeks of benefits for which he may qualify.) §60.2-607
    
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31. Tax Report
    Glossary #31:
    Tax Report:
    The portion of the Employer’s Quarterly Report (Forms VEC FC-20/21) that states the total wages paid, the amount of taxable wages, and taxes due by the employer for the quarter covered by this report.§60.2-512
    
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32. Unemployment
    Glossary #32:
    Unemployment:
    An individual is totally "unemployed" during any week in which he performs no services and with respect to which no wages are payable to him; he is partially “unemployed” if he works less than his full-time hours and receives less wages than his weekly benefit amount. §60.2-226
    
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33. Waiting Week
    Glossary #33:
    Waiting Week:
    The first week of eligibility in a claim year is a waiting week and is not paid. Only one waiting period week is served in a benefit claim year. §60.2-612.9
    
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34. Week
    Glossary #34:
    Week:
    Seven consecutive days beginning on Sunday and ending the following Saturday at midnight. §60.2-230
    
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35. Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)
    Glossary #35:
    Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA):
    The weekly benefits payable to a totally unemployed individual. The amount is based on prior earnings. §60.2-602
    
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36. Suitable work
    Glossary #36:
    Suitable work:
    

    Many factors are taken into consideration in determining whether work is suitable. These factors include your previous work experience, your physical and mental fitness, risk to your health, safety, or morals, and the distance from your home. You must report all job offers that you decline when you file your weekly claim for benefits.

    
    
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37. Reemployment Assistance
    Glossary #37:
    Reemployment Assistance:
    

    Your claim will be reviewed to determine if you may need special reemployment assistance to make a successful transition to new employment. If you meet the federally mandated criteria, you will be referred to this assistance. If you are referred, you will be required to attend as a condition of eligibility to receive weekly benefits. If you refuse to or do not attend without justifiable cause, you may be denied benefits.

    
    
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