RICHMOND, VA — March 7, 2024 – The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) is excited to announce a faster and easier way for customers to access unemployment benefits. VEC has partnered with ID.me, a trusted digital identity verification tool, to help claimants quickly connect to Virginia’s unemployment benefits system. Now, it’s E-Z with ID.me for customers to apply for benefits, file weekly claims and access other important documents.

"This new login option solves the main challenge we’ve been dealing with for some time, providing our customers with easy access while keeping out fraud. By partnering with ID.me, we are able to do just that,” said VEC Commissioner Demetrios Melis.

Customers can simply go to VEC’s website, click on “Claimant Login” and select the green button to sign up or sign in using ID.me. ID.me is secure, simple to use, and the process takes just minutes to complete. To verify their identity, they’ll need their government photo ID (driver’s license or passport) and their social security number. Claimants can choose one of three convenient options, including using the camera on their cell phone or computer, a video call with an ID.me agent, or an in-person verification at select retail locations.

"We are currently seeing over 80% of our customers successfully access the benefits system when using ID.me, said Melis. “The Virginia Employment Commission remains dedicated to enhancing the overall customer experience and serving the critical needs of Virginians during challenging times.”

ID.me is a federally certified identity provider with over 115 million users, 1.2 million in Virginia alone. ID.me partners with 31 states and multiple federal agencies, including Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

ID.me will never share personal information with third parties, ensuring that claimants' sensitive data remains confidential and secure. To learn more about ID.me’s privacy policy visit: www.id.me/privacy.

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