THE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEM (VRS) FOR FILING WEEKLY REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT OF BENEFITS AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE INFORMATION ALLOWS YOU TO:

• File your weekly request for payment of unemployment benefits;
• Obtain specific information about your benefit account;  
• Acquire information about an appeal to which you are a party;
• Find the location and phone number of the nearest VEC Workforce Center;
• Get general information about unemployment benefit claims.

This service is available only by using a touchtone phone. Cellular phones are not recommended.

Available hours: Sunday through Saturday, 6am - 6pm
 

To hear instructions in English,

Press  1

To hear instructions in Spanish,

Press 2

To reach claims and benefits,

Press 1

To file your weekly request for payment of benefits,

Press 2

Enter  your Social Security number

Enter  your 6-digit PIN

You will be asked to answer the following questions and provide the requested information for the week that you are requesting payment.

Were you able and available to work during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Were you actively seeking work as directed by the Commission during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Enter the number of contacts you made for work followed by the # key.  For example, if you made three job contacts,

Enter 3  #

If you made contacts for work, you may be asked to say the names of the employers you contacted. Speak clearly. For example, for 3 contacts, say….

“ABC Company, Food Shopping Warehouse, and Video Electronics”

Did you refuse any work or any offers of work during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Did you fail to obtain work due to a positive drug test?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Did you enter or discontinue school or a training program during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Did you begin receiving or change the amount of any type of pension (including disability pensions)

during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Did you receive holiday, vacation, or Workers’ Compensation during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Did you begin receiving or change the amount of any severance pay during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

Did you do any work (including self-employment) during the week?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

If your response is 1 Yes, you will be asked to enter the amount you earned before deductions were made in dollars and cents, followed by the # key.  You must enter cents, even if zeros. For example, to report earnings of $135.00,

Enter 1  3  5  0  0  #

During the week, did you return to full-time employment?

Press 1 Yes   9 No

If your response is 1 Yes, then you will be asked to enter the date you started working.  For example, if you returned to work on February 1, 2012,

Enter  0  2  0  1  2  0  1  2

After you answer all questions, you will be told if you request for payment can be processed.  If an answer to any of the questions results in an issue, no payment will be made until the issue is resolved. You will be contacted in the near future concerning the issue by the VEC.

If you wish to obtain specific benefit account information, (including payment information).

Press   1

Enter   your Social Security number

Enter  your 6-digit PIN

For details about an appeal to which you are a party,

Press  3

Enter   your Social Security number

Enter  the Appeal Docket Number (found on your Notice of Appeal)

To locate the nearest VEC Workforce Center,

Press   4

Enter your 5-digit Zip Code.

For general information about unemployment benefits,

Press  5

Q: What if I return to full-time work?

A: Report your return to work when you file your weekly request for payment of benefits for the week in which you returned to work.  Report the date you started work, and any earnings before deductions for the week you started.  Be sure to let us know your earnings, even if your employer does not pay you right away, or you may receive benefits that you will have to repay.

You may be eligible for reduced benefits the first week you return to work depending on how much you earn. If you report a return to work date when you file your weekly request for payment and for some reason you do not start work, you must contact the VEC Customer Contact Center for further instruction. If you do return to work for an employer and become unemployed again, contact the VEC immediately upon separation to renew or reopen your claim for benefits.

Q: Suppose I decide not to claim benefits after I filed my application for benefits?

A: If you wish to cancel your claim and not file weekly requests for payment of benefits, your cancellation request must be made in writing within 30 days of the date your application was filed. The final date for cancellation is the same as the final date for appeal on your monetary determination.