Virginia Employment Commission [VEC]
reviews and complaints

My name is Khai Le. I am filing a Complaint about Virginia Unemployment Office in Alexandria, VA 5520 Cherokee Ave, Alexandria, VA 22312 . I came to the office last Thursday asking about the unemployment claim that I had filed two months ago. Before, it did not take that long, now they said that the deputies are reviewing that. I had a problem with the VEC before about my Identity stolen and I could not file unemployment claim online. When my case was resolved last time after 6 months, I only got paid for 3 weeks. I lost more than 20 weeks. I know most of VEC deputies employees are educated people and at least having a Bachelor Degree. However, one of the lady last time I met told me that it could take months to review the case (She has a white skin, looks around 30 to 35 years old and I forgot to ask her name). Let me say something If it takes her months to resolve the Identities for some claims, then she should never be in the office. Her knowledge of education is below the average high school student. She can only talk, act, use her body, but have no brain at all. That is all I can say or tell. Overall, I hope that the VEC system should improve the service and hire more efficiency employees. Also, be fair and human to all VA tax payers when they lost jobs.

I have never been able to access the new vec system my birthdate was changed when the system changed and was finally corrected about 3 months ago after waiting 6 months now I cannot make an account with the self help system keeps giving me a “ your identity can’t be verified and to contact customer service” customer service is of no help they continue to tell you just keep trying the system has been doing that to many people and just to keep trying. I am getting corresponded messages but cannot access them. I am not sure why I’m getting corresponded messages from the vec when I can’t even log into the system. I haven’t received a payment since 2021 in September and I have been filing and even started a new claim for a new employer and still haven’t been paid out my benefits. Even after sending all requested documents that’s was asked of my vec still hasn’t done anything to get payments to me. Reps tell me 12 different stories every time I call. I’m still claiming weeks but no payment as of 6/22/2022 I’m pretty sure nothing will get done since it shows on here only 2 out of 299 complaints have been fixed but it’s worth a try. I even contacted the legislatures office they helped a little but what can they really do.

I apply for the benefits and it is taking too long for the decision from the deputy. I try to be patient and nice to them. However, I think they just acting slowly, or they are lazy or they don't know what the heck they are doing at their job.

Tax payers should never pay for Virginia at all. Don't expect anything back from Virginia Unemployment Commission. If you work for other states, file tax from that state.

Bruce W Smith 298 Alamo Ln Falls Mills Va 24613 Lawrence brothers and asplundh tree experts… I filed for unemployment at the end of 2020 and was denied I went on to find me a job which I couldn’t work due to various reasons so I decided to try and file again but was told I had to file an appeal so I did so in march of 2021 I waited and waited I called in and claimed as many weeks as I could but got cut off due to the online system being down then I was cut off from filing over the phone I was able to file for 3 weeks but still had or have 9 more weeks I can claim in April of 2022 I received a letter stating I had won the appeal and I was eligible for benefits as of march 14 2021 I waited the 30 days to make sure no one appealed against me and then called the vec had my PIN number established and then I was expecting things to go smoothly I’ve talked to numerous staff members and a couple claims specialists and I’m being told that my claim has been escalated to the benefits department and I should receive payment any time I’ve been waiting for roughly 6 weeks since I first started talking to a real person over the phone but I’ve actually been waiting for a year and a half and I’ve received nothing gotten nothing nowhere and even the staff that I’ve spoke to over the phone have been extremely rude and uncalled for in so many ways I’ve never seen such a mess it’s almost embarrassing to say I’m a resident of va because just this alone is horrible I mean it is a known fact that va unemployment ranks 50th out of 50 states the worst by far anyway it doesn’t matter what i or anyone else types here because before I started it said there were over 2000 complaints and only 2 yes 2 had been resolved wow I do hope things go much smoother soon very soon

My 2nd to last payment of weekly benefits for week ending 8/28/21 was redirected (somehow) to another bank and account# that I do not know. I got the information from the automated system that provides the routing number and last 4 of the account#. After researching the routing number I found this to be a wells fargo bank. I contacted wells fargo fraud department first to explain the situation and to obtain information on what is supposedly my account. They could only search for my account using my ss# or the full account#. Oddly enough but not surprising, they didn't use my ss# to open this account and since I only had the last 4 of the account number there was no other way to search for the account. I found this odd because, clearly they should be able to look up this account by name. Especially if wells fargo doesn't verify ss#'s to open accounts. This is what this rep told me which made no sense to me because any account i've ever opened, I would have thought I had to use my ss# for my name as they were supposed to be checking me with this info. Apparently not the case as with wells fargo. Therefore people can open accounts there with names that don't match ss#'s. Why then would you not be able to search via name. As far as I know, i'm pretty sure that my banks could look up my account with my name. What if I lost my card and am one of a few people that don't have my ss# memorized. Like what if my wallet was stolen, ya know and all that info is gone. They can't find your account with just your name?! Idk. That is weird to me. It wasn't surprising though cause I guess that's why this person has supposedly used this bank for a number of thefts from vec that they have done. When googling the route number I came up with a discussion board of 5 other people who experienced the same thing. With that being said, why is it that it has taken vec over 9 months to resolve this for me. Not only am I owed 2 weeks of benefits; one week that was stolen, but the last week which was frozen until they resolved it, but I can't file my taxes either because they claim they don't have a 1099g for me until they correct it. This is what I am being told by reps who answer the phone on cust serv line. I've never heard of such a thing. I've proven my identity way back in sept of '21. They know this is me. This is the money that was given to me. Why wouldn't they just give me the 1099g without those last 2 weeks on it. Frankly, they didn't pay me that year those weeks anyway, so what would cause the hold up on my 1099. They didn't give me those last 2 weeks. They did however, pay me the rest of those weeks. I'm entitled to my 1099g for the monies they paid me for the year of 2021. I've never heard of such a thing.

Aside from all of this, there is also that pesky problem of hello, my identity was stolen. I have a history of trauma. This has triggered that for me and I am incredibly frightened not knowing how this occurred. It could be anyone as far as i'm concerned and they could have done it anyway. I'm afraid to use my devices for anything. I'm afraid to have maintenance workers in my house unless i'm home (oddly enough, i've had more problems needing maintenance now than before this incident happened), i'm afraid my phone and my emails could be compromised, I mean it's hindering my ability to move forward and live my life. They won't even let me file a police report regarding this they said I can make an incident report but there won't be an actual crime reported unless the vec confirms this. Idk if this is accurate but then again, idk if anything any of the hundreds of people i've spoken to regarding this matter were accurate. I've gotten a million different answers and i'm starting to think no one is trying to fix this and possibly trying to take further advantage of me. I've contacted legal aid and this guy claims he can't do anything that will expedite or change anything which is strange because I read a report about a legal aid lawyer who sued vec for 200k for 5 women. Why is it that everywhere I go to get help, and the places and people should help, won't help?! This is destroying mine and my child's life cause I need this resolved... Now. If they can't do it, then they should have to give me the acct# to do it myself. That way I can start taking action to pursue fixing the damage that this greedy selfish hating [censored] baby caused to my life.

I was drawing my unemployment and pua then everything with claim came up for renewal and I had an identity issue I had to resolve. I resolved identity issue with the go. me under IRS site and you guys never did get my back pua claims paid that I have coming to me rightfully since July of 2021. My name is Rhonda Coe address is 1310 West Monroe Street Apt A Wytheville Va 24382 My number is [protected]. And my last employer on most recent claim filed was Evans Building Mainteance, LLC

I live in WV so I filed my first claim with WV. They called me and said my company paid Va my unemployment. I filed my initial claim about the 20th of March 2022. I gave them the wrong lay off date and when I realized that I called back and tried to change it but was told go ahead and file the weeks and when I got to the week I didn’t make any money they would start sending it to me. I filed my first week ending Jan 29th 2022. The unemployment started sending me forms to fill out like why didn’t I look for work that week. I filled out the forms but I would also call and ask why after I had told them what happened why would they want me to fill out the forms. They said well that’s just what we do but it will be ok. After filling out forms for 3 weeks then I had to fill out forms over the phone. We get get to the 20th of April 2022 and the unemployment specialist tells me my claim had been closed so I reopen it that very day then they send me a form asking why it took so long to reopen the claim. Well I didn’t know about it until the 20th of April so how was I to open something I didn’t even know was closed? Anyway here we are at the 29th of April and I’ve yet to receive any of MY money. Can someone please help me. My phone number is [protected]. Thank you Daniel Brofford.

March 2020,

I became unemployed in March 2020 and there is an Administrative Error with my SS#. At the direction of the VEC, I submitted all the information that they requested to correct the error. However, during the whole Pandemic, the issue was not corrected. I have written letters to both VEC Commissioners Hess and Roth, Governors Northam and Youngkin, Delegate Wyatt, Secretary of Labor Slater and multiple phone calls and e-mails to the VEC Claims number. I have been assigned 3 Claims Specialists, who was no more helpful than a Claims Agent.

I have yet to receive a response from either Governor or a member of their staff. I have yet to receive a response from Commissioner Roth or someone at the VEC who has the authority to correct the issue.

I was laid off work on march 25 of 2022 filed for unemployment benefits on April 4 of 2022 they sent me a pin to file a claim after not receiving any benefits the following week I called in regards to nonpayment of benefits. They took the information again issued another pin for s as new claim again no payment. I called back Monday they told me that I had two things that were pending my employer info and verification of banking information. I asked why since it is the exact same information that I used in January of 2021. I was told that the deputies have to make a decision on releasing the benefits. I have called multiple times to resolve this situation but to no avail. Claims will not transfer you to no one who will give a direct answer or point you in the correct direction. My bills are due some overdue because of the dragging their feet in this matter. Called in today April 26 2022 there was only one thing pending again back into which I re inputted again so why if the removed one pending item why not confirm the other at the same time so that I can receive benefits for my family?

My name is Charlie Hairston, I lost my job in September of 2020, I received unemployment for one year and then it stopped without any explanation, I have received letters that didn't pertaining to me and then all commo stopped.

I'm a 60 year old disabled veteran, I have been actively looking for work.

I would like help receiving unemployment or an explanation on what i did need tp do on my end.

Thank you

CHarlie

I applied for unemployment for the week beginning March 6, 2022, filled out and returned all paperwork in a timely fashion and have been a sitting duck ever since. No one provides any real reason for the period of time it's been since I applied, except that it's "first come, first serve" in the hands of the deputy.

It's been almost 6 weeks now. In the meantime, i have been feverishly applying for employment, and if I happen to get a call regarding an interview, I don't have the carfare to go. This is a dehumanizing process that is actually ridiculous at this point and inexcusable ! Whomever is running this show needs to be FIRED, because they are not serving the public the way they deserve to be served! processing paperwork should not take almost 6 weeks to do ! Unheard of !

Was supposed to receive my 1099G form for 2021 mid February of 2022 and they have still not generated the form. I can’t file taxes with out it and tax day is today.

Complaint after complaint about system issues yet nothing! Governor Youngkin are you out there? Personally, I gave up on my claim after 3 weeks. System is damaged beyond repair yet many hard working people are suffering. VEC employees don't know how to take a claim or help you with any questions you might have especially if you are out of state like me. So now your employer can lay you off and you don't get a dime because VEC is broken, Anyone interested in a class action lawsuit? Leave me a comment.

I've been trying to login for over a year and nothing on the site has worked to allow that. When asked to answer security questions nothing shows up just a number as the question which isn't right, and it says cancel or exit smh doesn't even have a continue. When I call, I'm just told pretty much it's like the lotto you got to keep playing with it and hope you get lucky one day and it works.

Still haven't received unemployment money after it was cut off unexpectedly due to system problems filing claims by phone in 2021 because the GOV2GO app wasn't working. I was told I'd be contacted but have heard nothing. Also my 1099 was incorrect and I filed online to get a correct one in January. I still haven't received that either and it's April! Everytime I talk to someone from the VEC, they just tell me they can't help me because the PEUC program is like a "back office" and they can just send an email but they refuse to give any email address to me to contact them myself. I'm appalled by the failures of the VEC to address these problems given they've recieved tons of federal taxpayer money and ample time to fix it but seem to making little progress. The errors made by this agency and their failure to address them properly to people reeks of incompetence and poor management.

I was receiving my benefits then February 21., my benefits stopped pending deputy decision. Cause for pending x employer decided to check dismissed because of property was sold on employment questionnaire. However employment separation form from November 8,2021 states unemployment due to LACK OF WORK. and the property was sold on October 29th 2021. Deputy sitting on my benefits from Feb

I’ve been having issues with the unemployment system since November 2021, when i initially applied, and opened a claim in November, I was able to get online, and file for a few weeks, then the website was active. Then everytime I would try to get on and answer questions for the fact finding, or file weeks, the website was down for Maintenence, then after while it became active later in December, but then my username and password didn’t work, and it wasn’t typed wrong because it’s in my apple keychain when I would go to the website the username and password would auto populate. It would say unable to verify identity. I was never given a PIN number at this point, and I didn’t know why until later that I was told my pin was mailed to an old address, so when I would call and started using the pin that I requested in late December, I was being told by the automated system that I don’t have a claim in the system, and I was told by someone that my account closed after a while of not filing, but I didn’t have a pin, and the online system was down and not letting me in, so it was nothing that I could do. Fast forward to January, I spoke to someone and told someone everything I’m explaining now, I was told they are aware of the issues, and I had to request those past weeks, so In January when it was reopened I would call and it would give me December 18th to file, so I filed on the phone, and I kept calling over and over and over day by day and it kept giving me the same date to file the 18th, then like 2 weeks later it finally gave me the 25th to file, then I would keep calling it would still give me the week ending in the 25th, then my account closed again, and I had to reopen it, and I kept telling agent about the issue, and I was calling to see the status of my account I was told I was waiting on a deputies decision but to keep filing, and everytime I would call it would tell me I don’t have a claim in the system over and over and over, I even told claim specialist. Also my online account was reset and now it won’t even let me create a new account it still says the same thing, unable to verify identity, it’s 3/31/2022 now as I’m writing this, I was just told on Friday about id.me, I did that got verified, but still can’t create an unemployment online account so I can’t do anything online I have to rely on the phone and it’s telling me I don’t have a claim in the system, I spoke to an agent after I got the letter from the deputy stating that I’ve been approved for benefits from November 21’ to November 22’ now I’m calling to find out why I haven’t received any payment, then I was told that it’s questions I have to answer about why I didn’t file, and what responses was I given when I called, who did I speak to, I don’t know exact dates, I call very often and speak to a whole lot of different people, and almost every agent tells me different things. When I called after I got the approval letter I was told to wait on a deputies decision to see if they will approve the account to be reopened, so I waited. Then I called like a week and a half later, and was seeing what was going on, and this lady I spoke to was telling me that the information I was given from the other representative was wrong and that I have to reopen it myself, call and open it myself using the automated system, and I did that and I been filing, but I think it’s still some missed weeks in January from when I couldn’t file, anytime I couldn’t file it was because of system issues, either giving me the same dates for weeks, or telling me I don’t have a claim in the system, then when I reopen it, the automated system telling me I don’t even have weeks to file. It was only one agent who actually understood my issues, she was very apologetic, and was pretty much telling me she knows it’s an issue, they are telling me I need to do this and that, and the system isn’t giving me those options, plus with online being down, I’m getting the short end of the stick, and I was fired for no reason and bills are behind, accounts are becoming negative, accounts are closing, I've been very active searching for jobs and couldnt find one, and have been unemployed since November 16th 2021, I just landed a job on March 14th 2022, but I need all my money from when I was filing, especially since I was always approved. this has been the most difficult process ever

I have been trying to sign up for unemployment for weeks (starting on 03/11/2022 & through today, 03/28/2022) via the new website and through the phone service.

In general I attempt to set up an account at least 20x per day. I've used a mix of Chrome, Edge, AOL, and Android services, all to no avail.

Absolutely disgusted with the service, the governor and approver of this new system should be flogged and forced to pay for this "upgrade" from their own pockets.

I’m having the same issues with the online portal. It seems to be unable to verify ID since it’s launch in November and even the reps are at wits in about it. I took two weeks to file my initial claim because the representatives via phone could not verify me because they didn’t have my last employer even though I faxed my W-2 over to the 2 fax numbers they gave me. I know 4 people that the VEC did not show their last employer accurately. I was told by a rep this is a recurring issue. I’m 4 weeks in and they have still not verified the fax with my W-2 and the reps have told me that there is only 2 fax machines and the faxes have to physically be taken by hand from the paper fax and scanned into the system to then be processed and this sometimes takes months to be processed and they can’t even confirm my fax was received. I offered to visit an office but was told that they only help with job searches and could do nothing more than take my W-2 and fax it to the same numbers I already had and it would take the same time to get it scanned into the system. What’s insane is that even though they denied my claim and told me I have to refile once they verify my wages from my last job ( which they can’t confirm if they received the fax I sent on March 8th, again) they have contacted my last employer ( they one they deny I worked for for over a year) but they still say they can’t use that contact to confirm my employment. That employer has offered to send them my pay stubs and w-2 and they had him fax it to the same number and they say they can not verify that fax for 2-4 weeks. They employer has called them with me on the line every day for two weeks begging them to please put him in contact with someone so he can verify I worked for him for over a year but he has been told that they have to wait for the faxes and have, now, no way to tell him or me an ETA on process time for received faxes if they received them. I was told again that many faxes are not being received even when the sender receives a confirmation the fax was successfully transmitted. I have been told when they do finally process the W-2 I will have to refile my initial claim as the deadline will have expired and they acknowledged this through no fault of my own. I hear the frustration in the system from each of the reps I talk to even though they are lovely, the process of the VEC seems completely broken and the reps have no power to correct mistakes or actually help callers. Even then I get different answers from each rep I speak too. People depend on benefits when let go. If they have to spend 1-3 hours a day on the phone everyday for 3-5 months to get benefits and lose a home, car or can’t afford utilities or food due to the time it took to get payment what good are the VEC benefits? I will have a job before I get benefits at this point. Does the VEC expect me to take time from my new job to jump through hoops to try to get the VEC to process my benefits during the time I am out of work? Is the idea to get people to abandon their seeking of benefits? While the reps want to help me they acknowledge they are not empowered to do so and are just there to give standard answers and offer the 411 number to families that can’t afford food or rent. The VEC now knows its system is so broken they are referring benefit seekers to charities because they know that the system the seekers paid into will not work. The state of the VEC, its processes and support is cruel and unjust. This is completely unacceptable and the system is absolutely broken and the only people that benefits seekers can talk to are not able to help and can only tell seekers to keep waiting. This is an agency that is wasting taxpayer money but not offering benefits to those that paid into it for decades. Please tell me and others how we can get to someone that can actually help us. If out of work and benefits seekers are doing all the right things to file why should we be penalized for the many known issues and failings of the current VEC system. Are you ok with people going hungry and losing homes when they are due benefits they paid into? Tracy

[protected]