Virginia Employment Commission [VEC]
reviews and complaints

I attempted to file an initial claim for unemployment today with VEC, but was unable to do so because after going through almost 20 minutes of questions with a robot, then being transferred to a live agent to complete my claim they keep hanging up on me before I can get finished...

This is frustrating to no end, because that is the number they tell you to call for filing inital claims, but it does not allow you to get through and entire call with them before disconnecting you. They have no chat line available either (no shock there), because if you try to use the chat you get a message saying you are now being disconnected too.

On top of all of this ignorance, their offices are all STILL CLOSED, because of the Covid issues, meaning you cannot just go in and talk to someone.

These people have gone wayt out of their way to make the entire system inaccessible, and to make themselves next to impossible to deal with. It is ridiculous trying to deal with these jokes, masquerading as a government agency. I am about to just give up completely on filing for unemployment now, mainly because Virginia's so called 'Employment Agency' is the worst in the country!

I've been trying to file my weekley claims for over a month on the phone and online nothing is working and the problems haven't been resolved yet although I've called at least 10 times since last wwee.This started Jan 2,2022 when I filed the initial claim, on Jan 31 2022 I'd called to see why I haven't recieved anything on my claim, my claim was closed due to inactivity although I filed every week.I reopened my claim there are no issues on my claim but I still cannot file, the I VR will let me file all the way to the end and the give me an error message instead of a conformation number.

My unemployment benefits and the VEC system is terrible. The Analysis who designed the system was not good. The programmer did not complete their tasks perfectly. The VEC customer service did not understand the way to resolve the issues. I believe those governments employee at VEC just come and get paid and don't want to do work. When picture verification was not display in ID.Me. They should help the people by moving the ID picture from the fax document then scan to ID.Me. It should never take them 40 months (4 months ) for me to resolve the issues.

I applied for Unemployment Benefits at the end of September, I got a determination letter, a waytogo card, and one benefits check for $378, then they stopped my pay. So I haven't gotten any additional pay for 4 months now.

I've been trying to work with VEC, I've called agents at 1-866-832-2363 eight or so times, and they tell me they are unable to help, but I am to keep waiting.

I've waited for money for 4 months. One agent gave the reason for the stoppage "Questionable Identity", he also mentioned id.me.

From what I can understand VEC were modifying their system and now required additional documents to verify workers identity.

On 1/3: I followed the instructions and I sent images of my driver's license and passport to VEC's contractor: id.me, and had a video conference call with one of their employees, who inspected my ids and said my identity is now verified.

On 1/14. I went into the VEC CSS portal it said "Identity Verified" But now it doesn't, we are back to the "Questionable Identity" status after the effort I did working with id.me. It seems the web portal is broken and is displaying obsolete information. It is noticeably down a lot of the time. My progress might be stopped because the system might have to notify the deputy that I am verified, it thinks I'm not, so the deputy will never be notified.

I called VEC again today and they said they can't do anything. I need someone who knows what to do to help.

In short, my unemployment benefits have been stopped for 4 months and I did what was required to get my identity verified.

I filed for unemployment in September 2021. I have yet received benefits. I have provided everything that was asked of me. Idme, I'd, ss card among other things. I have prospects for jobs but I am unable to accept because my car was repossessed. Can you please help me. My name is Jesse Perkins.

After receiving weekly unemployment benefits for approximately three months (Sept - Dec) without any problems, suddenly the payments were no longer being deposited into my account. I made several phone calls to the VEC between Dec 2021 & Jan 2022 and was advised the reason the payments had ceased was because I hadn't divulged information regarding a payout/severance from my former employer when in fact that information had been provided during the initial claim. Every time I contacted a VEC Customer Service Representative, they were always polite and professional; however, I received a different story about what was causing the delay. In one instance I was advised that a Deputy Investigator would be reaching out to me soon. I do not like the fact that I'm presently unemployed, but what I find even more humiliating is the fact that as a tax paying resident of the Commonwealth, I am unable to receive financial assistance when it is needed.

I initially set up an account April 2020, I didn't file for benefits at that time. Now I am unemployed and cannot access my existing account or open/reset a new one. I've tried every avenue available to resolve this for 3 weeks. I did receive a letter from VEC stating that a change to my account information was made. That phone # didn't get me to anyone that could help. Please contact me asap. Janet Cowley [protected] [protected]@comcast.net

Still waiting for a "Deputy to review claim and release benefits" ... For every week since March 2021!
I have already been informed that all issues were settled and I would receive every weeks benefit.

I have not been able to log into my VEC online account in months. The error message received: "We are unable to verify your digital identity. Please contact the Customer Contact Center at [protected] for further assistance.". I have called the number every week and no one can assist me saying the system is new and undergoing maintenance and "Hope it will be working soon, keep checking". This is absurd, no reasonable explanation or resolution was offered. I have been unable to file or receive my benefits since November. Prior to the new system, I was having issues with the phone system, so I switched to only filing online where I can print proof of my answers and filing. In November, the online system was experiencing issues prior to the transition to the new system. It would not allow me to file online for three weeks. I was subsequently locked out of the system stating I had to reactivate my status. My account was shut off premature the 30 day allotted window to file. I filed a request to allow me access to those claims. I have yet to hear a response about any of it.

I was delayed filing my initial claim for three weeks due to the website changeover. I have been doing my weekly employment searches and weekly claim submissions. I have filed an appeal to have my effective date backdated to 11/15/2021 from 12/07/2021. I have called customer service every week to check the status. I was told that I could go online to the claimant self-service site to complete additional documents before it can even be reviewed. I am now owed 8 weeks of benefits. I have told them over and over that I cannot log in to do validation issues or the site being down for maintenance.

I have uploaded every piece of documentation (Letter of Termination that states why I was terminated, the Letter of Recommendation that the company provided to me for future employers and the surgeon completed medical statement form), I received when I was administratively terminated by my employer due to surgery and not being eligible for FMLA.

I have told the representatives that they do not have my last liable employer correct. The representatives are no help in providing any resolutions. I seem to get different information every time I call. I was told they had sent a form to a previous employer where I voluntarily quit, and I need to respond via the self-service portal in order for them to move forward and reach out to the employer that administratively terminated me due to no fault of my own. I can't even get on this site due to validation issues or it being under maintenance. I am so frustrated with this new system. This is getting ridiculous at this point.

I filed unemployment in mid November and still have not received my PIN by mail! I called customer service and they said they would mail another one which I never received. When I call customer service they say there are no supervisors available and there is no complaints department! Say, whaaaa? Only the government can get away with behavior like this! Sadly it's creeping into private business as well - "hiding behind phone systems" I call it. What are you going to do? Hire a lawyer and drag out a court case for... YEARS? How would you present evidence? There are no ticket or reference numbers, no documents, no emails.

My account is not "locked" (according to "customer service") and I was told to send a fax requesting my account be, ahem, "reset". A fax? You gotta be kidding me! What is this 1985? So since free services like efax.com cannot get through to the phone number (efax says "busy" and yes, I have used efax before successfully). So I drive all the way up to VA as I live in NC to use a giant hunk of junk fax machine at at officemax which I had to pay to use! Why should I have to pay anything!?

Shame on you Virginia, shame! I thought NC was a garbage state to live in... VA is movin' on up!

I've been laid off since 7/30/2021. Customer service is worse I've ever seen. I get a different excuse every call. Case was with a Deputy 18 Nov. Called last week and they are waiting for something from previous employer. Already had a monetary determination. What else do they need. These people can't get out of there own way. Very sad!

I think it is crazy how after TWO YEARS...I have not been able to get answers from anyone about what is going on with my case(s). no email, no mail, no call backs no nothing; I have been calling the appeal department for 6 months and it do not even let you speak with someone. Then they made a "new site" that took months to make and it STILL DONT WORK! Every agent that you speak with, if you ask to speak with a supervisor " we don't have supervisors, there are not call ref numbers, we cant give our last initial, the managers are not responding to the chats".

One thing I am learning is TO NEVER WORK IN THE STATE IN VIRGINIA! IF THERE IS EVER A PANDEMIC OR MAJOR ISSUE TO WHERE YOU NEED HELP...

THIS IS NOT THE STATE TO HELP! I have never not wanted to work in specific state...until now!

8/16/21: initially approved for benefits after my employer terminated me. I was receiving weekly benefits without issue up until 10/30/21. After that, due to all the system updates, the website being down, the phone system being down, I have been literally unable to file any weekly claims since then. I continue to apply for jobs and have not been successful yet and am trying to start my own business, but am still currently unemployed and have received zero benefits since 11/4/21. I am struggling immensely because of this. I have consistently tried, multiple times per week, to file a claim online or via phone system and keep running into system glitches.
12/16/21: call to file, my SSN & PIN don't match. Then says SSN invalid, then hangs up. Tried to reopen claim, says I wasn't currently enrolled. Then routing # (of my only valid bank account) was invalid and wouldn't take it. Automated claims status says PIN invalid. So, got my PIN finally reset on 12/16/21. I have tried to sign up for an account on the new claimant self service system but it says I already have an account. However, when I go to log in with my correct username and password, it says it cannot verify my digital identity, whatever that means. When I speak to customer service reps, they can see that I have an active account and have not filed since 10/30/21 (due to all the system failures). All customer service could do for me was to tell me to file an appeal. Filed an appeal 12/27/21. Still was waiting on new PIN in the mail. 1/3/22 I was able to get my available balance and when benefits expire but tried to file continued claim via phone with new PIN, says no available benefit week. Customer service said I had to wait for result of appeal from deputy, which is a letter in the mail. I've been back and forth with local VA state delegate who pushed my case through and was "escalated" in line for deputy review as of 1/5/22. The escalated customer service # people said to re-open existing claim via automated phone. Re-opened claim successfully, but now I am getting a 3rd PIN so I can't file via phone yet since PIN comes in the mail. Trying to make new account on CSS site, today 1/7/22 says there are fraud issues and unable to make new accounts, routed me to the ID.me site for identification verification which worked but that site is still not connecting to the CSS site even though it says it is. STILL WAITING FOR 3RD NEW PIN, STILL WAITING FOR DEPUTY REVIEW, STILL WAITING FOR 10 WEEKS WORTH OF PAYMENTS, WEBSITE/SYSTEM UPDATES STILL NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE BIGGEST BUNCH OF [censored] I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED!

Been locked out of vec website for weeks. Can't reset username and password because of fraud issues. Sent governor, senator, and congressman over issues with vec. All I hear from vec representative said DEPUTY NEEDS TO REVIEW CASE. been waiting since October 2021 for them to get of their button. No wonder Virginia is last in reviewing issues and getting benefits out to those who need help.

I dont know why I cant get int my vec website... anytime I try to log in it bring this up (We are unable to verify your digital identity. Please contact the Customer Contact Center at [protected] for further assistance.)

I need to know why I am seeing this, im I the only one having this issue?

I need this to be resolved as soon as possible, I havent been able to log in for the past few weeks

Hello,

I been trying to get my unemployment payments since September. I have called every week and I filled out everything that has been requested. I am not sure what else to do? Can you please help

I can get as far as providing my Bank account information. The system informs me that my routing number is incorrect. I had this bank account for 25 years and it worked in 2020 when I filed last for unemployment. It is a disgrace that the VEC website is down for almost a year without providing the opportunity to actually speak to a live person for assistance.
Please help me. I am 76 and need the money.

Birgit Klare
[protected]
[protected]@hotmail.com

I have been trying to complete my claim for unemployment benefits since mid November. The last page was not accepted by the website stating error message, numerous times site is down, site will not recognize my login, phone line had 116 people waiting ahead of me and disconnected me. I have no idea what else to do. I NEED HELP TO FILE CLAIM PLEASE!