Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that emergency rules have been filed to resolve any ambiguity in Vermont state law as to whether or not government employees working indefinitely without pay are unemployed for the purposes of Vermont’s unemployment insurance eligibility.
“This emergency rule clarifies and codifies our interpretation of existing law, and the Department of Labor’s ability to extend unemployment insurance eligibility to all government employees who are being required to work, but who are not being paid during a federal shutdown,” said Department of Labor Commissioner Lindsay Kurrle.
On January 22, with the support of legislative leaders, Governor Scott directed the Commissioner and the Vermont Department of Labor to treat “essential” and “excepted” federal employees the same as other furloughed employees for the purposes of unemployment insurance benefit eligibility. This emergency rule will eliminate confusion in the future and provide governmental workers with unemployment benefits when they are being required to work indefinitely without receiving wages.
How Federal Employees Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
If you are a federal employee who is being required to work without pay, and you would like to apply for temporary assistance during this Federal shutdown, call 1 (877) 214-3330, Monday through Thursday, 8:30am – 4:00pm, Friday 9am – 4:00pm.
Please refer to the Department’s website guidance for Establishing an Unemployment Claim at http://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance/unemployed/establishing-an-unemployment-claim/, before calling.
Gathering required information ahead of placing a call to our Claims Center significantly reduces the time it takes to establish a claim.
The Department of Labor is aware that as a result of the shutdown, federal government employees may not have access to all required forms. Department of Labor staff are prepared and equipped to work with claimants to obtain alternative documentation as needed.
Important Information
On January 16, 2019 President Trump signed S.24, a bill that ensures that employees who have been working without pay will receive back pay once federal funding is restored. Federal employees that receive UI benefits should be aware that any unemployment insurance benefits received will be required to be repaid to the Vermont Department of Labor after the federal government issues backpay at the conclusion of the shutdown.
Source: Department of Labor 1.25.2019