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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsLocal governmentLabor Department Shares Best Practices for Unemployment Insurance Portal

Labor Department Shares Best Practices for Unemployment Insurance Portal

The Virgin Islands Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance (UI) Portal is in full operation. (Submitted photo)

V.I. Department of Labor Commissioner Gary Molloy reminds the public about policies reinstated to the unemployment insurance requirement checklist for maintaining benefits. Work search requirements have been reinstated with the first report beginning with the week of Jan. 14. Since the online portal is currently in full operation, claimants are encouraged to register and view benefit information online.

Navigating benefits can be very complicated. To find out more about the unemployment insurance process, take the time to find answers to frequently asked questions. The following are key terms and procedures required by law. Try the online portal today to find out more about unemployment insurance.

Able and Available Policy:

The requirement that a laid-off worker is “able and available” to work while receiving unemployment compensation benefits has been modified for claimants who are affected by COVID-19 in any of the situations listed on the website above. Additionally, claimants will not have to search for other work provided they take reasonable steps to preserve their ability to come back to that job when the quarantine is lifted or the illness subsides.

If any employee is affected by COVID-19, that employee will be deemed to have “justifiable cause,” as stated in Title 24 V.I.C 304(a)(A)(ii) for their failure to participate in such services. If a person does not have justifiable cause based on one of the ten COVID-19 reasons, claimants have been required to complete a work search report beginning the week of Jan. 14, 2021.

Waiting Week Policy: 

To be eligible for unemployment benefits, applicants are required to register for work search on www.vidolviews.org and meet a minimum number of work search activities per week, as found in Title 24 V.I.C. 304(a). This requirement shall be waived as a direct result of an order by the governor in a State of Health Emergency regarding COVID-19 to ensure all residents can have access to resources when in need. The requirements shall be reinstated on April 12, 2021.

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