Pandemic unemployment expires soon

VERMONT- The Department of Labor is reminding individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits of the upcoming changes to a number of federal unemployment benefit programs, including Extended Benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance,  and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. PUA and PEUC, funded through the CARES Act, are set to expire at the end of the calendar year with the last payable week being the week ending December 26. Additionally, Vermont will likely trigger off its Extended Benefits program in the coming weeks, as the unemployment rate continues to drop.The loss of both PEUC and EB will significantly reduce the number of payable weeks under the regular UI program.
The department can and will continue to process claims and issue benefit payments from these programs even after the final week, as long as the eligible week occurred prior to the last week of the program.
For those interested in exploring other employment opportunities, the department also offers virtual re-employment services to Vermonters at no cost to the individual. These services include job search assistance, resume development, improving interviewing skills, and connecting Vermonters with training opportunities. Learn more at www.labor.vermont.gov/workforce-development.
Impacted claimants may find additional support services such as housing assistance, fuel and heating assistance, and food assistance by contacting Vermont 2-1-1 (www.vermont211.org or www.navigateresources.net/211vermont). More information about the Department of Labor and unemployment insurance can be found at www.labor.vermont.gov.