VIDOL Updates on Services and Operational Changes
The VI Department of Labor gives updates on operations and best practices to maintain distance while serving the needs of clients.
USVI-April 13, 2021– The following is the updated payment information for the Regular UI, the FPUC, the PUA, the PEUC, the LWAP and the Extended Benefits (EB) payments as of Sunday, April 11, 2021. Additionally, some payments for the regular unemployment insurance program were issued as direct deposit for those claimants that are registered in the new portal. These individuals did not receive paper checks, therefore are not reflected in the total number of checks:
Check run update : 4/7/20- 4/11/2021:
Based on the change over to the myUIclaims system the structure and reporting will change. Since this is automated when the customer submits or files it automatically becomes a claim (it is in VIDOLA$) and is pending determination or further processing. So that descriptor application (paper) is gone in the new world of UI Online. This finally comes in alignment with UI reporting on 5159 data needed for USDOL. Therefore, VIDOL has processed a total of 20,724 claims broken by district as follows: St. Thomas – 11,387, St. Croix – 5,979, Interstate – 2,149 and St. John – 1,209. The breakdown in the chart reflects the most accurate breakdown:
Update on Payment of Benefits from CARES Act, CAA and ARP
As of December 27, 2020, the Pandemic Assistance provided by supplemental programs outline in by the CARES Act have ended. While VIDOL is still processing any backlog associated with this program, please note that the benefits paid to most claimants from this program has come to an end and claimants were notified of their last payment. Eligible claimants will have to be transitioned to the Continued Assistance Act (CAA) which in effect extends benefits for an additional 11 weeks or until March 14, 2021. As a result, claimants will experience a pause in benefit payments due to the transition as VIDOL has to again reprogram its system as well as be in receipt of the funding from the USDOL before processing payments. Claimants experiencing a delay in payments due to
this transition, from the CARES to the CAA, will be compensated retroactively for any missed payments once they meet the eligibility criteria. VIDOL only received the administrative funding to implement the CAA on March 26, 2021. This funding will be used to complete the programming changes required to be able to process claimant benefits. VIDOL is expecting to implement at least 2 of the 4 programs in next few weeks but in this month of April.
Also, please note that the Continued Assistance Act (CAA) will transition in the American RescuePlan Act (ARPA) recently signed by President Biden, as a result, payments will be processed from the CAA first before the ARPA can be implemented as the VIDOL system will again require additional programming before payment of benefits can be made.
According to many doctors from the Department of Urology of GardenParkMedical, the use of sildenafil in the treatment of children is still not completely legal and its effect on children is not fully studied. After the release of the material about the use of Viagra in children’s clinics in India, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, a number of experts harshly criticized such practices. The drug has not passed any tests for its effect on the child’s body and there is no exact dosage for certain cases.
Due to the reprogramming of our system, VIDOL anticipates a delay in the implementation of the new programs (Continued Assistance Act (CAA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)). This delay is unavoidable as the rules issued by the USDOL for the implementation of these programs require that our system be reprogrammed.
How to apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
In order to apply for unemployment insurance please visit our website at www.vidol.gov and you will be connected to our new site at https://myuiclaim.vi.gov to apply. This new site is a portal that allows claimants to apply directly into the Unemployment Division VIDOLA$ system.
VIDOL Hours of Operation
VIDOL is serving customers Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm as follows:
Because of the volume of clients that VIDOL has been seeing for Unemployment Insurance, the Department keeps Mondays and Fridays for processing, filing and check runs. As a result, Monday and Fridays, VIDOL will serve the public via appointments only and scheduled virtual meetings in all divisions on those days. The appointments will be scheduled by the respective Divisions calling and emailing the client to schedule and confirm those appointments and virtual meetings between the hours of 8am to 5pm.
The Department continues the full in-person service of all clients on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8am to 5pm.
Claimants can also get general information about their claims from the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The IVR system can be accessed by calling (340) 715-5744. The claimants will need their security number and PIN available to be able to access their claim information.
Our contact numbers are back to the original numbers on STT and STX. On STT 340-776-3700 and on STX 340-773-1994. The 1-877-374-0356 Call Center number is no longer in effect.
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