The VEC team has three goals: eliminate the unemployment backlogs facing the agency, transform the agency to become best-in-class, and create a resilient agency that is flexible and responsive to serve Virginians regardless of changes in the economy.
The team has completed over 1,400,000 work items since January of 2022 (see PDF). The focus has been on providing resolution to Virginians still waiting to be paid. The separation report backlog was eliminated last March,and 99% of the Adjudication and Potential Fraud backlog has been eliminated. As we work through the backlog, we inevitably impact the appeals process (which requires due process). The team is currently focused on creating more efficient appeals processes with higher claim capacity.
The most challenging work is ahead—truly transforming the agency to become the best employment commission in the country.
Documents and Resources:
After investigating more than 330,000 cases of potential fraud in payment of unemployment claims, the Virginia Employment Commission has confirmed that it has paid out $1.6 billion to people who used someone else’s identity to gain public benefits.
Commissioner Roth briefed members of the Virginia Small Business Commission, asserting that the agency is making progress on remaining backlogs involving unemployment claims, and continues to work on transforming the agency.
The Virginia Employment Commission is investigating more than 80,000 unemployment claims for potential fraud, according to a chart the agency’s commissioner provided to 8News.
Virginia Employment Commissioner Carrie Roth told a General Assembly oversight commission on Wednesday that the agency had found more than 83,000 claims that likely involved identity theft out of more than 258,000 potentially fraudulent claims.
Scott Smith, a Maryland resident who was laid off from his longtime job as publications manager for an industry advocacy organization in Arlington County, struggled with the Virginia agency to confirm his eligibility for benefits after he said his company didn’t submit a report on why he lost his job.
Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin ceremonially signed five bills that deliver on the Governor’s commitment to enact common sense solutions to make government work better for Virginians and provide solutions for the Commonwealth’s business community.
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced a nearly 89% decrease in the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) backlog. This is the first step in the governor’s day one game plan commitment to fix the VEC and put government to work for Virginians.
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced a nearly 89% decrease in the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) backlog. This is the first step in the governor’s day one game plan commitment to fix the VEC and put government to work for Virginians.