If you recently lost your job, you might qualify for unemployment benefits: money paid by Vermont’s unemployment insurance fund to those who are temporarily out of work, through no fault of their own. To receive benefits, you must file an application with the Vermont Department of Labor. The Vermont Department of Labor will determine whether you qualify for benefits and, if so, how much you will receive each week.
Are You Eligible for Benefits? To qualify for benefits, you must have earned a certain amount before losing your job, and you must be out of work for reasons that qualify under Vermont’s rules. Learn more about Vermont’s eligibility requirements.
Information You’ll Need to File Your Application
Before you apply, you should review the Vermont Department of Labor’s materials on unemployment. You’ll find helpful information and resources at the Vermont Department of Labor website. Also, check out the Vermont Claimant Handbook: A Guide to Unemployment Insurance in Vermont, which provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on eligibility, filing for benefits, and claiming your benefits.
You will need to have certain information and documents on hand when you complete the application, including:
- personal information, including your name, address, phone number, and Social Security number
- your driver’s license or other identification
- information about your work history in the last year and a half, including the name, address, and phone number of every employer you worked for, your dates of work, and what you earned, and
- the reason why you are no longer employed by your previous employer.
Filing Your Application
Unlike most other states, Vermont does not allow new claimants to file their initial claim for benefits through its online portal. Instead, you must call 1-877-214-3330 to file an initial claim. Learn more about filing your claim by phone at the Initial Claim Application page of the Vermont Department of Labor website. You can find contact information for your local unemployment office or workforce agency at Where Is the Unemployment Office in Franklin County, VT?
Next Steps
Once you file your application, the Vermont Department of Labor will contact your former employer to verify your employment information, review your earnings history, and issue a written determination of your eligibility for benefits. If you qualify for benefits, the Vermont Department of Labor will also provide your weekly benefit amount. (If the Vermont Department of Labor finds you ineligible for benefits, you can appeal; learn more at Can I Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits in Vermont?)
In the meantime, and for every week you are unemployed, you must file a certification to request your benefits. You may need to provide information about any earnings during the week, your work search activities, and more; see What Do I Have to Do to Keep Receiving Unemployment Benefits in Vermont?