04 May 2020 Virginia COVID-19 UI benefits should not be charged to employer accounts Governor Northam issued guidance that appears to provide non-charge of COVID-19 UI benefits for employers. In his guidance, he states: Regional workforce teams will be activated to support employers that slow or cease operations. Employers who do slow or cease operations will not be financially penalized for an increase in workers requesting unemployment benefits. We have been unable to reach a representative of the Virginia Employment Commission to confirm the intent of the governor's statement. The Commission's COVID-19 website is currently silent on the matter of charging employer accounts for UI benefits paid in connection with COVID-19. Employers should carefully review benefit charge statements they receive in the future to make sure COVID-19 UI benefits have not been charged to their accounts. According to the Commission, beginning with UI benefit claims effective March 15, 2020, Governor Northam has directed that the one-week waiting period and the requirement that claimants conduct a weekly job search be suspended. For more information regarding the Commission's response to COVID-19, go here.
Document ID: 2020-1204 | |||||||||||
