Virginia Expands Internet Filings

RICHMOND, Va. -- Governor Mark R. Warner announced that the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) has expanded its capability to receive and process unemployment compensation claims via the Internet. The enhanced service, which was made available to customers on June 10th, permits unemployed individuals to file their weekly continued claims by Internet.

Prior to this enhanced Internet service, claimants filed their weekly continued claims by telephone using an Interactive Voice Response system. In the first month of the new service (though July 15th), 4,533 weekly continued claims had been filed by the Internet. The VEC estimates that more than 50,000 customers will use this new Internet service during the next 12 months, which will save approximately $60,000.

"The Internet claims process is just one of many e-government services Virginia is now providing," said Warner. "This one will save time for unemployment insurance claimants and money for the Commonwealth. The new process makes unemployment insurance services more accessible to Virginia's workers and enhances the VEC's efficiency in processing claims."

"Allowing weekly continued claims to be filed by the Internet demonstrates the Virginia Employment Commission's commitment to streamlining processes and making government services more accessible to citizens," said VEC Commissioner Dolores A. Esser. "A growing number of Virginia residents are using the Internet in many of their day-to-day activities. Nearly 80% of customers surveyed desire to have this service made available by Internet, and we are responding to that need," she added.

In May 2002, the VEC began allowing initial benefit claims to be filed by the Internet. Since that time, more than 60,000 claimants have come into the system through the Internet. The online applications for both initial claims and weekly continued claims were the result of a joint project between the VEC and the Virginia Information Providers Network (VIPNet). To access online claim applications, unemployed workers can visit www.vec.state.va.us, and click on the Unemployment Insurance Services tab.