Understanding Work Search and Your Unemployment Benefits
To receive unemployment insurance benefits, actively searching for work and being ready to accept a job offer are crucial conditions. Each week, as a claimant, you need to document your job search efforts when you submit your weekly certification. This work search mandates that you provide evidence of at least three (3) job contacts or qualifying activities every week while you are collecting benefits. You’ll report these contacts when you file your weekly claim online. Meeting this requirement is essential for maintaining your benefit eligibility; failure to do so will result in ineligibility for that specific week.
You must complete your weekly claim and work search documentation through the online weekly certification system. Alternative methods are available if you can demonstrate a valid hardship preventing online filing.
Crucially, all claimants are required to:
- Maintain meticulous records of each job contact, including:
- Date of contact
- Employer’s Name
- Employer’s Address
- Contact Person
- Phone Number
- Email (if applicable)
- Position Applied For
- Method of Contact
- Outcome of the Contact
- Keep copies of confirmation pages or email records for online and email job search activities.
Alt text: Screenshot of a work search portal showcasing fields for entering job contact information such as employer name, contact date, and application method, emphasizing the need for detailed record-keeping for unemployment benefit eligibility.
Who Needs to Conduct a Work Search?
Work search is a mandatory weekly activity for all unemployment benefit recipients unless you qualify for one of the following exemptions:
- You have a confirmed return-to-work date within 10 weeks from your initial claim filing.
- You are enrolled in an approved training or educational program.
What Counts as a Valid Job Contact?
To fulfill your work search obligations, you can report any of the following activities in the “work search” section of your online weekly claim:
- Submitting Job Applications: Apply for positions you are reasonably qualified for.
- Online Applications: Utilize platforms like Vermont JobLink, company websites, or job boards such as Indeed to submit applications. This is particularly relevant for those seeking Part Time Job Online Work.
- Direct Applications: Mailing a physical application or resume directly to an employer.
- Reaching Out to Previous Employers: Contact your former employer to inquire about potential re-employment opportunities.
- Direct Employer Contact: Contact employers in person or via email to formally express your interest in employment.
- Part-Time Work: Engaging in part-time job online work or traditional part-time employment can count as one of your three weekly job contacts.
Activities That Do Not Qualify as Valid Job Contacts
It’s important to understand what does not count towards your work search requirements:
- Repeated Applications: Applying for the same position more than once within a five-week period is not considered a valid contact.
- Phone Contact: Simply calling an employer does not fulfill the requirement.
- Passive Job Board Browsing: Merely browsing online job boards like Vermont JobLink or uploading your resume to employment websites is insufficient. You must actively submit a job application or a formal request for work to have it count as a valid contact.
Number of Job Contacts Required Weekly
You are obligated to complete and report a minimum of three (3) valid job contacts each week. It’s essential to diligently document your work search activities to accurately report them in your weekly claim. Maintaining a personal record of your job search efforts, along with any supporting documentation, is highly recommended for future reference.
Contacting the Same Employers Repeatedly
While consistent effort is good, you cannot report the same employer contact as a work search activity within a 5-week timeframe. Diversify your search to demonstrate a broad effort to find employment.
Part-Time Work and Work Search Requirements
If you are engaged in part time job online work or traditional part-time employment, you still need to meet the work search requirements. However, your part-time job can be counted as one of your weekly contacts.
- Each part-time job can be counted as one weekly work search contact. For instance, if you hold two part-time jobs, each can fulfill one weekly contact requirement.
- Unlike other job search activities, reporting your part time job online work or regular part-time work can be done each week as a valid contact, for benefit eligibility purposes.
Waiting for Employer Recall
If you are expecting to be recalled to your previous job but do not have a confirmed return date within 10 weeks of your initial claim, you must continue to perform and report your work search activities every week. Remember that contacting your former employer to inquire about recall can count as a work search contact, but you can only use contact with the same employer once within a 5-week period.
Proving Work Search Completion
When filing your weekly claim, you will be required to provide details for each job contact, including the business name, the name of the person you contacted, and their direct contact information. Furthermore, it’s crucial to keep personal records of every job application submitted and any email correspondence related to your job search.
Consequences of Forgetting to Complete Work Search
Failing to complete the required work search in any given week will result in ineligibility for unemployment benefits for that week. You can resume filing the following week. To restart your claim after a missed week, you will typically need to click a link in the Online Claimant Portal to reopen your claim. To ensure uninterrupted benefit payments, it’s highly advisable to complete your work search each week without fail.
Completing Work Search When Usually Filing by Phone
If you typically file your weekly claims using the automated phone system, you will need to transition to using the online filing system to report your work search activities. If you have a qualifying hardship that prevents you from using the online system, you should contact the Claimant Assistance Center to have your situation reviewed and validated.
Job Offer Acceptance Requirements
As a condition of receiving unemployment benefits, you are obligated to apply for and accept offers of suitable work. Unjustifiably refusing a suitable job offer, including part time job online work if it’s considered suitable, can lead to disqualification from benefits and may require you to repay any benefits already received. Even if you are primarily seeking full-time employment, refusing suitable part-time work can still result in disqualification.
Defining “Suitable Work”
“Suitable work” is generally defined as employment that aligns with your skills, experience, and employment history, and offers pay at least at the prevailing wage for that type of job in your local labor market.
Factors considered in determining if work is suitable include your prior training and experience, previous earnings, length of prior employment, the likelihood of finding work in your customary occupation within your local area, commuting distance, the physical demands of the job, and any risks to your health, safety, or moral standards.
It’s important to note that as the duration of your unemployment extends, your job search should become more intensive and broader. Over time, a job that pays less than your previous employment may increasingly be considered suitable. This includes considering a wider range of opportunities, such as part time job online work, to maintain your eligibility and financial stability during unemployment.
