Newsroom
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WorkForce West Virginia warns West Virginians about fraudulent texting activity
CHARLESTON, W.VA. — WorkForce West Virginia warns a fraudulent texting scam has been launched throughout West Virginia and the nation. WorkForce officials say people are receiving text alerts with the following message: “Your West Virginia Unemployment Insurance Claim account is currently on hold for verification, Please complete your verification by following the instructions in the link below…
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Kanawha, Cabell, Mingo, Wayne residents, workers eligible to apply for Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance
CHARLESTON, W.VA. — Gov. Jim Justice and WorkForce West Virginia Acting Commissioner Scott Adkins announced today that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available to qualifying individuals living or working in Kanawha, Cabell, Mingo and Wayne counties, which were designated as major disaster areas by the governor and President Joe Biden on May 20. Kanawha, Cabell, Mingo and Wayne counties experienced significant flooding on Feb. 27, 2021. Individuals living or working in Kanawha,…
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West Virginia to end participation in federal supplemental unemployment benefit program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Effective June 19 at midnight, West Virginia will end its participation in all federally funded pandemic unemployment compensation programs. “West Virginians have access to thousands of jobs right now,” said Governor Jim Justice. “We need everyone back to work. Our small businesses and West Virginia’s economy depend on it.” Federal pandemic unemployment programs set…
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Connectivity issue resolved that caused delay in delivery of some unemployment benefits
CHARLESTON, WV – On the evening of April 12, WorkForce West Virginia experienced a connectivity issue that caused an Automated Clearing House (ACH) overnight transfer to fail as it was being transferred to an outside payment vendor. As a result, 4,432 people did not receive their unemployment benefits as scheduled. This issue has been resolved and…
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WorkForce WV warns unemployment recipients against fraud, identity theft
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — WorkForce West Virginia has mailed 1099-Gs to nearly 200,000 individuals who received unemployment benefits last year and is urging recipients to be on guard against fraud and identity theft. The agency recently mailed the tax forms to individuals who received regular state unemployment benefits, pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA), pandemic emergency unemployment compensation (PEUC), federal…
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As West Virginia awaits CARES Act guidance, WorkForce West Virginia recommends eligible claimants continue weekly certifications but NOT file a new claim
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — WorkForce West Virginia announced today it is awaiting guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor on the CARES Act unemployment extension provisions contained in H.R. 133. The extension was signed into law on Sunday, December 27, 2020. “While we wait on additional Federal guidance, I have directed WorkForce West Virginia to be prepared…
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FEMA ends lost wages assistance, WV unemployment benefits to continue
CHARLESTON, W.VA. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has ended its Lost Wages Assistance Program, which provided an additional $300 a week in unemployment benefits to qualified claimants in West Virginia and other states. WorkForce West Virginia will continue to pay eligible claimants for as long as existing FEMA funds are available, but agency officials say they…
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WorkForce West Virginia receives FEMA grant approval, launches Lost Wages Assistance Program for unemployed West Virginians
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice and WorkForce West Virginia announced today that the state is activating the Lost Wages Assistance Program to provide additional benefits to unemployed West Virginians. The state received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on its application for Lost Wages Assistance grant funding. “The pandemic and economic slowdown have caused…
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WorkForce warns West Virginians about cases of unemployment fraud
CHARLESTON, W.VA. — WorkForce West Virginia has received thousands of fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and agency officials are asking West Virginians to be on the lookout and protect their identities. WorkForce officials say thousands of people, who didn’t file an unemployment claim, have been mailed a Key Bank debit card, which is one way PUA…
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Gov. Justice directs WorkForce West Virginia to apply for “Lost Wage Assistance” unemployment insurance funds
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has directed WorkForce West Virginia to apply for the Lost Wages Assistance Payments grant through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). “As I have said, we cannot let our people that are sitting out there with no job – not knowing how in the world they’re going to pay…
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Applications for 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits available May 6
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginians who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits and are eligible for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) can apply for a 13-week extension on Wednesday, May 6. The additional weeks of benefits are provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and will be available to individuals who previously collected…
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WorkForce West Virginia reminds public of actions that can affect eligibility for unemployment benefits
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As WorkForce West Virginia processes thousands of applications for unemployment benefits each week, agency officials are reminding recipients to be mindful of state and federal eligibility requirements. “While certain state laws regarding unemployment benefits have been waived to help alleviate financial burdens caused by COVID-19, we cannot waive federal requirements,” said Scott Adkins, acting WorkForce Commissioner….