Since the pandemic began, there have been millions who have been left without jobs.

Each state government is different, and each state government implements federal policies at its own pace. However, Virginia and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) are dead last in the United States rankings when matched up to other state governments. I have seen numerous people struggle, go into debt, and wreck their credit because they can no longer pay bills due to exhausted unemployment benefits since December.

People have stated that the VEC and its employees are giving out false and conflicting statements that leave people in further turmoil and left without a paddle; furthermore, the VEC and other representatives continue to postpone implementation dates and claim there is a lack of federal guidance for PUA and PEUC.

Suppose people on regular unemployment can receive their renewed benefits recently signed into federal law. In that case, I find it hard to imagine that they cannot implement PUA promptly due to a lack of federal guidance.

The VEC and lawmakers need to be held accountable for such an utter failure to assist Virginians.

Finally, the VEC has implemented this brand new webpage https://css.vec.virginia.gov/CSS  that does not work and continuously gives out an error message "We are unable to verify your digital identity. Please contact the Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363 for further assistance."

However, when you call this number, you have to go through an excruciating amount of a phone tree to get to speak with someone or to file a claim.

The VEC needs to be held responsible for getting this system fixed right away so people can use it the way it is meant to be used.