U.S. Labor Department announces release of $4.6 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Vermont

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $4,639,299 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Vermont. Vermont qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Vermont's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery.

"Vermont uses recent wages when determining eligibility for benefits, enabling the UI program to better meet the needs of the 21st century American workforce," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Vermont's law is particularly helpful to unemployed workers who have entered the workforce recently and otherwise might not qualify for UI benefits."

The Vermont Department of Labor can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or delivering employment services.

The Recovery Act made a total of $7 billion available in UI modernization incentive payments to states that include certain eligibility provisions in their UI programs. Each state can qualify for a share of those funds by showing that its law includes those provisions. To date, in addition to Vermont, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota and Virginia have been certified to receive one-third of their shares. Connecticut, Idaho, Minnesota and New Jersey have been certified by the Labor Department to receive their full shares of the funds.