unemployment

Exactly the same as if moving from one state to another. The territories are part of the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan.

Does that mean the benefits come from VI? I understand you must apply in person here first. I guess I am asking for a more clear explanation on how it works especially with the VI govt in financial woes.

i have heard that the unemployment is federal and not local, if it were local that would be even more devastating, wouldn't you think.

It is local. VIESA - Virgin Islands Employment Security Agency. We are just like a State when it comes to unemployment.

well, that kinda sucks. was hoping i had heard correctly

Does that mean the benefits come from VI? I understand you must apply in person here first. I guess I am asking for a more clear explanation on how it works especially with the VI govt in financial woes.

The procedure is explained here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5005765_unemployment-move-another-state.html

As said earlier, the US territories are part of the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan and the same procedures are followed as outlined on this site. You do not have to apply here but can do so in the state to which you are moving. I hope this clarifies.

Here is some first hand information on unemployment in the US Virgin Islands, ie someone who just received his last check this week and has been collecting for over a year in the US Virgin Islands(good news, I start a new job in a few weeks for the VING):

Web site for Department Of Labor, Virgin Island is:

http://www.vidol.gov

Take responsibility for your benefits. Go directly to the VI Dept of Labor. Advise you do it before you are laid off and ask about options and eligibility if you relocate to another state. You not only will be eligible for thousands of dollars of benefits, but schooling and additional training offered by the VI DOL.

Just for information purposes only, I will give you some information from my experiences----however, unemployment benefits and programs change often and are not the same. In the case of HOVENSA employees, I believe other benefits will be offered for additional training .

(1) After you receive your last paycheck, you file a claim with the VI Dept of labor, located near Cost You Less: bring social security card, last pay stub, and letter from employer of layoff, termination, etcc... The process takes about 15 minute.(ps the VI DOL relocated from the Sunny Isles location about a month ago---web site not updated)

(2) About a week or two after completing the paperwork, the VI Dept of labor will notify you on whether your unemployment has been approved.

(3) If yes, you fill out additional paperwork with questions :

Were you able and available for work? Did you look for work? Did you refuse any work? Did you earn any income? etcc...about 10 questions

Currently, Virgin Island has benefits for eligible unemployed with a maximum of $495 per week, plus some for dependents, which allows you to collect up to $550(give or take a few dollars on both amounts). In addition, currently VI is eligible for TIER 4 benefits for those unemployed(goggle TIER 4 unemployment for details). Simply put, I believe HOVENSA employees will be eligible up to 1 to 1 1/2 years of unemployment benefits.

If you mail paperwork in on the Monday or Tuesday after you receive , you receive a check on Thursday of Friday for the previous 2 weeks. Additional paperwork to fill out arrives with the check, which is required to be mailed and completed every two weeks(same basic questions).

NOTE: Important to keep copies of everything you mail(stuff gets lost, and if you have copies it will help expedite the process. Also, you should keep a separate spreadsheet tracking of your job seeking activities---I keep date, employer's name and address, who I applied for and or contacted, number, fax number, or email information on where I applied, and or possible a name you spoke with-----you could be audited months into the program and will be required to provide this information. Here an example how I tracked it:

Date Employer Job applied For How applied Source Of Job Status

11 Jan VI Government Police Officer Resume/mailed VI gov web site, www.vi gov Sent resume
Csted, USVI

13 Jan TSA-US Government TSA Officer on line www.usajobs applied on line

13 jan Home Depot Loss prevention on line AVIS Newspaper applied on line

16 jan Divi facility manager Divi, Human Resources Visited and inquired applied in person
Csted USVI

Relocating to another state is allowed, and each state/territory has different programs.If you relocate to another state while collecting VI unemployment do the following:

(1) Go to VI Dept of labor and discuss the options and requirements(insure to know the date and person you spoke with for future reference.

(2) Go to VI Dept of labor and discuss the options and requirements(insure to know the date and person you spoke with for future reference.

(3) Go to VI Dept of labor and discuss the options and requirements(insure to know the date and person you spoke with for future reference.

(4) Go to VI Dept of labor and discuss the options and requirements(insure to know the date and-person you spoke with for future reference.

...get my point, take responsibility for the thousands of dollars of benefits you are eligible for during the unemployment period.

Only advise or information you should follow is the information from VI DOL----and document it for future reference. If you don't, you could mess up your eligibilty and it could take months to correct.

THE VIRGIN ISLAND DEPT OF LABOR overall receive good/excellent rating from me comparing to my home state where I collected previously .

Best of luck.

Expect another government bureaucracy and alot of hassles for correct answers ---long lines. I think the VIDOL and VI BMV operate and plan to be as inefficient as possible.

I have a question regarding unemployment as well. Before all this with Hovensa I have been contemplating a move back to the states due to illness in my family and wanting to be closer to them at this time as well as my fiance having medical issues here that he is just not getting the right care for but with the way the economy is right now etc etc and having a full time well paying job here right now, I have been very very hesitant about making any type of move.
I have researched on line a bit but can not find a definitive answer...............can I collect unemployment if I leave my job to move back to the states to be with family due to illness and so my fiance can get proper medical care while I am searching for employment. I cannot afford to be without a paycheck for any length of time.

Expect another government bureaucracy and alot of hassles for correct answers ---long lines. I think the VIDOL and VI BMV operate and plan to be as inefficient as possible.

That statement is being totally unfair to the departments of VI-DLCA & VI-BIR. Surely they should be included in your critique. 😎

I have a question regarding unemployment as well. Before all this with Hovensa I have been contemplating a move back to the states due to illness in my family and wanting to be closer to them at this time as well as my fiance having medical issues here that he is just not getting the right care for but with the way the economy is right now etc etc and having a full time well paying job here right now, I have been very very hesitant about making any type of move.
I have researched on line a bit but can not find a definitive answer...............can I collect unemployment if I leave my job to move back to the states to be with family due to illness and so my fiance can get proper medical care while I am searching for employment. I cannot afford to be without a paycheck for any length of time.

and
Simply stated, unemployment insurance benefits are for workers who are "terminated" through no cause of their own making. (fired for cause -- stealing, intoxication, etc. don't qualify for benefits) Depending upon your employment status, size and "status " of your employer and your relationship to the sick family member; you may be eligible for short term un-paid "family leave". Detailas about the types of "leave' afforded to employees should have been included in "new hire package". If you never recieved such paper work or your employer doesn't have an HR department, then, most likely, your employer won't grant "family" leave. If you "quit your job" for whatever reason (good or bad) you are not eligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits. Save-up.

Um, that would be the "new" Virgin Islands if the only people who get unemployment are those terminated through no cause of their own.

Blu4u, some of your information is correct.

I have a flyer from virgin Islands labor Outreach hearings And Appeals UI IQ Quiz, picked it up at the VI DOL office near Cost U less.

Question 5 Name an eception to voluntarily separating from employment where an individual would not be automaticly disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits:

(1) Victims of domentic violence
(2) illness oe disability of immediate family member
(3) relocating with a spouse. BASED UPOB VERIFIED DOCUMENTS.

Again, best advice I can give you vihealth is go to the VI DOL office and discuss with a reprentative your circumstances. If you want a copy of the handout I have, PM your email and in the next few days I will scan and email to you.

Best of luck.

But what happens when the VI Unemployment Fund runs dry? Commish already said that he's financially in trouble and needs help from the Feds...What happens?

The Fed has already funded the unemployment fund prior to Hovensa event. Under workforce agreements Hovensa will repay the the Govt!