To apply for unemployment in Vermont, file online at Claimant e-Services (UI Claimant Portal), with login through myVermont since March 2024 or call 1-877-214-3330 (Initial Claims Line); 1-877-214-3332 (Claimant Assistance Line) in the first week after your last day of work — the claim is dated from the week you file, not the week you were let go.
This guide lists the documents to gather, the steps in order, the identity check, the weekly claim, and the reasons a claim shows “pending” — the things the portal does not explain. Verified against Vermont Department of Labor as of October 2026.
Before You Apply For Unemployment In Vermont: At a Glance
| File online | https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance/initial-application |
| By phone | 1-877-214-3330 (Initial Claims Line); 1-877-214-3332 (Claimant Assistance Line) (Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:00pm and Friday 9:00am-4:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday. The automated weekly claim line (1-800-983-2300) is open 24 hours on Sunday and 5:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday.) |
| When to file | The state generally advises filing in the first week after an actual separation from employment. Under the Vermont Claimant Handbook, the claim’s effective date depends on the day the claim is filed, not the day the job ended. Waiting to file may mean losing weeks of benefits. |
How to Apply For Unemployment In Vermont — In This Guide:
When to Apply for Unemployment in Vermont
The state generally advises filing in the first week after an actual separation from employment. Under the Vermont Claimant Handbook, the claim’s effective date depends on the day the claim is filed, not the day the job ended. Waiting to file may mean losing weeks of benefits.
What You Need to Apply for Unemployment in Vermont
Social Security number, mailing address, valid email address (needed to open a new claim), phone number, amount and duration of any separation pay (vacation pay, severance pay, etc.), alien registration number if not a U.S. citizen, bank routing number (9 digits) and account number for optional direct deposit
How to Apply for Unemployment in Vermont, Step by Step
- Confirm there has been an actual separation from employment (re-open your existing claim instead if you filed in the last 12 months)
- Create or sign in to a myVermont account with multi-factor authentication and verify your email
- Complete identity proofing by answering knowledge-based questions
- Complete and submit the initial claim application online, or call 1-877-214-3330
- Read the claimant rights and responsibilities, which you must certify before your first claim
- Enroll in direct deposit if wanted
- File a weekly claim every week you are unemployed or under-employed, starting the Sunday after the first week claimed
Prefer the phone? Call 1-877-214-3330 (Initial Claims Line); 1-877-214-3332 (Claimant Assistance Line) (Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:00pm and Friday 9:00am-4:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday. The automated weekly claim line (1-800-983-2300) is open 24 hours on Sunday and 5:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday.).
The Identity Check After You Apply for Unemployment in Vermont
Most states verify identity online (often through ID.me) before paying; finish it the same day you file, because a claim with an unfinished identity check sits in pending.
Your First Weekly Claim After You Apply for Unemployment in Vermont
Weekly claims are filed online through Claimant e-Services or by the automated line at 1-800-983-2300. The filing window opens Sunday and closes Friday at 4:00pm. The claim asks whether you were able and available for work. Most claimants who are not exempt must report 3 qualified job contacts per week and keep records of them for 1 year.
What Happens After You Apply for Unemployment in Vermont
A monetary determination letter showing your wage-based benefit amount arrives first and serves as confirmation that the claim was processed. Your most recent employer must give separation information within 10 days of the request (21 V.S.A. § 1314). If there is an eligibility issue, a fact-finder may contact you. The Department says a fully adjudicated eligibility determination can typically take 60-90 days, and either side may appeal it.
📨 Get Free Unemployment And Workplace Rights Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Why a Vermont Claim Shows Pending
- Identity not confirmed or failed identity proofing
- Separation reason other than lack of work (quit, discharge, health) that needs fact-finding by an adjudicator
- Separation, vacation, or severance pay that must be reviewed
- Weekly claim not filed by Friday 4:00pm or missing work search contacts
- Direct deposit pre-note check or bank numbers containing letters (call 1-877-214-3332)
A valid email address is required to open a new claim. Since March 2024, claimants can no longer log in with an SSN and PIN and must use a myVermont username and password. If you filed for at least one week in the last 12 months, re-open that claim instead of filing a new one.
Next step: once you have filed, our Vermont benefits guide shows what the weekly check will be, and the eligibility guide explains the separation rules the agency will apply.
Vermont — the bottom line
- To apply for unemployment in Vermont, file the first week after your last day — the claim starts when you file.
- Gather the documents before you apply for unemployment in Vermont: identity, 18 months of employers, and bank details.
- After you apply for unemployment in Vermont, file every weekly claim and finish the identity check the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for unemployment in Vermont?
Online at the state portal (https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance/initial-application) or by phone. File in the first week after your last day of work; the claim is dated from the week you file, not the week you were let go.
What do I need to apply for unemployment in Vermont?
Social Security number, mailing address, valid email address (needed to open a new claim), phone number, amount and duration of any separation pay (vacation pay, severance pay, etc.), alien registration number if not a U.S. citizen, bank routing number (9 digits) and account number for optional direct deposit
How long does it take to get unemployment in Vermont?
Two to four weeks after filing in most states, longer if identity verification or an employer dispute is pending.
Why is my Vermont unemployment claim pending?
Identity not confirmed or failed identity proofing; Separation reason other than lack of work (quit, discharge, health) that needs fact-finding by an adjudicator; Separation, vacation, or severance pay that must be reviewed; Weekly claim not filed by Friday 4:00pm or missing work search contacts; Direct deposit pre-note check or bank numbers containing letters (call 1-877-214-3332)
Official Vermont Sources & Resources
- Vermont Department of Labor: https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance
- Vermont unemployment statute: 21 V.S.A. ch. 17
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- CareerOneStop (DOL) — state benefit finder: careeronestop.org
This apply for unemployment in Vermont guide was last verified against official Vermont sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Vermont Unemployment Guides
- Vermont Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Vermont Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- Vermont Unemployment Overpayment: Waivers and Repayment
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.