DOL Triggers Tier 4 Emergency Unemployment Compensation

The Virgin Islands has triggered “off” Tier 4 of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits. The V.I. total unemployment rate (TUR) fell below the 8.5 percent threshold necessary to remain “on” Tier 4 of the EUC program, which concluded on Jan. 21, according to a press release issued Friday by the V.I. Department of Labor.

As the Virgin Islands triggers “off” Tier 4, the current maximum entitlement for claimants will decrease from 53 weeks to 47 weeks of benefits. The week ending Feb. 25 will be the last week in which EUC claimants can exhaust Tier 3 benefits. Claimants will receive remaining entitlements available on Tier 4 after Feb. 25.

“This is a normal occurrence for this time of year. The uptick in employment created by the onset of the tourist season and Christmas reduces claims and causes our unemployment measure to fall. We anticipate that this will only last a couple of months and the Hovensa claims will trigger us on once again,” said DOL Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr.

Affected residents will continue to receive re-employment and workforce development services to prepare them for returning to work and potentially better job opportunities. Each week, the department will feature 25 “hot jobs” per district on the department’s Web site www.vidol.gov, facebook and resource rooms.

The Department of Labor highlights the following:

· Individuals knowingly misrepresenting their employment status by making false statements in connection with their claim are committing a federal offense, punishable by a fine or imprisonment for no more than five years, or both.

If there are any questions regarding this information, contact DOL offices on St. Croix at 773-1440 or on St. Thomas at 776-3700.