RICHMOND, VA — October 8, 2024 - The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) will be on-site at the Taylors Valley Community Center in Damascus on Wednesday, October 9, from 10:00 a.m.  to 5:00 p.m. to assist individuals with unemployment benefits and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). VEC staff will be available to provide guidance, answer questions, and support those affected by Hurricane Helene. The Taylors Valley Community Center is located at 23378 Taylor Valley Road, Damascus, VA 24236.

In addition, VEC staff are currently providing, and will continue to offer, unemployment assistance at the Damascus Resource Center located at 744 N. Beaver Dam Ave., Damascus, VA 24236 (across from Food City), 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Those who have lost their job, can't work or had hours reduced as a direct result of Hurricane Helene and are ineligible for regular state unemployment benefits may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Including in the DUA declaration: Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe Counties, and the City of Galax.

Individuals can also apply for unemployment benefits or DUA online at VEC’s Claimant Self Service: uidirect.vec.virginia.gov/CSS/CSSLogon.htm, which can also be found on VEC’s website: www.vec.virginia.gov, or by calling VEC’s Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday). Applicants will first need to complete the UI form to determine eligibility for UI or DUA benefits.

For more information, visit: tinyurl.com/2fpedxyn.

Press inquiries
For press inquiries, please contact VEC’s Director of Communications Kerri O’Brien by email at vecpio@vec.virginia.gov.

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