I need help from someone so that I can collect my UI benefits. I first applied for UI on 5/18/2021. I was laid off from my job on 5/17/2021. I waited for a couple of weeks but I hadn't received my Monetary Determination or PIN so I called the 866 number again. Couldn't get through. Called the 1-800 number, couldn't get through. Called the Alexandria office, couldn't get through. Went to the Alexandria office, it was closed. On 6/3/21 I finally I called back the 866 number and chose option 1 again and was able to speak with an agent. She said there was nothing on me in their system. So, I don't know what happened but I went through the whole rigamarole again w/ the rep. She (once again) stated I would need to wait for the Monetary Determination and PIN to arrive by mail. 6/18/21 - Waited a couple of weeks and finally got my letters, only to discover that they put all zeros for my base period (Jan 2020 thru Dec 2020). At the bottom of the MD page it said Benefits Denied due to no record of employment for the base period. WTH? I worked all year in 2020 and told the rep this information. In fact, we talked a while about my salary so I couldn't understand why they put zero for my 2020 income. I continued to call VEC (all three phone numbers: main office [protected] - account information [protected] - Alexandria office [protected]) with no luck reaching a live person. 7/2/21 - Finally called the 866 number again and used option #1 for initial claims since it is the only way to reach a live person. I went through the entire 30 minutes of answering all the questions the call rep was asking. At the end of it she told me that I was ineligible because I didn't answer 'yes' to at least one of the hundred questions she had asked me. While it is true that I answered 'no' to all the questions, it was because I was not unemployed due to COVID-19 and all the questions were COVID-19 related. I told her this more than once. I said I was laid off my job but it had nothing to do with COVID. She just sat there. I asked if the only way you can receive UI benefits in Virginia was if you were affected by the pandemic (which I know is not true, I just wanted to put it bluntly to her because that is essentially what she was telling me.) She just repeated the same mantra, "In order to continue with filing this claim for UI benefits, you would need to have answered 'yes' to at least one of the questions. Sigh. After this disastrous call, I tried to fax my W2 and other information to the Alexandria office on but the fax wouldn't go through. 7/27/2021 - After continuing to call all three numbers and getting nowhere, I finally wrote a long letter and included my W2 from 2020 plus a copy of one of my bank statements showing my twice monthly paychecks that were deposited by my former company. I mailed this to the VEC Monetary Determinations Unit in Richmond as indicated on the paperwork that was mailed to me. Waited some more. Nothing came in the mail. 8/19/2021 - Finally called again to the 866 # using option 1 (the only way to actually speak to a live person). I explained the entire history of trying to get my benefits to the call rep. She told me it sounded like the previous rep did not fill out the paperwork correctly. She also assured me that I would receive retroactive pay going back to 5/18. She also told me she was adding notes to my file stating that. I felt pretty good about this latest attempt (which is now my THIRD TIME filing the initial claim). The rep told me that I still needed to wait for my Monetary Determination page but that it would probably arrive much sooner this time around. Note: My confirmation # for this call is ESA21230152820B56701 8/28/2021 - Finally received my Monetary Determination page in the mail. To my shock and horror, it said the SAME THING AS LAST TIME! They reported ZERO WAGES for my base period, which is INCORRECT! Each time I have tried to file for benefits I have provided my salary information. How does this keep coming up with $0.0 for my wages? I do not understand it. And once again, at the bottom of the MD page, it says Benefits Denied. No record of covered employment in base period. What is going on here? The Deputy that is listed on my paperwork is VEC651. Not sure it that helps or not. 8/29/2021 - I sent an email to the Alexandria office with all the information listed here. I NEED HELP! I have now been waiting 3.5 months with no money coming in! I have faithfully been keeping track of all my job applications, interviews, etc. I've applied to approximately 40 jobs and have done about ten interviews. I've taken three certification courses, have started two others, and I will be taking my DHS Trusted Tester Certification Exam next week. I've been keeping up with my end of the deal. But WHERE IS THE HELP THAT I NEED FROM THE VEC??? A couple of weeks ago I was forced to start dipping into my savings, which is something I don't want to do but I need help paying my bills. I don't have that much so it will vanish in no time and then what? Just become homeless? WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME? Who can I call to get answers about why VEC keeps listing my wages as $0.00? This is just ludicrous. Is there some other reason I'm getting rejected? If so, what is it?