Where To Sign Up For Unemployment In Virginia
It is highly recommended to apply for unemployment benefits online or by telephone, but you can sign up for unemployment by bringing all of the required information to the local Virginia Employment Commission office. If you are wondering where to apply for unemployment, the numbers and addresses for local VES offices can be found in a phone book or online.
When And How Will I Be Paid
Your first payment will be issued to you after you have served a waiting week and are eligible to receive benefits for the second week claimed.
However, Virginia has temporarily suspended the one-week waiting period due to COVID-19.
When you make an initial application for benefits, you will be able to select either direct deposit into your personal checking or savings account, or you will be able to collect benefits with a Virginia Debit Mastercard. Funds will be loaded on to the card which can be used any place where debit cards are allowed as a method of payment. It takes 2 business days for your funds to be deposited into your account after your weekly claim has been processed. You can also change your payment method at any time by logging on to your account on the VEC website or by calling 1-800-897-5630.
When you file an initial claim, you can expect your first payment within 14 calendar days after you file your weekly request for payment of benefits. You may not receive your payment on the same day of the week each time you file your request for payment. Timely payments depend on you meeting all weekly requirements as well.
However, no payment will be issued if you have a separation or able and available issue on your claim, until those issues have been addressed and appropriate action taken on them.
If you dont receive an anticipated payment, contact the VEC Customer Contact Center. However, you should wait at least 5 days after you file your request.
Learn About Virginia Unemployment Insurance
Find Out How to Apply for Virginia Unemployment
Individuals are eligible to file a VA unemployment claim if they have either been laid off or fired through no fault of their own. Virginia Unemployment insurance is a federally supported program to prevent the cascade of negative effects to individuals and families who have lost income.
Virginia unemployment insurance is a large program with connections to the National School Lunch program, Veterans Assistance programs, and the federal Pell Grant fund that is applicable to job training. Although federal EDD unemployment is available for all states, each state has different policies.
Virginias eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance coverage have changed as of 2016, and it is imperative that anyone seeking benefits learn about how they are processed. For example, Virginia had changes in its unemployment benefits rate and eligibility requirements in 2011 and 2014.
The main changes, however, have been a reduced availability of certain programs and the creation of new ones. One unemployment insurance program was created in 2015 to help workers reduce their hours instead of being laid off, helping employers reduce costs and employees keep their jobs.
You will also learn about the various workshops and job services available in Virginia. For step-by-step instructions on how the unemployment insurance claims process works in Virginia, please see the following sections:
Find Out How to Appeal Denied Benefits
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Filing For And Receiving Weekly Benefits
Unemployment benefits are claimed on a calendar week basis beginning on Sunday and ending at midnight on the following Saturday. In order to receive unemployment benefits, you must meet the following requirements during each week claimed .
The Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act requires that claimants provide the name of the employers contacted for work therefore blind ads cannot be accepted.
Report any refusal of job offers.
File your weekly request for payment of benefits in a timely manner. See Filing Your Weekly Request for Payment of Benefits, and the Voice Response System instructions.
How Do I Apply For Unemployment Benefits
The two fastest ways to file for Virginia unemployment benefits are:
- Apply online. This is the quickest way to get your application for benefits started.
Be prepared to provide the following information:
- Name
- Social Security number or Alien Registration Number
- Name, address, and telephone number of your last employer
- Dates of employment
- Reason you are no longer working
At this time, you will also be asked to select your desired payment method. You can choose between direct deposit to your bank account or a prepaid debit card. If you choose direct deposit, you will need to supply your bank account and routing numbers.
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Claim Denials Or Discrepancies
If your claim has been denied or if it is suffering from discrepancies, you can appeal to the VEC by sending a written appeal to the Clerk of The Commission or by filing at your local VEC office.
All forms must contain appropriate information, including your name, Social Security Number, why your claim was denied, why it shouldnt have been, and any evidence backing up your claims.
It must be filed within 30 days of the date the letter was mailed or the date you received it online . It will require a hearing, which you can either use legal counsel at or defend yourself.
Appeals Process for Denied Claims
Unemployed? We want to help.
If you want to file for an appeal of a denied claim, you need to follow these steps:
- Fill out your appeal form and mail it to the address indicated below
- Wait to hear back on the date of your hearing
- Read the âNotice of Appealâ carefully
- Start gathering witnesses who can help your case, including ex-coworkers and managers
- Submit the name and fees of your attorney, should you choose one, to the appeal judge for approval
- Attend the hearing dressed in appropriate clothes, such as a suit and tie, though complete formality is not strictly required
- Present your case to the judge in a respectful way, presenting your evidence and your witnesses at the appointed time â you and your employer will both get your chances to do so
- Finish the appeal session and go home to wait for the decision â youll usually get this within a week or so
Fax: 786-8492
Are You Out Of Work Through No Fault Of Your Own
You must be out of work through no fault of your own to qualify for unemployment benefits in Virginia.
Collecting Unemployment After a Layoff
If you were laid off, lost your job in a reduction-in-force , or got downsized for economic reasons, you will meet this requirement.
Collecting Unemployment After Being Fired
If you were fired because you lacked the skills to perform the job or simply werent a good fit, you wont necessarily be barred from receiving benefits. If, however, you were fired for misconduct, you may be disqualified from receiving benefits. For example, you will likely be ineligible for benefits if you were fired for lying about your criminal record, failing a drug test, or being repeatedly late or absent in violation of a known policy of your employer.
Collecting Unemployment After Quitting
You wont be eligible for unemployment benefits if you quit your job voluntarily, without good cause. In general, good cause means that you had a compelling reason that left you no other choice than to leave. For example, if you left your job because of dangerous working conditions or discrimination that your employer refused to stop, you may be able to collect benefits. If you quit your job to relocate with a spouse who had to move for a new military assignment, you will still be eligible for benefits.
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Could I Be Denied
When you file your unemployment compensation claim, we will gather the needed facts. Any time an issue is raised that might affect your right to receive benefits, we are required to investigate and issue a formal decision. This is a written notice that describes the issue, the facts we gathered, and our reason for concluding that you are eligible to receive benefits. You have the right to appeal any decision with which you do not agree. It is in your best interest to file your claim and allow us to determine whether an issue exists.
Questions And Answers About Unemployment Benefits
Q. When should I file a claim for unemployment compensation benefits?Awww.vec.virginia.govQ. My hours have been reduced. Can I apply for unemployment compensation benefits?AQ. What happens after I complete my unemployment insurance application?AQ. What are the work search requirements?
A. Beginning with the week of May 30 through June 5, 2021, individuals wishing to request a weekly claim for payment of unemployment benefits will be required to make an active search for work and report those contacts when filing their weekly-continued claim for benefits in order to receive payment. In addition, they will be required to be able to work, available for work, actively seeking and unable to obtain suitable work and be willing to accept any offer of suitable work without attaching any undue restrictions not usual and customary for the type work they are seeking. View more information and work search video here.
Q. How much in benefits do I get and for how long?AQ. What if Im working but my hours have been reduced?
A. You may be eligible for partial benefits. A partially unemployed person is one who, during a calendar week, was employed by a regular employer and had earnings that were less than his weekly benefit amount, and who worked less than his normal customary full-time hours because of a lack of work.
Q. What if Im working part-time? Am I still required to actively seek work?AQ. What if I return to full-time work?AA
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How Do I Apply For Unemployment Benefits In Virginia
You can file an initial claim online on the VEC website.
To file a claim by phone, call the Customer Contact Center telephone number at 1-866-832-2363, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., MondayFriday.
Before filing an initial claim, you will need to have several pieces of information available:
- Social Security number
- The reason why you lost your last job
- If you are not a US. citizen, you will need an Alien Registration Number.
- If you were on active duty in the U.S. military in the past 18 months, you will need DD Form 214, Member 4.
- If you worked for the federal government in the past 18 months, you will need Standard Form 8 and Standard Form 50.
- You will need all of your employment information for the past 18 months, including all contact information and dates worked.
- Any additional wages you have received from vacation, severance or other sources
- Other states where you have worked in the past 18 months
- If you choose to have your payments made by direct deposit, you will also need to supply appropriate information for that option .
Newly unemployed?
Several online serviceslike FlexJobs, 360training, or MyPerfectResumecan help you find work-from-home jobs, build a better resume, or earn training certifications.
How Can I Sign Up For Unemployment In Virginia
First, check all personal and employee information on your VA unemployment EDD application, and if anything is not up-to-date or accurate, including the dates of employment, make corrections to your application. If you are contesting your employers wrongful termination, make sure to fully explain why it was not your fault. Virginias applications for unemployment registration are available through phone consultation or online.
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A Guide To Unemployment Benefits In Virginia
The Virginia Employment Commission administers the states unemployment insurance program, which provides protection against loss of wages to individuals who become unemployed through no fault of their own. To qualify, individuals must meet all eligibility requirements.
Benefits are paid through taxes on employers covered under the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act. No part of the employer tax is deducted from an employees earnings.
Covid 19 Enhanced Benefits In Virginia
Under the CARES act, there are three types of federal unemployment assistance available: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance : expands eligibility for traditionally ineligible individuals for unemployment benefits, including independent contractors and self-employed individuals. Recipients may receive up to 39 weeks of benefit payments under this program.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation : adds $600 per week and the regular benefits that recipients of Unemployment Insurance are entitled to receive the benefit is retroactive to the week beginning March 29, 2020, and the program expired on July 31, 2020.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation : provides an additional 13 weeks of Unemployment benefits to regular unemployment insurance recipients.
If you have exhausted benefits paid through the regular unemployment and PEUC program, you may be entitled to receive up to 50% of the total amount received on your regular unemployment benefits through the Extended Benefit program. This program covers an additional 6 to 13 weeks of unemployment benefits, depending upon the number of weeks you were eligible for benefits on your original unemployment insurance claim.
VA Lost Wages Assistance Payment Details and Schedule
Web and/or phone issues with accessing the Virginia Unemployment system
Initial claims are filed through the Virginia Workforce Connection here.
Filing an Initial Claim
- The physical address for each employer
- Telephone number
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How To File For Unemployment In Virginia
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Figuring out how to claim unemployment benefits after losing your job can make an already tough situation seem even worse. Fortunately, filing for unemployment in Virginia is a relatively easy process that can really help you find a new job and deal with the stress of unemployment. You will need to have personal and employment information on hand to see if you are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. If you meet the criteria, you can file your claim and collect an unemployment insurance check while you look for your new job. Finding the right job can take time, and the Virginia Employment Commission will help you search for work while providing some financial assistance.
Work Search Requirements Causing Benefit Payment Issues
Over the last few months many claimants have reported that their UI benefits have stopped, particularly since the VEC reinstated work search requirements, which their antiquated systems have struggled to process . This is despite eligible claimants applying for jobs and reporting this on their weekly claims. The Benefit Year End Date , discussed in earlier updates below, does not seem to be the cause of the issue in most cases.
Governor Northam had asked claimants to be patient, despite Virginia being ranked among the worst states in paying claims, but this is not of much help to the many jobless workers who rely on federal and state unemployment benefits to pay for essentials and make ends meet.
Coupled with ongoing fraudulent claims many claimants have been caught in a web of automated call systems and process bureaucracy as their claims go unpaid. Getting hold of a live VEC agent has also been a challenge with many reporting hours of hold times and/or getting an untrained/new agent who is not able to help them
While the VEC, in a recent court hearing, said it had made significant progress in resolving thousands of unpaid and retroactive claims, it is estimated over 50,000 claims are still pending for review. Because a lot of these claims have to be checked manually so it could unfortunately take several months for eligible claimants to get paid which the VEC has to legally to so. I will post updates as I get them and check the comments forum below for more information.
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How To Appeal A Denial Of Unemployment Benefits In Virginia
If your unemployment claim is denied, you have 30 days to appeal the decision to the VEC. A hearing will be held on your appeal, at which you may testify, present witnesses, and offer evidence before the Appeals Examiner makes a decision.
If you arent satisfied with the Appeals Examiners decision, you may appeal it to the Office of Commission Appeals within 14 days. If you are unhappy with the Commissions decision, you may appeal in state court.
For more information on the unemployment process, including current eligibility requirements and benefits amounts, visit the website of the Virginia Employment Commission.
How Unemployment Works In Virginia
Heres a quick overview of how the unemployment insurance process works in Virginia.
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