West Virginia Unemployment Eligibility: Past Earnings
Virtually all states look at your recent work history and earnings during a one-year “base period” to determine your eligibility for unemployment. In West Virginia, as in most states, the base period is the earliest four of the five complete calendar quarters before you filed your benefits claim. For example, if you file your claim in December of 2019, the base period would be from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
To qualify for benefits in West Virginia, you must meet both of the following requirements:
- You must have been paid wages in at least two quarters of the base period.
- You must have earned at least $2,200 during the entire base period.
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What Happens If I Was Not Getting Benefits But The Appeal Went In My Favor Can I Get Back Benefits
Yes, if you kept filing your claim forms during the appeal. You have to keep looking for work, even while the appeal is pending. You have to keep filing your claim forms at Unemployment, even while the appeal is pending. If you win on appeal, you CAN be paid for weeks when you filed you claim and you should have gotten benefits.
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Actively Searching For Work
When applying for unemployment compensation, whether your initial claim or weekly claim certification, you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility. This will let Workforce West Virginia know that you are still unemployed and eligible to continue receiving benefit payments. You will be asked if you are actively searching for work and asked to keep a record with the Job Contact Record supplied by Workforce West Virginia.
If you withhold or give false information to receive benefits, such as not reporting work or wages, you are committing fraud. Penalties may include disqualification for unemployment insurance, losing your benefits, and criminal prosecution.
Expanded Unemployment In West Virginia During The Covid
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill known as the American Rescue Plan .
Under ARP, the $300 per week federal unemployment supplement is extended until September 6, 2021.
The law also extends two unemployment programs originally created by the CARES Act in March 2020: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation .
Under the PUA program, self-employed workersusually excluded from unemployment benefitsare entitled to unemployment if they meet certain criteria. ARP makes PUA benefits available through Labor Day 2021, and increases the maximum duration of these benefits from 50 to 79 weeks.
The PEUC program provides for a federally-funded extension of benefits when state unemployment benefits expire. ARP increases the maximum duration of PEUC benefits from 24 to 53 weeks, with an expiry date of September 4, 2021.
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Workforce Wv Accepting Applications For Extended Unemployment Benefits
CHARLESTON, WV Workers who have exhausted their regular state unemployment and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits may now apply for Extended Benefits, WorkForce West Virginia announced today.
West Virginias most recent Insured Unemployment Rate passed 5 percent and exceeds 120 percent of the corresponding average rate in the prior two years, which requires the state to enter a 13-week Extended Benefit period.
Under federal law, Extended Benefits offer up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits to workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits and 13 weeks of PEUC assistance, said Scott Adkins, acting commissioner of WorkForce West Virginia. We are now issuing written notifications to people who are eligible to apply for these Extended Benefits.
Claimants who have exhausted their PEUC benefits by Sunday, July 5, 2020 do not need to wait on notification from WorkForce West Virginia to file for Extended Benefits. To apply, claimants should visit uc.workforcewv.org and click on the Apply for Extended Benefits button.
Under the Extended Benefits program, claimants will receive the same weekly benefit amount they got from regular unemployment compensation.
WorkForce West Virginia is also reminding all claimants that the additional $600 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation is scheduled to end July 25, 2020.
When Does The Agency Start Paying Unemployment Benefits
The unemployment system does what the most recent decision says.
If the last decision said that payment of benefits to you is proper, you will start getting benefits.
If the last decision said that payment of benefits to you is NOT proper, you will stop getting benefits.
The most recent decision will be followed, even if one side files an appeal.
If you win and the other side appeals, benefits are paid to you until there is an appeal decision against you.
If you lose and file an appeal, you will not get benefits until there is an appeal decision in your favor.
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How Is My Payment Amount Determined
Your weekly benefit amount is based on the total covered wages you were paid during your base period. You must have been paid wages of at least $2,200 in covered employment during your base period and must have been paid wages in at least two quarters of your base period to be monetarily eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits. The regular base period consists of the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the starting date of your new claim. If you are not monetarily eligible during the regular base period, we would then explore the alternate base period to assist you in possibly becoming monetarily eligible.
How Do I Apply For Unemployment Benefits
The best way is to apply online through the WorkForce WV website. Try to avoid using a cell phone or tablet as they don’t work well with the site. Be aware that the system is experiencing temporary outages due to high demand during the COVID-19 outbreak.
If you don’t have internet access or have a disability that requires assistive technology, call 800-252-5627.
Be prepared to supply the following information:
- Your Social Security number or government-issued documentation showing your work status if you’re not a U.S. citizen
- Driver’s license number
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How To Apply For Unemployment In West Virginia
by Dana George | Updated July 17, 2021 – First published on April 6, 2020
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that pay us a commission. Its how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts opinions arent influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
Losing a job for any reason can be jarring. If you’ve lost your job in West Virginia, here’s how to file for unemployment benefits.
More than 90,000 West Virginians have filed for unemployment benefits since businesses began stuttering due to COVID-19, otherwise known as the novel coronavirus. If you don’t manage to snag another job right away and need to file for benefits, you might have questions. Read on to find out whether you are eligible, how you should apply and how much you might receive.
What Happens If Unemployment Claims In West Virginia Are Denied
After you file an unemployment claim, the state will send out a monetary determination that tells you if you’re eligible and how much you’ll receive. If you don’t agree with the decision, you have the right to an appeal.
When your base-period wages don’t seem correct, you can request a redetermination from your local WorkForce office. An official will re-examine your income information to see if any errors were made.
If you’re denied benefits, you have 8 days to file an appeal with the nearest WorkForce office. A phone or in-person hearing will be scheduled at that point, you’ll have the opportunity to present your case to an administrative law judge. This hearing doesn’t require representation because the judge is always willing to help or answer questions.
The judge will mail you a decision. You have 8 days to appeal this decision to the West Virginia Board of Review, if necessary. All board hearings are held in Charleston the staff will send you information about the time and date.
What happens if you don’t agree with the Board of Review’s decision? Within 30 days, you will need to file an appeal to the Circuit Court of Kanawha County. This is the final appeal opportunity.
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Filing An Unemployment Claim
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You must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own, and you must have earned sufficient wages in your base period . Also, you must be able and available for full-time work.
You can apply for unemployment benefits online or by telephone by calling 1-800-379-1032 if you are living outside of West Virginia. If you reside in West Virginia, your claim must be filed in person at your nearest claims office. To locate the local claims office nearest you and find out the group meeting times, you can go online to the West Virginia Unemployment Compensation webpage.
The amount of unemployment benefits varies. It is dependent on how much you have earned in your base period. The minimum weekly benefit rate is $24.00 and maximum benefit rate is $424.00. More information can be found on the UC Benefit Rate Table.
The length of time that you will receive benefits is also based on how much you made during the base period, but not more than 26 weeks.
You must file your appeal within 8 calendar days from the date the decision was mailed. You may file an appeal on a regular form that is available in your local office, or you may write a letter to your local office. Also, you must also continue to file weekly during your appeal, as you will only be paid for those weeks you continued to file if you win your appeal.
West Virginia Unemployment Benefits
The West Virginia Unemployment Insurance program offers temporary financial assistance to those who have lost their job through no fault of their own. On this page, we will tell you all about unemployment benefits in West Virginia, including the eligibility requirements, application process, and overpayments.
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Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
West Virginians who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits and are eligible for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation can receive additional unemployment benefits for up to 24 weeks through March 14, 2021. The additional weeks of benefits are provided through the Response and Relief Act and will be available to individuals who previously collected state or federal unemployment compensation but have exhausted those benefits.
Individuals eligible for PEUC benefits will receive the same amount of unemployment compensation he or she received in previous weeks in addition to the $300 in weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation .
No individual will be eligible to receive FPUC after April 5, 2021.
To learn more about PEUC benefits, visit www.workforcewv.org/cares-act-questions.
Wva Offers $1500 To Unemployed Residents Who Find Work
Gov. Jim Justice said Thursday that residents can apply for the one-time payment on the WorkForce West Virginia website.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. A plan is up and running in West Virginia to pay $1,500 to many unemployed residents who return to work and remain on the job for eight weeks.
Gov. Jim Justice said Thursday that residents can apply for the one-time payment on the WorkForce West Virginia website.
The program is open to residents who receive benefits unemployment, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and are hired for a job between Jan. 1 and Aug. 12. Others may be eligible if they complete a WorkForce West Virginia approved training program and obtain a credential.
To get the payment, residents must work at least 32 hours per week on average for eight consecutive weeks.
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Types Of Disability Policies
There are two types of disability policies.
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Short-term policies may pay for up to two years. Most last for a few months to a year.
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Long-term policies may pay benefits for a few years or until the disability ends.
Employers who offer coverage may provide short-term coverage, long-term coverage, or both.
If you plan to buy your own policy, shop around and ask:
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How is disability defined?
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How long do benefits last?
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How much money will the policy pay?
Learn About West Virginia Unemployment Insurance
Find Out How to Apply for West Virginia Unemployment
Unemployment Compensation is an insurance program designed to provide West Virginia unemployment insurance coverage to eligible persons who are temporarily unemployed through no fault of their own. Unlike public welfare, with unemployment insurance, financial need for assistance is not a factor that can be considered. Employers pay a tax to cover their workers against involuntary unemployment. Most employers are required to pay this tax. When someone works for these employers, they are in covered employment and their wages are covered wages. Unemployment insurance benefits in West Virginia are not available to claimants who do not meet the requirements set by law.
Regarding your WV unemployment claim, you will learn about your situational and monetary eligibility for benefits and what defines your separation from work. There is information in this report on what happens if you caused your separation from work, enrolled in an educational program, are sick or disabled or if you put any restrictions on what type of work you will take. The situational factors, which will be covered in more detail, include being able, available, and willing to work and be actively looking for work in West Virginia.
West Virginia Unemployment Resources
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Do I Have To Take The Back Benefits Or Can I Choose To Save Them For Future Weeks
You can choose to defer back benefits if you think you are going to remain unemployed for a long time.
Under current law, 26 weeks is the maximum time that benefits can be paid. If you take some weeks of back benefits, youll have fewer weeks of benefits in the future. If you choose not to take the back benefits, you will have more weeks of payments for the future.
If you do not want to get back benefits, tell the unemployment office immediately. As soon as you get a favorable decision, the agency will start processing back benefits. If you want to hold them in reserve, go to the local office quickly and tell them not to pay back benefits.
View the Unemployment Compensation Toolkit for more information on Unemployment Compensation.
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.
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How To Certify Your Weekly Ui Benefits
Those who need to certify their weekly claim have more flexibility in how they file their claim. It can be done online by going to or by You will need to enter your Social Security Number and PIN number to log in. If you forget your PIN you will need to contact your local office.
You will be required to actively search for work each week and have a record of your job search on the Job Contact Record in order to certify your weekly claim, unless exempt. Before submitting your weekly certification, you will be required to certify your answers as correct and they cannot be changed once submitted. If you realize that youve made a mistake during the process, not sure or distracted, youre advised to stop the process, either hanging up or disconnecting from the web.
In order to continue in active filing status you will need to file your claim certification each week in a timely manner. You will be filing for the prior week and the certification must be submitted between Sunday at 12:01 am EST and Friday at 5:00 pm EST.
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When And Where To Register For Unemployment Benefits In West Virginia
The WV unemployment insurance petitioner should file for unemployment as soon as possible after his or her last day of work, or after his or her hours have been reduced to less than full-time work. This is because an unemployment claim is effective the week it is filed. To discover where to apply for unemployment, claimants living in West Virginia should print an online application for unemployment, fill it out, and then bring it in person to the local claims office to file it. Regarding how to apply for unemployment online, the petitioner needs to follow the online prompts to print the application. If the applicant lives outside of West Virginia, he or she can file for an unemployment claim online or by telephone. In either case, his or her employer will be asked to verify certain information the applicant furnishes. The duration of the application process depends on the accuracy of the information submitted.
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