If you live in Virginia, you have the right to receive Unemployment Compensation (UC). It is a program that provides extra help (to carry their needs) to all workers who have lost their jobs.
Almost every state in the country provides this program to people who met certain requirements. The person will receive weekly contributions according to his case, but in exchange, he will have to do some tasks.
The application process is very simple. In this article, we will show you the requirements and steps to get the benefits in the state of Virginia.
Requirements to get the benefits
Principally, The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) is the governmental agency that runs this program; you will need to prove that you meet the requisites to obtain the benefits.
There are 3 general requirements:
Monetary condition
To evaluate your eligibility, the VEC will look at your earnings from the first 4 quarters of the last five completed calendar quarters preceding your claim’s date.
In other words, to calculate the sum of earnings, you need to separate the previous 15 months into 5 quarters (3 months each). The first 4 quarters are your “base period.” For example: If you apply in May 2020, your base period is January 2019 – December 2019.
To be selected, you must have earned at least $3,000.00 in 2 quarters in the base period.
However, here is a base period calculator for your convenience. Enter your application’s effective month, and the base period time will appear on your screen.
Reason of unemployment
On the other hand, you have to demonstrate that you are unemployed because of lack of work, you will need to specify the reasons for your separation from employment by presenting a written explanation to The Virginia Employment Commission.
By the time you are completing the application, you will be asked for the circumstances that made you lose your job; this is your opportunity to convince them.
Weekly search for work
Besides proving that the unemployment occurred due to reasons beyond you, it is necessary that you continuously look for another job.
This will prove the commission that you have the physical conditions, the intentions, and the availability to work. Remember that external reasons must cause your unemployment status, and that you are not making the application for comfort instead of need.
In case you refuse a job offered by the VEC, you may be disqualified from receiving future benefits, unless you demonstrate that you had a good cause to reject it. A Deputy will decide if the job was suitable and if your reason for declining was valid.
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How to apply for unemployment?
Applying may be a tedious process because all the information you need to provide, but once you have filed your claim, the process will be more bearable. You have 2 ways to apply:
Online
- Enter to this page and log in. If you do not have an account, create one by clicking on “register,” then create your username and password.
- Two options will appear “individual” and “employer.” Select “individual.”
- Once you do it, you will see an Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Notice; you should read it and then click in “I agree.”
- Read and agree with the Privacy Agreement.
- After that, on your screen will appear an Unemployment Insurance Compensation. Read it carefully, and in the end, you will be asked whether you want to present your claim or not, select “yes.”
- Then, you will see the application required information: Eligibility, Registration, Work History, and Certification. Take your time and complete it carefully.
- When you finish, you will be redirected to the main page where you can see your unemployment benefits, rights, and responsibilities.
- Accept the conditions, and if you see the page with “your job matches” title, it means that you are done.
Through phone
You can also call the VEC to 1-866-832-2363. They are available from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and Saturday between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm
How much will I receive?
In the State of Virginia, the sum for unemployment benefits ranges from $54 to $378 per week. It will depend on your specific case and the amount of your total wages (in your base period). The more money you earned, the more you will receive.