While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here on page 4.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in the U.S. Virgin Islands, you must:
Learn more about the U.S. Virgin Islands’ monetary and personal eligibility requirements here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in the U.S. Virgin Islands, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here on page 3.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call:
To apply for Unemployment insurance in person, click here to find your nearest office location.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, call the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at one of the following Unemployment Insurance Hotlines:
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor customer service telephone line and all local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM AT.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you worked for in the U.S. Virgin Islands. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor looks at the claimant’s paid wages during the base period. The weekly benefit rate will be 4 percent of the total wages from the claimant’s highest quarter.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in the U.S. Virgin Islands is $33. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $552.
Learn more about the U.S. Virgin Islands’ base period and how benefits are calculated here on page 4.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here on page 4.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here on page 5.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
Learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here on page 5.
File your Weekly Certification Application here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed Weekly Certifications for two or more consecutive weeks.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal in writing to the Commissioner at your local U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor office. Your appeal must be filed within 20 days of receiving the denial notice.
Find your nearest local office’s location and phone number here.
Find out what information to include in your appeal here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor at one of the following Unemployment Insurance Hotlines:
You can also visit or call a local Career Center for further assistance. Find your nearest office location and contact information here.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor customer service telephone lines and all local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM AT.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
If you have general questions about U.S. Virgin Islands Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at one of the following Unemployment Insurance Hotlines:
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor customer service telephone lines and all local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM AT.
If you have questions about appeals, call one of the hotlines above or learn about the appeals process here.
Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, go to the U.S. Virgin Islands DOL Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas | 2353 Kronprindsens Gade St. Thomas, VI 00802 | (340) 776-3700 |
| St. Croix | 4401 Sion Farm STE1 Christiansted, VI 00820-4245 | (340) 773-1994 |
To find more information on U.S. Virgin Islands Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
If you have a question about U.S. Virgin Islands Employer Unemployment Insurance, visit the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor Employer Registration page here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in the U.S. Virgin Islands, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here on page 3.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call:
To apply for Unemployment insurance in person, click here to find your nearest office location.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, call the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at one of the following Unemployment Insurance Hotlines:
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor customer service telephone line and all local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM AT.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the U.S. Virgin Islands claimant portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor’s customer service lines at:
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here on page 4.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here on page 5.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal in writing to the Commissioner at your local U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor office. Your appeal must be filed within 20 days of receiving the denial notice.
Find your nearest local office’s location and phone number here.
Find out what information to include in your appeal here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor at one of the following Unemployment Insurance Hotlines:
You can also visit or call a local Career Center for further assistance. Find your nearest office location and contact information here.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Labor customer service telephone lines and all local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM AT.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.