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 Virginia’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance benefits are weekly payments that are given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments can be provided via a direct deposit to your bank account.
You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Virginia, you must:
You can learn more about Virginia’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements to qualify for Unemployment 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. If possible, 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 Virginia, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Virginia’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Virginia Unemployment Office location.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the VEC Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the central office at the following lines Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM until 4:30 PM EST, and Saturday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM EST:
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Virginia. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Virginia Employment Commission takes the two highest-earning quarters in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 50.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Virginia is $60. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $378.
To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, click here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Request for Payment of Benefits through the claimant portal here or call 1-800-897-5630, 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 and the Weekly Request for Payment of Benefits here.
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.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Request for Payment of Benefits 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 Request for Payment of Benefits here. File your Weekly Request 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 claims for two or more consecutive weeks.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal.
You can file an appeal online here. Or, you can file an appeal in person, by mail or by fax. Appeal forms are available at local offices. To find your local office in order to obtain an appeal form and/or submit the appeal in person, click here.
If you wish to mail your appeal form, use the following address:
The Virginia Employment CommissionOffice of First Level Appeals Room 124P.O. Box 26441, Richmond, VA 23261-6441
To fax your appeal, send it to 804-786-8492.
If you have further questions about appeals, you can reach the central office at 1-866-832-2363.
Remember to continue filing your Weekly Request for Payment even while you are undergoing the appeals process.
If you need help with an application or you have any further questions about your claim, you can call the Virginia Employment Commission central office at 1-866-832-2363. For TTY services, please call 711 or 800-828-1120.
The Virginia Employment Commission central office line is available Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM until 4:30 PM EST, and Saturday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM EST. The office is closed on Sundays and the observed holidays listed here.
You can also visit or call your nearest local office for further assistance. You can find the location nearest you and its contact information 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.
If you have general questions about the Unemployment Benefits provided in Virginia or questions about appeals for a denied application, you can call the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) central office at 1-866-832-2363.
You may also apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone using this line. However, you may experience long wait times and difficulty getting through to a representative. To file your application, the Employment Commission recommends applying online.
The Virginia Employment Commission central office line is available Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM until 4:30 PM EST, and Saturday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM EST. The office is closed on Sundays and on the observed holidays listed here.
If you are already receiving Unemployment Benefits and would like to file your weekly continued claim, you can call the automated phone system at 1-800-897-5630.
Virginia has 34 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the Virginia Employment Commission’s Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 1900 Beauregard St. Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22311 | (703) 746-5990 |
| Arlington | Arlington, VA | (703) 813-1300 |
| Bristol | 200 Bob Morrison Blvd. Suite 100 Bristol, VA 24201 | (276) 642-7350 |
| Charlottesville | 944 Glenwood Station Lane Suite 103 Charlottesville, VA 22901 | (434) 282-2594 |
| Fairfax | 5520 Cherokee Avenue Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22312 | (703) 813-1300 |
| Covington | 106 North Maple Avenue Covington, VA 24426-1545 | (540) 962-1151 |
| Culpeper County | 210 E. Stevens St. Culpeper, VA 22701 | (540) 212-4570 |
| Danville | 211 Nor Dan Drive Suite 1055 Danville, VA 24540 | (434) 549-8220 |
| Eastern Shore | 25036 Lankford Highway Unit 16 Onley, VA 23418 | (757) 302-2029 |
| Emporia | 1300 Greensville County Circle Room 105 Southside Virginia Educational Center Suite C Emporia, VA 23847 | (434) 634-2326; TTY (434) 634-6532 |
| Fisherville | 1076 Jefferson Hwy Staunton, VA 24401 | (540) 332-7750 |
| Fredericksburg | 10304 Spotsylvania Avenue Suite 100 Fredericksburg, VA 22408 | (540) 322-5768 |
| Galax | 1117 East Stuart Drive Suite 167 Galax, VA 24333 | (276) 236-5105 |
| Hampton | 600 Butler Farm Road Suite B Hampton, VA 23666 | (757) 865-5800 |
| Harrisonburg | 160 N. Mason St. Valley Workforce Center Harrisonburg, VA 22802 | (540) 830-4993 |
| Henrico | 121 Cedar Fork Road Henrico, VA 23223 | (804) 652-3233 |
| Lynchburg | 3125 Odd Fellows Road Lynchburg, VA 24501 | (434) 455-5940 |
| Marion | 121 Bagley Circle Room 424 Marion, VA 24354 | (276) 706-8334 |
| Martinsville | 233 West Commonwealth Blvd. Martinsville, VA 24112 | (276) 634-3600 |
| Norfolk | 861 Glenrock Road Suite 100 Norfolk, VA 23502 | (757) 629-4702 |
| Norton | 1725 Park Ave SW Norton, VA 24273 | (276) 679-9413 |
| Petersburg | 22 W. Washington Street Petersburg, VA 23803 | (804) 862-6155 |
| Portsmouth | 4824 George Washington Highway Portsmouth, VA 23702 | (757) 558-4455 |
| Prince William | 13370 Minnieville Road Woodbridge, VA 22192 | (703) 897-0407 |
| Radford | 6226 University Park Dr. Suite 1300 Radford, VA 24141 | (540) 831-5980 |
| Richlands | 1928 Front St. Richlands, VA 24641 | (276) 963-2660 |
| Richmond | 203 E. Cary St. Richmond, VA 23219 | (804) 652-3241 |
| Roanoke | 3601 Thirlane Rd. NW Suite 2 Roanoke, VA 24019-3079 | (540) 613-8220 |
| Rocky Mount | 50 Claiborne Avenue Rocky Mount, VA 24151 | (540) 483-0179 |
| South Boston | 2506 Houghton Avenue South Boston, VA 24592 | (434) 572-8064 |
| South Hill | 111 E Danville St South Hill, VA 23970 | (434) 634-2326 |
| Warsaw | 52 Campus Drive Rappahannock Community College Workforce & Community Development Room 113 Warsaw, VA 22572 | (804) 333-6896 |
| Winchester | 419 N. Cameron St. Valley Workforce Center Second Floor Winchester, VA 22601 | (540) 722-3415 |
| Wytheville | 800 East Main Street Second Floor Suite 200 Wytheville, VA 24382 | (276) 228-4051 |
To find more information on Virginia Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
If you have a question about Virginia Business Unemployment Insurance, visit the Virginia Employer Services FAQ 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 Virginia, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Virginia’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Virginia Unemployment Office location.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call the VEC Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact the central office at the following lines Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM until 4:30 PM EST, and Saturday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM EST:
Virginia offices and phone lines will be closed on the observed holidays listed here.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging in to the state portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the VEC Voice Response System at 1-800-897-5630.
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 Request of Payment of Benefits through the claimant portal here or call 1-800-897-5630, 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 and the Weekly Request of Payment Benefits here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal.
You can file an appeal online here. Or, you can file an appeal in person, by mail or by fax. Appeal forms are available at local offices. To find your local office in order to obtain an appeal form and/or submit the appeal in person, click here.
If you wish to mail your appeal form, use the following address:
The Virginia Employment CommissionOffice of First Level Appeals Room 124P.O. Box 26441, Richmond, VA 23261-6441
To fax your appeal, send it to 804-786-8492.
If you have further questions about appeals, you can reach the central office at 1-866-832-2363.
Remember to continue filing your Weekly Request for Payment even while you are undergoing the appeals process.
If you need help with an application or you have any further questions about your claim, you can call the Virginia Employment Commission central office at 1-866-832-2363. For TTY services, call 711 or 800-828-1120.
The Virginia Employment Commission central office line is available Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM until 4:30 PM EST, and Saturday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM EST. The office is closed on Sundays and the observed holidays listed here.
You can also visit or call your nearest local office for further assistance. You can find the location nearest you and its contact information 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.