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 West 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 their bank account.
You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in West Virginia, you must:
Learn more about West Virginia’s monetary requirements here and West Virginia’s 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.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in West Virginia, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The West Virginia Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access West Virginia’s Unemployment claim portal. Click here for a Spanish version of the site.
You can apply for Unemployment Insurance in person or by mail but only if you received a Low Earnings Report from your employer. You will need to submit this report either by mail or in person to your local WorkForce West Virginia office.
Click here to find an office near you.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact WorkForce West Virginia at 1-800-252-5627.
You can also contact your local Unemployment Office Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, or on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in West Virginia. To determine the amount you will receive each week, WorkForce West Virginia looks at the wages you earned during the 12-month base period. You must have been paid at least $2,200 for at least two quarters during that period to qualify.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in West Virginia is $24. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $630.
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 Claims Certification through the claimant portal here or by calling 1-800-379-1032. 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. Learn more about the Weekly Claims Certification 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 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 Claims Certification here. File your Weekly Claim Certification 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 within 8 days of receiving the Deputy’s decision. You must submit an appeal in writing to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review at the WorkForce West Virginia office where you originally filed your claim. Find your local office here.
To learn more about the appeals process click here.
If you need help with an application or have any further questions about your claim, you can call the WorkForce West Virginia customer service center at 1-800-252-5627.
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.
All West Virginia Unemployment services are available Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for the observed holidays listed 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 West Virginia, call WorkForce West Virginia’s customer service center at 1-800-252-5627. This line can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims and help those with language barriers or disabilities.
For questions or concerns about benefits and for technical support, call 304-558-3309.
If you are having trouble using your Key2Benefits prepaid debit card, you can contact the customer support line 24/7 at 1-866-295-2955.
If you need assistance with filing an appeal, click here to learn about the process.
Finally, if you need assistance with finding a job, send an email to ESProceduresUnit@wv.gov.
West Virginia has 18 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the WorkForce West Virginia Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Beckley | 300 New River Town Ctr., Beckley, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Charleston | 1321 Plaza East Shopping Ctr. Charleston WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Clarksburg | 153 West Main Street Suite B Clarksburg, WV 26301 | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Elkins | 1023 North Randolph Ave. Elkins, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Fairmont | 416 Adams Street, Suite 220 Fairmont, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Greenbrier Valley | 330 Red Oaks Shopping Ctr. Suite 1, Fairlea, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Huntington | 2699 Park Avenue, Suite 240 Huntington, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Interstate | 1900 Kanawha Blvd East, Building 3, Suite 400, Charleston, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Logan | 130 Stratton Street, 2nd floor, Logan, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Martinsburg | 200 Viking Way, Suite 200, Martinsburg, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Mercer County | 195 Davis Street, Suite 104, Princeton, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Morgantown | 304 Scott Avenue, Morgantown, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Parkersburg | 300 Lakeview Center, Parkersburg, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| South Branch | 151 Robert C Byrd Industrial Park Rd, Ste 1, Moorefield, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Summersville | 830 Northside Drive, Suite 123 Summersville, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Weirton | 100 Municipal Plaza, Suite 300, Weirton, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Welch | 110 Park Ave. Suite 100, Welch, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
| Wheeling | 1275 Warwood Avenue, Wheeling, WV | 1-800-252-5627 |
To find more information on West Virginia Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
If you have a question about West Virginia Business Unemployment Insurance:
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 West Virginia, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The West Virginia Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access West Virginia’s Unemployment claim portal. Click here for a Spanish version of the site.
You can apply for Unemployment Insurance in person or by mail but only if you received a Low Earnings Report from your employer. You will need to submit this report either by mail or in person to your local WorkForce West Virginia office. Click here to find an office near you.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can contact WorkForce West Virginia at 1-800-252-5627.
You can also contact your local Unemployment Office Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, or on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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 and selecting the “If you are a claimant and want specific information about your claim” option.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the WorkForce West Virginia customer service line at 1-800-252-5627.
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 Claim Certification through the claimant portal here or by calling 1-800-379-1032. 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.
Learn more about the Weekly Claims Certification here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal within 8 days of receiving the Deputy’s decision. You must submit an appeal in writing to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review at the WorkForce West Virginia office where you originally filed your claim. Find your local office here.
To learn more about the appeals process, click here.
If you need help with an application or have any further questions about your claim, you can call the WorkForce West Virginia customer service center at 1-800-252-5627.
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.
All West Virginia Unemployment services are available Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for the observed holidays listed 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.