Virginia Unemployment

Virginia Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Administered by the Virginia Employment Commission, the state’s unemployment insurance program helps provide financial stability for Virginia’s eligible workers who become unemployed.

Designed to replace a portion of a worker’s income while they look for new work, these benefits are paid for by employer taxes. They are covered under the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act.

Virginia Unemployment Services

Website	https://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed
Private Website	Virginia Unemployment
Phone	866-832-2363
Apply Online	https://web.getgov2go.com
Weekly Certification	https://web.getgov2go.com
Appeal a Denial	https://www.vec.virginia.gov/appeals
Find a Local Office	Office Directory
Report Fraud	https://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed/fraud
Coronavirus Updates	https://www.vec.virginia.gov/covid19

How To Qualify for Virginia Unemployment Benefits

To qualify for unemployment insurance benefits in Virginia, a claimant must meet the following criteria for eligibility:

• Is a resident of Virginia

• Has earned at least $3,000 during at least two-quarters of the base period while in covered employment.

• Is separated from an employer due to no fault of the employee. This usually means a reduction in force or layoffs. If the employed resident voluntarily quit, the Commission will determine whether they did so with good cause. It is in force whether the employer is from Virginia or not.

• Is reporting on activities related to the worker’s job search. In some cases, the recipient may be required to submit documentation of efforts related to their job search and to document a minimum number of outreach efforts for suitable work.

  
  

Benefit Payments and Duration

Base Period	First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters
Alt Base Period	Last 4 completed quarters

Duration of Benefits	Weekly Payment		Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year)
	Min	Max
12-26 weeks	$60	$378	$9,828

How To Apply for Virginia Unemployment Benefits

Unemployed Virginians may submit their initial claims online or by phone at 1-866-832-2363. Applicants are encouraged to submit their UI benefits claims online since call center volume is quite busy. You may face an extremely long wait time if you attempt to make your claim by phone.

When you file your initial claim, you will have the opportunity to register for work, which may help move along your job search more quickly. The Virginia Employment Commission requires claimants actively seek to rejoin the labor force to remain eligible to receive your weekly UI benefits amount.

Managing Your Unemployment Benefits

While receiving unemployment insurance benefits, you are required to continue submitting weekly claims. This step ensures that you are looking for work and remain eligible for benefits. To submit your weekly claim, you must access the Commission’s online web portal, or you can call 1-800-897-5630 to certify by phone. The online portal is recommended for unemployed workers to submit claims.

Filing an Appeal in Virginia

If you are denied Virginia unemployment benefits, you have the right to appeal. You are not given much time to file an appeal, so be sure to request a hearing as soon as possible. You can do so in any of the following ways:

• In person – at the VEC local office where your original unemployment claim was filed. Appeal forms are available in all local offices, and appeals delivered by courier are considered in-person filings.

• By mail – send your appeal statement to the Clerk of the Commission, P.O. Box 26441, Richmond, VA 23261-6441.

• By fax -Clerk of the Commission, FLA 804-786-8492.

• Online – via the Virginia Internet Appeals website.

Once your appeal has been submitted, it will be reviewed to determine whether your original decision was correct.

Reporting Fraud

The Virginia Employment Commission asks for the assistance of all unemployment insurance benefits recipients in reporting individuals or employers suspected of fraud and unemployment insurance system abuse. Doing so helps ensure that Virginia tax dollars are used effectively to help support eligible individuals in need. You can report suspected fraud via any of the methods listed below:

Online: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed/fraud

Mail: Virginia Employment Commission
Attention: Benefit Payment Control
Post Office Box 27887
Richmond, VA 23261-7887

Fax: 804-692-0580
Fraud Hotline: 800-782-4001

Be sure to include as much information as you can to help document and support the allegation.

Virginia Unemployment Office Locations

Virginia Unemployment Office Abingdon Center	1217 West Main Street Abingdon, VA 24210	276-623-9000
Virginia Unemployment Office Alexandria	1900 North Beauregard Street Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22311	703-746-5940
Virginia Unemployment Office Cherokee Avenue Center	5520 Cherokee Avenue Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22312-2319	703-813-1300
Virginia Unemployment Office Fairfax Alexandria Center	8350 Richmond Highway Suite 327 Alexandria, VA 22309	703-704-6286
Virginia Unemployment Office Fairfax Annandale Center	7611 Little River Turnpike Heritage West, Suite 300W Annandale, VA 22003	703-533-5400
Arlington Employment Center	2100 Washington Blvd First Floor Arlington, VA 22204	703-228-1400
Virginia Unemployment Office Bristol Center	200 Bob Morrision Blvd Bristol, VA 24201	276-642-7350
Virginia Unemployment Office Charlottesville Center	944 Glenwood Station Lane Suite 103 Charlottesville, VA 22901	434-529-6828
Virginia Unemployment Office Covington Center	106 North Maple Avenue Covington, VA 24426	540-962-0983
Virginia Unemployment Office Culpeper Center	210 E. Stevens St. Suite 200 Culpeper, VA 22701	540-212-4570
Virginia Unemployment Office Danville	211 Nor Dan Drive Suite 1055 Danville, VA 24540	434-549-8220
Virginia Unemployment Office Duffield Center	225 Boone Trail Road Duffield, VA 24244	276-431-3594
Virginia Unemployment Office Emporia Center	1300 Greensville County Circle Suite C Emporia, VA 23847	434-634-2326
Virginia Unemployment Office Franklin Center	100 North College Drive Room 222 Franklin, VA 23851	757-569-6071
Virginia Unemployment Office Fredericksburg Center	10304 Spotsylvania Avenue Suite 100 Fredericksburg, VA 22408	540-322-5757
Virginia Unemployment Office Galax Center	1117 E Stuart Dr #2 Suite 167 Galax, VA 24333	276-236-5105
Virginia Unemployment Office Grundy Center	1039 Plaza Drive Suite D Grundy, VA 24614	276-244-1154
Virginia Unemployment Office Hampton Center	600 Butler Farm Road Suite C Hampton, VA 23666-1513	757-766-4900
Virginia Unemployment Office Harrisonburg Center	160 North Mason St Harrisonburg, VA 22802	540-433-4864
Virginia Unemployment Office Haysi Center	23850 Dickenson Highway Haysi, VA 24256	276-865-7157
Virginia Unemployment Office Henrico	121 Cedar Fork Rd Henrico, VA 23223	804-952-6116
Virginia Unemployment Office Jonesville Center	33701 Main Street Jonesville, VA 24263	276-346-9017
Virginia Workforce Center Keysville Center	200 Daniel Road Keysville, VA 23947	434-736-2035
Virginia Unemployment Office Lebanon Center	1768 East Main Street Lebanon, VA 24266	276-883-5506
Virginia Unemployment Office Loudoun Center	102 Heritage Way, North East PO Box 7400 Leesburg, VA 20176	703-777-0150
Virginia Unemployment Office Lynchburg Center	3125 Odd Fellows Rd Lynchburg, VA 24501	434-455-5940
Virginia Unemployment Office Martinsville	233 W Commonwealth Blvd Martinsville, VA 24112	276-634-3600
Virginia Unemployment Office Chesterfield	304 Turner Road Suite NN Chesterfield, VA 23225	804-652-3490
Virginia Unemployment Office Narrows Center	211 Main Street Suite 101 Narrows, VA 24124	540-726-8201
Virginia Unemployment Office Norfolk Center	861 Glenrock Road East Building, Suite 100 Norfolk, VA 23502	757-629-4710
Virginia Unemployment Office Norton	1725 Park Ave SW Norton, VA 24273	276-679-9413
Virginia Unemployment Office Eastern Shore Center	25036 Lankford Highway Unit 16 Onley, VA 23418	757-302-2029
Virginia Unemployment Office Orange Center	127 Belleview Avenue Orange, VA 22960	540-661-3419
Virginia Unemployment Office Petersburg Center	22 W. Washington St. Petersburg, VA 23803	804-862-6155
Virginia Unemployment Office Portsmouth Center	4824 George Washington Highway Portsmouth, VA 23702	757-558-4455
Virginia Unemployment Office Pulaski Center	246 N. Washington Ave. Suite D Pulaski, VA 24301	540-980-1323
Virginia Unemployment Office Radford Center	6226 University Park Drive Suite 1300 Radford, VA 24141-4767	540-831-5980
Virginia Unemployment Office Fairfax Reston Center	11484 Washington Plaza West Suite 110 Reston, VA 20190	703-787-4974
Virginia Unemployment Office Richlands Center	501 Railroad Avenue Richlands, VA 24641	276-963-2660
Virginia Unemployment Office Richmond	4914 Radford Avenue Suite 101 Richmond, VA 23230	804.652.3240
Virginia Unemployment Office Roanoke Center	3601 Thirlane Road NW Suite 2 Roanoke, VA 24019	540-613-8220
Virginia Unemployment Office Franklin Center	50 Claiborne Avenue Rocky Mount, VA 24151	540-483-0179
Virginia Unemployment Office South Boston	2506 Houghton Avenue South Boston, VA 24592	434-572-4472
Virginia Unemployment Office Lake Country Center	111 East Danville Street South Hill, VA 23970	434-955-2252
Virginia Unemployment Office ST. Charles Center	190 Monarch Street St. Charles, VA 24282	276-365-4546
Virginia Unemployment Office Fishersville Center	1076 Jefferson Highway Staunton, VA 24401	540-332-7750
Virginia Unemployment Office Patrick County	103 West Blue Ridge PO Box 1412 Stuart, VA 24171	276-694-6542
Virginia Unemployment Office Suffolk Center	157 North Main Street Suffolk, VA 23434	757-514-7737
Virginia Unemployment Office Saluda Center	2893 General Puller Highway Urbanna, VA 23175	804-758-2348
The Workplace Career Resource Center	320 Hospital Drive Suite 11 Warrenton, VA 20186	540-422-8422
Virginia Unemployment Office Warsaw Center	52 Campus Drive Warsaw, VA 22572	804-250-2046
Virginia Unemployment Office Winchester Center	419 North Cameron Street Second Floor Winchester, VA 22602	540-722-3415
Virginia Unemployment Office	13370 Minnieville Road Woodbridge, VA 22192	703-586-6800
Virginia Unemployment Office Wytheville Center	1000 East Main Street Carroll Hall Wytheville, VA 24382	276-228-4051