What Is the Difference Between Partial and Full Unemployment in Virginia?
When you work in Virginia and suffer a loss of work, you can apply for unemployment benefits with the Virginia Employment Commission. Virginia unemployment benefits come in two varieties: full and partial. Although the rules for unemployment are basically the same, there are important differences between the two types.
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Full Unemployment
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Full Virginia unemployment or standard unemployment is what most people think of when they picture jobless benefits. You lose your job through no fault of your own and receive a portion of your previously earned wages as benefits. You look for new employment and certify your search for every benefit week. The benefits end when you either find a job or your benefits run out.
Partial Unemployment
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On the other hand, partial unemployment is for claimants who still have some income, whether from working a part-time job or from sources like alimony. You report your earnings to the state and based on those reports, the state determines your eligible benefits. Part of the process involves verifying the amount of your earnings for each week in question.
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Different Eligibility
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There are two major differences in partial and full Virginia unemployment benefits. The first is eligibility requirements. Both require the basic eligibility--loss of work through no fault of your own, enough previously earned wages and being willing, able and ready to work. However, partial unemployment requires additional eligibility requirements, including earning less than your weekly benefit amount and working less than full-time hours.
Different Amounts
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The other major difference is the amount of compensation you can collect when on partial unemployment as opposed to full unemployment. You have a weekly benefit amount, which is the state-calculated amount you can collect per week. On full benefits, you receive that amount each week. On partial benefits, you receive only a portion of that amount based on the amount of work-related earnings you had for the week.
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