Eligibility for Virginia Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment compensation in Virginia is a monetary stipend you receive if you are no longer working and meet the state eligibility requirements. The federal government sets standards for unemployment across the U.S., but each state manages its own program and has specific rules.
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Be Unemployed
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You must unemployed in Virginia and not receiving any money to qualify for full unemployment benefits. You are considered only "partially unemployed" if your job's regular hours were cut and you are not making more than what you will receive from unemployment. Informal side jobs you have, such as working for a friend, count as employment in Virginia, and the money you earn must be reported on your claim.
Be Able To Work
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You must be able to look for work and physically perform routine job duties. You are not eligible for unemployment in Virginia if you cannot work or look for work because of an illness. Your ability to work and search for a job must be unrestricted while you collect benefits.
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Meet Minimum Earning Guidelines
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Virginia calculates your unemployment based on a period of monthly quarters; the nine months prior to your claim month are usually used as your base period. You must have earned at least $2,700 over two of the three-month periods being used for your claim. You are allowed to request an alternate base period --- the nine months prior to your typical base period are used instead --- to satisfy the minimum earning requirement.
Not Terminated for Misconduct
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You are eligible for unemployment in Virginia if you were let go due to no fault of your own, such as your company closing down, but you are not usually able to receive benefits if you lost your job due to your own misconduct. Misconduct in Virginia includes committing a crime on the job or reporting to work under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
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