Where to File and What You Need Before You Start

Virginia's unemployment system is run by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). You file directly with them—not through your employer, not through a third party. The VEC accepts claims online through their website, by phone, or by mail, but the online method is fastest and gives you the clearest record of what you submitted.

Before you start, gather these documents: your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, the names and addresses of all employers you worked for in the past 18 months, the dates you worked at each job, and your reason for leaving or being let go. If you were laid off, have any separation notice or final paycheck stub. If you quit, write down the specific reason—the VEC will ask.

You will also need to know your weekly gross pay (before taxes) from your most recent job. If your pay varied, calculate an average from your last few paychecks. Have this number ready when you file.

Key Takeaways

  • File with the Virginia Employment Commission online at vec.virginia.gov, by phone at 866-832-2363, or by mail within two weeks of losing your job.
  • You must have worked in Virginia and earned enough wages in the past 18 months—typically at least $3,000 total—to be considered for benefits.
  • The VEC will contact your employer to verify the reason you left; your employer may dispute your claim, which triggers a hearing you can attend.
  • Weekly payments take one to three weeks to arrive after your claim is approved, so file as soon as you lose work.
  • You must report any new income, including gig work or part-time jobs, when you certify each week or your benefits will be reduced or stopped.

Filing Your Claim Online

Go to vec.virginia.gov and look for the "File a Claim" button on the homepage. You will create an account with an email address and password. The VEC will send you a confirmation email—check your spam folder if you do not see it right away.

The form asks for your personal information, work history, and reason for separation. When you describe why you left your job, be specific and factual. If you were fired, say what happened. If you quit, explain the reason—illness, unsafe conditions, no childcare, relocation, or another concrete circumstance. Vague answers slow down processing. The VEC shares this information with your employer, who will read it.

After you submit, the VEC sends you a confirmation number. Write it down. You will use it to check your claim status and to certify your weekly earnings once benefits begin. The system tells you when ready whether your claim was received, but approval takes five to ten business days.

Filing by Phone or Mail

If you cannot file online, call the VEC at 866-832-2363. Lines are busiest early in the week and early in the morning. Have all your work history and employer information ready before you call. A representative will ask the same questions as the online form and file your claim while you are on the phone. Ask for a confirmation number before you hang up.

To file by mail, read the form from vec.virginia.gov or call to request one. Mail it to the address on the form. Mail filing is slower—your claim may not be processed for two to three weeks—so use this method only if you cannot access a phone or computer.

What Happens After You File

The VEC sends your claim to your most recent employer. Your employer has ten business days to respond and can agree with your account or dispute it. If they dispute the reason you left, the VEC schedules a hearing. You will receive a letter with the hearing date and a phone number to call. You can attend by phone; you do not have to go in person.

At the hearing, you and your employer each explain what happened. A hearing officer decides whether you are may have access to to benefits based on Virginia law. If you win, benefits are paid back to your original filing date. If you lose, you can request another hearing or appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals, though this is rare and requires legal help.

If your employer does not dispute your claim within ten days, the VEC approves it. You then receive a notice telling you your weekly benefit amount and when payments start. Payments are deposited into your bank account or sent to a debit card, depending on what you choose during filing.

Certifying Your Weekly Earnings

Once your claim is approved, you must certify your earnings every week to receive payment. This means logging into your VEC account and reporting whether you worked, earned any money, or received any other income that week. You do this every Sunday through Friday for the week that just ended.

If you worked part-time or did gig work, report the gross amount you earned before taxes. The VEC reduces your benefit by a portion of what you earned—you do not lose the entire payment, but it goes down. If you do not report income and the VEC finds out later, they will ask you to repay the overpayment, which can take months to resolve.

If you miss a week of certification, your payment is delayed. If you miss two weeks in a row without contacting the VEC, your benefits stop. You can restart them by calling or logging in, but there is a gap in your payments.

How Much You Receive and How Long It Lasts

Virginia calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the past 18 months. The amount ranges from $60 to $378 per week, depending on your pay history. The VEC tells you the exact amount in your approval notice.

You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in a standard year. During periods of high unemployment, Virginia may extend benefits to 39 weeks, but this is not automatic and depends on the state's jobless rate. The VEC notifies you if an extension becomes available.

Your benefits end when you have collected for the maximum number of weeks, when you return to full-time work, or when you stop certifying your weekly earnings. Once your claim year ends, you must file a new claim if you lose work again.

Common Reasons Claims Are Denied or Delayed

The most common reason for denial is misconduct or quitting without good cause. If you quit, the VEC must find that you had a legitimate reason—not just that you wanted a different job. Reasons like unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or lack of childcare usually may have access to. Reasons like "I did not like my boss" or "I wanted higher pay" usually do not.

Claims are also denied if you did not earn enough in the past 18 months. Virginia requires at least $3,000 in total wages or work in at least two quarters. If you worked only a few weeks, you may not meet this threshold.

Delays happen when the VEC cannot reach your employer, when your employer disputes your claim, or when information on your form does not match VEC records. If your claim is delayed more than two weeks, call the VEC to ask what is missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file if I was fired?

Yes, but only if you were fired for reasons other than misconduct. If you were let go for poor performance, attendance, or a mistake, you may still be found ineligible. If you were fired for theft, violence, or breaking a clear rule, you will be denied. Your employer will explain the reason, and a hearing officer decides if it counts as misconduct under Virginia law.

How long does it take to get my first payment?

Approval usually takes five to ten business days. Once approved, your first payment arrives within one to three weeks, depending on whether you chose direct deposit or a debit card. If your employer disputes your claim, approval takes longer—sometimes four to six weeks until after the hearing.

What if I move out of Virginia while receiving benefits?

You can continue to receive Virginia benefits if you move, but you must keep certifying your earnings every week and report any new job or income. If you move to another state and find work there, you may need to file a new claim in that state instead. Contact the VEC to ask about your specific situation.

Can I work part-time and still get unemployment?

Yes. Report your part-time earnings when you certify each week, and the VEC will reduce your benefit by a percentage of what you earned. You keep some of the unemployment payment plus your part-time pay. If you return to full-time work, your benefits stop.

What if my employer contests my claim?

You will receive a letter with a hearing date and a phone number. Call that number on the scheduled date to speak with a hearing officer. Explain what happened in your own words. The hearing officer listens to both you and your employer, then decides based on Virginia law. You can bring documents like emails, texts, or pay stubs to support your account.