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The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) offers unemployment insurance benefits to unemployed individuals in the Commonwealth of Virginia who meet the requirements specified by the law.  These benefits are covered by the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act in the Virginia Code of Law.  If you are unemployed in Virginia, you may be eligible to receive weekly payments while you continue searching for a job.  The state of Virginia allows you to file your claim over the phone, online, or in person.  Here are the steps to file for unemployment benefits in the state of Virginia:

Get the information necessary to file your unemployment claim in the state of Virginia. This includes the name, address, and phone number of all your employers over the last 18 months, dates of employment in the last 18 months, and the name and number of your union hall. You will also need your personal identification information including your name, address, and social security number.

File an initial claim for benefits by telephone by calling the Virginia Employment Commission Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363, or online by visiting the Virginia Employment Commission Online Claim Services website, or in person by visiting your local Virginia Workforce Center.  The filing process over the phone,  online, and in person is identical. You will be asked to provide and fill out the same information to file your claim.

If using the online claim system, you must first click on “Click Here to Create a New Internet Account” to create a Virginia Employment Commission Internet Account. Choose a user ID and provide your contact and identification information to register for an account.  Then login with your user ID and password to start the filing process.

Fill out the initial unemployment insurance application form by providing your personal information and employment information you collected in Step 1. 

Choose a method to receive payment for weekly unemployment benefits: either direct deposit in your bank account or the Virginia Debit Card.  You will need to provide your bank routing and account numbers if you choose direct deposit.

If your claim is approved by the Virginia Employment Commission, you are now eligible to receive weekly payments.  File weekly claims over the telephone by calling 1-800-897-5630 or by visiting the Virginia Employment Commission Online Claim Services website.  In order to receive weekly payments you must be able to work, available for work, actively searching employment, and registered with the VEC Workforce Center.