West Virginia Unemployment Benefits

To qualify in West Virginia, you must have earned sufficient wages during your base period, been separated from work through no fault of your own, and be able and available for work. You must also meet ongoing work search requirements.

Yes, but your benefits will be reduced. West Virginia's rule: $60 per week disregard; earnings above reduce dollar-for-dollar. You must report all earnings weekly, including contract/freelance income.

Yes, you can do contract or part-time work while collecting unemployment in West Virginia, but your earnings will reduce your weekly benefit. West Virginia's partial earnings rule: $60 per week disregard; earnings above reduce dollar-for-dollar. You must report all earnings for the week you performed the work (not when you received payment). If your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, you won't receive benefits for that week but your claim remains active. Important: independent contractor income counts as earnings and must be reported weekly.

West Virginia provides up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits for eligible workers.

West Virginia calculates your weekly benefit using the formula: Statutory wage-class table based on base period wages (~55% of average weekly wage). The maximum weekly benefit is $662 and the minimum is $24.