West Virginia Unemployment Benefits 2026

To qualify for unemployment benefits in West Virginia, individuals must meet both monetary and non-monetary eligibility requirements established under state law.

Employment Status Requirements

To qualify for unemployment benefits in West Virginia, individuals must have worked in covered employment during the base period.

Covered employment definition:

According to West Virginia Code § 21A-1A-16, covered employment generally includes most private sector jobs, government positions, and nonprofit organizations with sufficient employee counts. Services performed for wages under any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied, constitute covered employment.

Excluded categories:

• Independent contractors (unless misclassified)
• Self-employed individuals (unless participating in optional coverage)
• Certain agricultural workers earning below threshold
• Federal civilian employees (covered under UCFE program)
• Military personnel (covered under UCX program)
• Elected officials performing official duties
• Students employed by educational institution while enrolled and regularly attending classes

Source: W.Va. Code § 21A-1A-16 (employment definitions) and § 21A-1A-17 (exclusions)
Official text: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/21A-1A-16/

Earnings and Work History Requirements

Base Period Definition:

The base period in West Virginia is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before filing the claim.

Example: Claim filed in January 2026

• Base period: October 2024 – September 2025
• Alternative base period (if standard fails): January 2025 – December 2025

Source: W.Va. Code § 21A-1A-4

Minimum Monetary Requirements:

To qualify monetarily for benefits in West Virginia, claimants must have earned sufficient wages during the base period. Wages are used to determine the wage class, which establishes the weekly benefit amount according to the benefit rate table.

Base period wage requirements:

• Total base period wages determine wage class and weekly benefit amount
• Minimum base period wages of approximately $2,200 required for lowest benefit level
• Wages must be from covered employment
• Wages from multiple employers within base period may be combined

Alternative base period:

West Virginia allows use of an alternative base period if the standard base period fails to qualify. The alternative base period consists of the last four completed calendar quarters before filing the claim.

Source: W.Va. Code § 21A-6-10 (monetary eligibility)
Benefit calculator: https://workforcewv.org/ (provides estimate only)

Separation From Employment Requirements

Qualifying vs Disqualifying Separations:

Qualifying separations (eligible for benefits):

The following types of job separation qualify for unemployment benefits in West Virginia:

• Layoff due to lack of work
• Business closure or downsizing
• Position elimination
• Reduction in hours below full-time
• Temporary layoff with indefinite recall
• Discharge not due to misconduct

Disqualifying separations:

According to West Virginia Code § 21A-6-3, benefits are denied if unemployment results from:

1. Voluntary quit without good cause
   • Definition: Leaving employment voluntarily without work-related reason considered “good cause” under state law
   • Disqualification period: Duration of unemployment until requalifies by earning wages in covered employment
2. Discharge for misconduct connected with work
   • Definition: Deliberate violation or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect, or carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to manifest culpability, wrongful intent or evil design, or show an intentional and substantial disregard of the employer’s interest or employee’s duties and obligations
   • Disqualification period: Duration of unemployment until requalifies
3. Refusal of suitable work
   • Definition: Declining job offer meeting definition of “suitable work” without good cause
   • Disqualification period: Duration of unemployment until requalifies
4. Participation in labor dispute
   • Definition: Active participation in strike, lockout, or labor dispute at place of employment
   • Disqualification period: Duration of labor dispute

Good cause exceptions:

West Virginia recognizes the following circumstances as potentially constituting “good cause” for voluntary separation:

• Unsafe working conditions posing persistent threat to health and safety
• Significant reduction in wages without reasonable cause
• Drastic reduction in work hours affecting livelihood
• Sexual harassment or hostile work environment
• Medical conditions preventing performance of job duties (with documentation)
• Domestic violence situations requiring relocation

Source: W.Va. Code § 21A-6-3 (disqualification provisions)
Official text: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/21A-6-3/

Ability, Availability, and Active Work Search

Ongoing eligibility requirements:

To remain eligible for benefits, claimants must meet continuing eligibility requirements each week:

1. Able to work – Physically and mentally capable of performing work
2. Available for full-time work – Ready and willing to accept full-time employment
3. Actively seeking work – Making active job search efforts as required by state law

Ability to work:

Claimants must be physically and mentally capable of performing some type of work. Temporary inability to perform previous work due to injury or medical condition does not automatically disqualify if other suitable work can be performed.

Availability for work:

Claimants must be available for full-time work and free from restrictions that would prevent accepting suitable employment. Restrictions due to lack of transportation, childcare issues, or school attendance may affect eligibility unless claimant would accept employment despite such restrictions.

Active work search:

According to West Virginia Code § 21A-6-1, claimants must be “doing that which a reasonably prudent person in his or her circumstances would do in seeking work.” This requirement is further detailed in the work search activity requirements.

Source: W.Va. Code § 21A-6-1 (eligibility qualifications)