West Virginia Unemployment Benefits Calculator
West Virginia unemployment benefits are available for workers unemployed through no fault of their own. UI benefits provide important financial assistance while jobless workers seek new employment. WV unemployment compensation is calculated based on each worker’s past earnings and employment history.
Use the WV unemployment calculator to estimate your weekly UI benefit.
How unemployment benefits are calculated in West Virginia
WV unemployment benefits are based on your earnings during a specific period of your employment. This period is called the base period. Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your unemployment claim.
Here are the steps to calculate your unemployment benefits:
Determine Your Base Period: Look at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.
Calculate your total earnings: Add up the wages you earned during this base period. To be eligible for WV unemployment you must have earned at least $2,200 during your base period. You won’t be eligible for WV unemployment compensation if you earned less than that.
Calculate your high quarter earnings: Identify the quarter in your base period where you earned the most. This is called your “highest quarter.”
Calculate your weekly benefit amount (WBA): The weekly benefit amount is the amount you receive each week while you’re unemployed. In West Virginia, this amount is calculated by using the Benefits Rate Table.
Consider the maximum and minimum Amounts: The maximum weekly benefit amount you can receive in West Virginia is $630, and the minimum is $24. You can collect WV unemployment compensation for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year.
Be aware of the maximum benefit amount: The maximum benefit amount is the total amount of money you can receive in one year. This dollar amount is 26 times your weekly benefit amount.
Benefits Rate Table
West Virginia unemployment insurance weekly benefit amounts are based on wages in the Benefits Rate Table, which can be viewed here. Find your base period income and the chart will show you your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount.
For example, if you earned a total of $9,400 during your base period, your weekly benefit amount would be $100 and your maximum benefit amount for the year would be $2,600.
If you earned $20,000, your weekly benefit amount would be $211 and your maximum benefit amount for the year would be $5,486.
And if you earned $40,000, your weekly benefit amount would be $423 and your maximum benefit amount for the year would be $10,998.
Monetary Determination Letter
Once you have applied for unemployment benefits, you’ll receive a letter in the mail. This letter is called a Monetary Determination. It doesn’t mean you have been deemed eligible for benefits, but it will tell you how much you will get if your application is approved. This letter is important, so keep it safe.
The letter covers three important topics:
Your Benefit Amount: This is the money you could get every week if your request is approved. The letter will explain how this amount was figured out using your past earnings.
How Long You Can Get Benefits: You can get full benefits for up to 26 weeks. But, if you’re still earning a little money here and there, you might be able to get partial benefits for longer, up to 52 weeks. On rare occasions, there may be Extended Benefits available, typically when the unemployment rate is too high.
How to Disagree with the Decision: If you disagree with the amount you’re supposed to get, the letter will tell you how you can ask for a monetary reconsideration or you can file an appeal.
Factors that can decrease your weekly benefit amount
There are several circumstances that can affect your WV unemployment compensation. Here are some reasons why your weekly payment can be decreased.
Earnings
According to West Virginia law, you must report any earnings each week, from Sunday through Saturday. This includes money from your job, tips, and commissions. You need to report this money when you file a weekly claim even if your employer hasn’t paid you yet.
If you’re working part-time or for yourself, you might still be able to get partial unemployment benefits. Remember to report any money you earn from this type of work. You don’t need to report Medicaid or SNAP benefits as income.
Money from Retirement
Money you get from retirement, like Social Security retirement, disability payments, or survivor benefits, can change the amount of UI benefits you get each week. You need to report any earnings from your retirement plan. If a past employer paid into the pension plan during your base period, this could affect your UI benefits.
Money Instead of Work
Sometimes, an employer might pay you for a certain amount of time instead of letting you work. This is called “wages in lieu of notice.” For example, if you tell your boss you’re quitting in two weeks, and they pay you for those two weeks instead of making you work, that’s wages in lieu of notice. This type of money doesn’t change the amount of UI benefits you get.
Severance Pay
Severance pay is money your employer gives you based on how long you worked for them. This type of money doesn’t change the amount of UI benefits you get. You are required to report any severance payments when you file for weekly benefits. WorkForce West Virginia might ask you for more details to figure out if your severance pay counts as wages in lieu of notice.
Other Earnings
Any bonus pay you get counts as income. You are required to report it when you request your weekly payment. This includes things like attendance bonuses and incentive pay. You also must report any vacation pay or holiday pay you received that week. WorkForce West Virginia will determine if it counts as income when you report. it.
Money You Owe
Debt can affect your benefit amount. Your UI benefits might be decreased if you owe child support, have unpaid taxes, or if you received an overpayment and haven’t paid it back. If this happens, Workforce WV will let you know if your UI benefits will be deducted to pay the debt.
How to report your income
Be sure to report any money you earn each week. In many cases, you can work part-time and still claim West Virginia UI benefits. Report your earnings based on when you worked to earn the money, not when you actually get paid (unless it’s the same week).
You need to report your gross earnings (not net), which is the money you make before taxes and other fees are taken out.
Example
Let’s say your payroll is every two weeks, and your pay period ends on June 21. If you make $30 an hour and work 10 hours each week during the two-week pay period, you would make $300 for the week that ends on June 14 (since $30 times 10 equals $300). Don’t forget to report the $300 for the week you actually worked to earn it.
Honesty is the best policy. Always be accurate and provide complete information to avoid issues with WV unemployment fraud.
How to receive your UI payment
You can receive your weekly UI benefit via direct deposit or debit card.
Direct Deposit
This choice puts the money right into your checking account. If you want to get your payments quicker, it’s suggested to go with direct deposit. But, if you decide you’d rather get your payments on a debit card, you can switch from direct deposit to debit card once during the year you’re claiming. Make sure you enter your banking details correctly. If you don’t, it could cause your benefit payments to be late. If you need to report an error, call Workforce WV immediately.
Debit Card
You can also choose to receive payment via debit card. Workforce WV will issue you a KeyBank Mastercard debit card.
You can use this card to buy things, get cash, and pay bills anywhere debit is accepted. Be aware that if you choose the debit card method, you can’t switch to direct deposit until your claim year is over.
Also, if there’s an issue with your claim that could disqualify you, you won’t get a debit card until you’re found eligible for unemployment benefits. If you end up getting benefits, your first payment might come as a check.
Don’t forget to pay taxes on your WV unemployment compensation
Your UI benefits are considered income, which means the federal and state government will require you to pay income tax on the compensation you received. You have 10% for federal taxes and 3% for state taxes taken out of your weekly benefit payment. If you decide not to have taxes taken out, you’ll have to pay all the taxes on your benefits at the end of the year.
By the end of January each year, WorkForce West Virginia will send you form 1099-G. This unemployment tax form shows how much you got in benefits the previous year and how much was taken out for federal and state taxes (if applicable). Starting on January 31 each year, you can view your 1099-G form by logging in to your Workforce WV online account.