Unemployment benefits in Virginia
Virginia's maximum weekly unemployment benefit is $478.
| Minimum weekly benefit | $160 |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $478 |
| Maximum duration | 26 weeks |
How the weekly benefit is calculated
Sum of wages from your two highest base-period quarters, divided by 50 (per the VEC benefit-table structure in Code of Virginia §60.2-602).
Effective for new claims filed on/after July 5, 2026 (up from $112/$430); requires at least $18,900.01 in combined wages across the two highest quarters to reach the maximum. Formula structure and 26-week cap are primary-confirmed via statute; the current dollar figures are secondary-sourced.
Some figures on this page were read directly from the state agency's own site or statute; others could not be, and are marked accordingly above.
Sources
- Code of Virginia §60.2-602, §60.2-607, read 2026-08-23.
- Virginia Employment Commission — benefits increasing in July 2026, read 2026-08-23.
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Virginia unemployment: common questions
How much is unemployment in Virginia?
Sum of wages from your two highest base-period quarters, divided by 50 (per the VEC benefit-table structure in Code of Virginia §60.2-602). The minimum weekly benefit is $160, and the maximum is $478. Effective for new claims filed on/after July 5, 2026 (up from $112/$430); requires at least $18,900.01 in combined wages across the two highest quarters to reach the maximum. Formula structure and 26-week cap are primary-confirmed via statute; the current dollar figures are secondary-sourced.
How long do unemployment benefits last in Virginia?
Up to 26 weeks, the standard duration most states pay.
What wages count toward my benefit?
The standard base period: your wages in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.
What is the maximum weekly unemployment payment in Virginia?
$478 a week is the most Virginia pays, before any deductions you elect such as tax withholding or child support. Most claimants receive less, because the weekly amount is calculated from your own base-period wages: Sum of wages from your two highest base-period quarters, divided by 50 (per the VEC benefit-table structure in Code of Virginia §60.2-602).
What day does unemployment pay in Virginia?
This page does not model payment dates. Timing is set by Virginia's own unemployment agency rather than by the benefit formula, and normally depends on when your weekly or biweekly claim is filed and processed rather than on a fixed calendar day. What this page does model is how much you are owed and for how long, both traced to the sources listed below.
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