To file for unemployment, go to workforcewv.org.

If you have a question concerning individual unemployment claims please call WorkForceWV at 1-800-252-5627.

The expanded benefits will wrap in far more workers than are usually eligible for unemployment benefits, including self-employed and part-time workers. Those who are unemployed, partially unemployed or who cannot work for a wide variety of coronavirus-related reasons should file a claim.

Under expanded benefits,
eligible workers will get an extra $600 per week of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) on top of the state benefit. In West Virginia, the maximum weekly benefit amount is $424 per week. Your weekly benefit is calculated using wages paid to you in a defined base period.
For example, if your weekly benefit is computed at $250 per week, the $600 pandemic compensation will be added to that for a total of $850.
The Federal PUC payments will be provided on a weekly basis.

Yes, self-employed people are eligible for unemployment benefits.
Benefit amounts are calculated based on previous income, using a formula from the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program.

Yes.

If you’ve been diagnosed, are experiencing symptoms or are seeking a diagnosis — and you’re unemployed, partially unemployed or cannot work as a result — you will be covered. The same goes if you must care for a member of your family or household who has received a diagnosis.

If you rely on a school, daycare or another facility to care for a child, elderly parent or another household member so that you can work — and that facility has been shut down because of coronavirus — you may be eligible.

People who self-quarantine will be covered. The legislation also says that individuals who are unable to get to work because of a quarantine imposed as a result of the outbreak would also be eligible.

You may be eligible for benefits. You may also be covered if you were immediately laid off from a new job and did not have a sufficient work history to qualify for benefits under normal circumstances.

It depends. Let’s say your employer didn’t lay you off but you had to quit because of a quarantine recommended by a healthcare provider, or because your child’s daycare closed and you’re the primary caregiver. Situations like that are covered.
This provision is not intended to cover people who quit (or want to quit) because they fear that continuing to work puts them at risk of contracting coronavirus.

Yes. If you are unemployed, partially unemployed or unable to work because your employer closed, you will be covered.

Yes.

Workers who are able to work from home, and those receiving paid sick leave or paid family leave would not be covered. New entrants to the workforce who cannot find jobs would also be ineligible.

West Virginia provides 26 weeks of benefits. If eligible, the expanded benefits provides for an additional 13 weeks for a total of 39.
The extra $600 payment will last for up to four months, (covering 16 weeks of unemployment) and is scheduled to end July 31.

The expanded coverage will be available to workers who are newly eligible for unemployment benefits for weeks beginning Jan. 27, 2020 and through Dec. 31, 2020.

Yes. If you’ve exhausted your benefits, eligible workers may reapply. A new weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on wages earned during a designated base period. The bill is still being interpreted and policy developed, check back for any updates. What we do know is that everyone will get at least another 13 weeks, along with the extra $600 payment.

Maybe. The additional $600 benefit may count as income and should be reported when applying for income-test programs.