According to the VEC, if you are totally or partially unemployed and wish to apply for benefits, call the VEC Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363, or complete an online application. You will be asked to supply the name, address and telephone number of your last employer (and, in some cases, previous employers), your dates of employment, and the reason for separation.

You can file a claim in Virginia if you performed any work in Virginia during the last 18 months; you worked as a federal civilian overseas and currently reside in Virginia; you worked as a federal civilian in another state and worked in Virginia for at least one day after the federal employment and currently reside in Virginia; and you were in military and you are physically located in Virginia at the time of filing.

In order to qualify for benefits, you must have earned enough wages in covered employment during the base period. The amount of wages you earned will determine your weekly benefit amount and the maximum number of weeks (12 to 26 weeks) to which you will be entitled.  Benefit computation tables are available on the VEC website. You will receive a monetary determination that contains your base period earnings, weekly benefit amount and the maximum number of weeks you may receive benefits. Monetary entitlement lasts one year from the effective date of your claim, or until the benefits exhaust, whichever comes first.