(a) Each eligible individual who is totally unemployed in any week shall be paid benefits with respect to that week at the weekly rate appearing in Column (C) in the benefit table in this section, on the line on which in Column (A) there is indicated the employee's wage class, except as otherwise provided under the term "total and partial unemployment" in section twenty-seven, article one-a of this chapter. The employee's wage class shall be determined by his or her base period wages as shown in Column (B) in the benefit table. The right of an employee to receive benefits shall not be prejudiced nor the amount thereof be diminished by reason of failure by an employer to pay either the wages earned by the employee or the contribution due on such wages. An individual who is totally unemployed but earns in excess of $60 as a result of odd job or subsidiary work, or is paid a bonus in any benefit week shall be paid benefits for such week in accordance with the provisions of this chapter pertaining to benefits for partial unemployment.
(b) (1) The maximum benefit for each wage class shall be equal to twenty-six times the weekly benefit rate.
(2) The maximum benefit rate shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the average weekly wage in West Virginia.
(c) On July 1 of each year, the commissioner shall determine the maximum weekly benefit rate upon the basis of the formula set forth above and shall establish wage classes as are required, increasing or decreasing the amount of the base period wages required for each wage class by $150, establishing the weekly benefit rate for each wage class by rounded dollar amount to be fifty-five percent of one fifty-second of the median dollar amount of wages in the base period for such wage class and establishing the maximum benefit for each wage class as an amount equal to twenty-six times the weekly benefit rate: Provided, That the commissioner shall not increase or decrease the maximum weekly benefit rate for the period beginning on the effective date of the amendment and reenactment of this section in the regular session of the Legislature in 2009 until the threshold wage is reduced to $9,000, as required by subsection (d), section twenty-eight, article one-a of this chapter. The maximum weekly benefit rate, when computed by the commissioner, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $1.
(d) After he or she has established such wage classes, the commissioner shall prepare and publish a table setting forth such information.
(e) Average weekly wage shall be computed by dividing the number of employees in West Virginia earning wages in covered employment into the total wages paid to employees in West Virginia in covered employment, and by further dividing said result by fifty-two, and shall be determined from employer wage and contribution reports for the previous calendar year which are furnished to the department on or before June 1 following such calendar year. The average weekly wage, as determined by the commissioner, shall be rounded to the next higher dollar.
(f) The computation and determination of rates as aforesaid shall be completed annually before July 1 and any such new wage class, with its corresponding wages in base period, weekly benefit rate and maximum benefit in a benefit year established by the commissioner in the foregoing manner effective on July 1 shall apply only to a new claim established by a claimant on and after July 1, and does not apply to continued claims of a claimant based on his or her new claim established before said July 1.
BENEFIT TABLE
A WAGE
B
WAGES IN
C
WEEKLY
MAXIMUM
CLASS
BASE PERIOD
BENEFIT RATE
BENEFIT RATE
Under $ 2,200.00
Ineligible
1
$
2,200.00
-
2,359.99
24.00
624.00
2
2,350.00
-
2,499.99
25.00
650.00
3
2,500.00
-
2,649.99
27.00
702.00
4
2,650.00
-
2,799.99
28.00
728.00
5
2,800.00
-
2,949.99
30.00
780.00
6
2,950.00
-
3,099.99
31.00
806.00
7
3,100.00
-
3,249.99
33.00
858.00
8
3,250.00
-
3,399.99
35.00
910.00
9
3,400.00
-
3,549.99
36.00
936.00
10
3,550.00
-
3,699.99
38.00
988.00
11
3,700.00
-
3,849.99
39.00
1,014.00
12
3,850.00
-
3,999.99
41.00
1,066.00
13
4,000.00
-
4,149.99
43.00
1,118.00
14
4,150.00
-
4,299.99
44.00
1,144.00
15
4,300.00
-
4,449.99
46.00
1,196.00
16
4,450.00
-
4,599.99
47.00
1,222.00
17
4,600.00
-
4,749.99
49.00
1,274.00
18
4,750.00
-
4,899.99
51.00
1,326.00
19
4,900.00
-
5,049.99
52.00
1,352.00
20
5,050.00
-
5,199.99
54.00
1,404.00
21
5,200.00
-
5,349.99
55.00
1,430.00
22
5,350.00
-
5,499.99
57.00
1,482.00
23
5,500.00
-
5,649.99
58.00
1,508.00
24
5,650.00
-
5,799.99
60.00
1,560.00
25
5,800.00
-
5,949.99
62.00
1,612.00
26
5,950.00
-
6,099.99
63.00
1,638.00
27
6,100.00
-
6,249.99
65.00
1,690.00
28
6,250.00
-
6,399.99
66.00
1,716.00
29
6,400.00
-
6,549.99
68.00
1,768.00
30
6,550.00
-
6,699.99
70.00
1,820.00
31
6,700.00
-
6,849.99
71.00
1,846.00
32
6,850.00
-
6,999.99
73.00
1,898.00
33
7,000.00
-
7,149.99
74.00
1,924.00
34
7,150.00
-
7,299.99
76.00
1,976.00
35
7,300.00
-
7,449.99
78.00
2,028.00
36
7,450.00
-
7,599.99
79.00
2,054.00
37
7,600.00
-
7,749.99
81.00
2,106.00
38
7,750.00
-
7,899.99
82.00
2,132.00
39
7,900.00
-
8,049.99
84.00
2,184.00
40
8,050.00
-
8,199.99
85.00
2,210.00
41
8,200.00
-
8,349.99
87.00
2,262.00
42
8,350.00
-
8,499.99
89.00
2,314.00
43
8,500.00
-
8,649.99
90.00
2,340.00
44
8,650.00
-
8,799.99
92.00
2,392.00
45
8,800.00
-
8,949.99
93.00
2,418.00
46
8,950.00
-
9,099.99
95.00
2,470.00
47
9,100.00
-
9,249.99
97.00
2,522.00
48
9,250.00
-
9,399.99
98.00
2,548.00
49
9,400.00
-
9,549.99
100.00
2,600.00
50
9,550.00
-
9,699.99
101.00
2,626.00
51
9,700.00
-
9,849.99
103.00
2,678.00
52
9,850.00
-
9,999.99
104.00
2,704.00
53
10,000.00
-
10,149.99
106.00
2,756.00
54
10,150.00
-
10,299.99
108.00
2,808.00
55
10,300.00
-
10,449.99
109.00
2,834.00
56
10,450.00
-
10,599.99
111.00
2,886.00
57
10,600.00
-
10,749.99
112.00
2,912.00
58
10,750.00
-
10,899.99
114.00
2,964.00
59
10,900.00
-
11,049.99
116.00
3,016.00
60
11,050.00
-
11,199.99
117.00
3,042.00
61
11,200.00
-
11,349.99
119.00
3,094.00
62
11,350.00
-
11,499.99
120.00
3,120.00
63
11,500.00
-
11,649.99
122.00
3,172.00
64
11,650.00
-
11,799.99
124.00
3,224.00
65
11,800.00
-
11,949.99
125.00
3,250.00
66
11,950.00
-
12,099.99
127.00
3,302.00
67
12,100.00
-
12,249.99
128.00
3,328.00
68
12,250.00
-
12,399.99
130.00
3,380.00
69
12,400.00
-
12,549.99
131.00
3,406.00
70
12,550.00
-
12,699.99
133.00
3,458.00
71
12,700.00
-
12,849.99
135.00
3,510.00
72
12,850.00
-
12,999.99
136.00
3,536.00
73
13,000.00
-
13,149.99
138.00
3,588.00
74
13,150.00
-
13,299.99
139.00
3,614.00
75
13,300.00
-
13,449.99
141.00
3,666.00
76
13,450.00
-
13,599.99
143.00
3,718.00
77
13,600.00
-
13,749.99
144.00
3,744.00
78
13,750.00
-
13,899.99
146.00
3,796.00
79
13,900.00
-
14,049.99
147.00
3,822.00
80
14,050.00
-
14,199.99
149.00
3,874.00
81
14,200.00
-
14,349.99
150.00
3,900.00
82
14,350.00
-
14,499.99
152.00
3,952.00
83
14,500.00
-
14,649.99
154.00
4,004.00
84
14,650.00
-
14,799.99
155.00
4,030.00
85
14,800.00
-
14,949.99
157.00
4,082.00
86
14,950.00
-
15,099.99
158.00
4,108.00
87
15,100.00
-
15,249.99
160.00
4,160.00
88
15,250.00
-
15,399.99
162.00
4,212.00
89
15,400.00
-
15,549.99
163.00
4,238.00
90
15,550.00
-
15,699.99
165.00
4,290.00
91
15,700.00
-
15,849.99
166.00
4,316.00
92
15,850.00
-
15,999.99
168.00
4,368.00
93
16,000.00
-
16,149.99
170.00
4,420.00
94
16,150.00
-
16,299.99
171.00
4,446.00
95
16,300.00
-
16,449.99
173.00
4,498.00
96
16,450.00
-
16,599.99
174.00
4,524.00
97
16,600.00
-
16,749.99
176.00
4,576.00
98
16,750.00
-
16,899.99
177.00
4,602.00
99
16,900.00
-
17,049.99
179.00
4,654.00
100
17,050.00
-
17,199.99
181.00
4,706.00
101
17,200.00
-
17,349.99
182.00
4,732.00
102
17,350.00
-
17,499.99
184.00
4,784.00
103
17,500.00
-
17,649.99
185.00
4,810.00
104
17,650.00
-
17,799.99
187.00
4,862.00
105
17,800.00
-
17,949.99
189.00
4,914.00
106
17,950.00
-
18,099.99
190.00
4,940.00
107
18,100.00
-
18,249.99
192.00
4,992.00
108
18,250.00
-
18,399.99
193.00
5,018.00
109
18,400.00
-
18,549.99
195.00
5,070.00
110
18,550.00
-
18,699.99
196.00
5,096.00
111
18,700.00
-
18,849.99
198.00
5,148.00
112
18,850.00
-
18,999.99
200.00
5,200.00
113
19,000.00
-
19,149.99
201.00
5,226.00
114
19,150.00
-
19,299.99
203.00
5,278.00
115
19,300.00
-
19,449.99
204.00
5,304.00
116
19,450.00
-
19,599.99
206.00
5,356.00
117
19,600.00
-
19,749.99
208.00
5,408.00
118
19,750.00
-
19,899.99
209.00
5,434.00
119
19,900.00
-
20,049.99
211.00
5,486.00
120
20,050.00
-
20,199.99
212.00
5,512.00
121
20,200.00
-
20,349.99
214.00
5,564.00
122
20,350.00
-
20,499.99
216.00
5,616.00
123
20,500.00
-
20,649.99
217.00
5,642.00
124
20,650.00
-
20,799.99
219.00
5,694.00
125
20,800.00
-
20,949.99
220.00
5,720.00
126
20,950.00
-
21,099.99
222.00
5,772.00
127
21,100.00
-
21,249.99
223.00
5,798.00
128
21,250.00
-
21,399.99
225.00
5,850.00
129
21,400.00
-
21,549.99
227.00
5,902.00
130
21,550.00
-
21,699.99
228.00
5,928.00
131
21,700.00
-
21,849.99
230.00
5,980.00
132
21,850.00
-
21,999.99
231.00
6,006.00
133
22,000.00
-
22,149.99
233.00
6,058.00
134
22,150.00
-
22,299.99
235.00
6,110.00
135
22,300.00
-
22,449.99
236.00
6,136.00
136
22,450.00
-
22,599.99
238.00
6,188.00
137
22,600.00
-
22,749.99
239.00
6,214.00
138
22,750.00
-
22,899.99
241.00
6,266.00
139
22,900.00
-
23,049.99
243.00
6,318.00
140
23,050.00
-
23,199.99
244.00
6,344.00
141
23,200.00
-
23,349.99
246.00
6,396.00
142
23,350.00
-
23,499.99
247.00
6,422.00
143
23,500.00
-
23,649.99
249.00
6,474.00
144
23,650.00
-
23,799.99
250.00
6,500.00
145
23,800.00
-
23,949.99
252.00
6,552.00
146
23,950.00
-
24,099.99
254.00
6,604.00
147
24,100.00
-
24,249.99
255.00
6,630.00
148
24,250.00
-
24,399.99
257.00
6,682.00
149
24,400.00
-
24,549.99
258.00
6,708.00
150
24,550.00
-
24,699.99
260.00
6,760.00
151
24,700.00
-
24,849.99
262.00
6,812.00
152
24,850.00
-
24,999.99
263.00
6,838.00
153
25,000.00
-
25,149.99
265.00
6,890.00
154
25,150.00
-
25,299.99
266.00
6,916.00
155
25,300.00
-
25,449.99
268.00
6,968.00
156
25,450.00
-
25,599.99
269.00
6,994.00
157
25,600.00
-
25,749.99
271.00
7,046.00
158
25,750.00
-
25,899.99
273.00
7,098.00
159
25,900.00
-
26,049.99
274.00
7,124.00
160
26,050.00
-
26,199.99
276.00
7,176.00
161
26,200.00
-
26,349.99
277.00
7,202.00
162
26,350.00
-
26,499.99
279.00
7,254.00
163
26,500.00
-
26,649.99
281.00
7,306.00
164
26,650.00
-
26,799.99
282.00
7,332.00
165
26,800.00
-
26,949.99
284.00
7,384.00
166
26,950.00
-
27,099.99
285.00
7,410.00
167
27,100.00
-
27,249.99
287.00
7,462.00
168
27,250.00
-
27,399.99
289.00
7,514.00
169
27,400.00
-
27,549.99
290.00
7,540.00
170
27,550.00
-
27,699.99
292.00
7,592.00
171
27,700.00
-
27,849.99
293.00
7,618.00
172
27,850.00
-
27,999.99
295.00
7,670.00
173
28,000.00
-
28,149.99
296.00
7,696.00
174
28,150.00
-
28,299.99
298.00
7,748.00
175
28,300.00
-
28,449.99
300.00
7,800.00
176
28,450.00
-
28,599.99
301.00
7,826.00
177
28,600.00
-
28,749.99
303.00
7,878.00
178
28,750.00
-
28,899.99
304.00
7,904.00
179
28,900.00
-
29,049.99
306.00
7,956.00
180
29,050.00
-
29,199.99
308.00
8,008.00
181
29,200.00
-
29,349.99
309.00
8,034.00
182
29,350.00
-
29,499.99
311.00
8,086.00
183
29,500.00
-
29,649.99
312.00
8,112.00
184
29,650.00
-
29,799.99
314.00
8,164.00
185
29,800.00
-
29,949.99
315.00
8,190.00
186
29,950.00
-
30,099.99
317.00
8,242.00
187
30,100.00
-
30,249.99
319.00
8,294.00
188
30,250.00
-
30,399.99
320.00
8,320.00
189
30,400.00
-
30,549.99
322.00
8,372.00
190
30,550.00
-
30,699.99
323.00
8,398.00
191
30,700.00
-
30,849.99
325.00
8,450.00
192
30,850.00
-
30,999.99
327.00
8,502.00
193
31,000.00
-
31,149.99
328.00
8,528.00
194
31,150.00
-
31,299.99
330.00
8,580.00
195
31,300.00
-
31,449.99
331.00
8,606.00
196
31,450.00
-
31,599.99
333.00
8,658.00
197
31,600.00
-
31,749.99
335.00
8,710.00
198
31,750.00
-
31,899.99
336.00
8,736.00
199
31,900.00
-
32,049.99
338.00
8,788.00
200
32,050.00
-
32,199.99
339.00
8,814.00
201
32,200.00
-
32,349.99
341.00
8,866.00
202
32,350.00
-
32,499.99
342.00
8,892.00
203
32,500.00
-
32,649.99
344.00
8,944.00
204
32,650.00
-
32,799.99
346.00
8,996.00
205
32,800.00
-
32,949.99
347.00
9,022.00
206
32,950.00
-
33,099.99
349.00
9,074.00
207
33,100.00
-
33,249.99
350.00
9,100.00
208
33,250.00
-
33,399.99
352.00
9,152.00
209
33,400.00
-
33,549.99
354.00
9,204.00
210
33,550.00
-
33,699.99
355.00
9,230.00
211
33,700.00
-
33,849.99
357.00
9,282.00
212
33,850.00
-
33,999.99
358.00
9,308.00
213
34,000.00
-
34,149.99
360.00
9,360.00
214
34,150.00
-
34,299.99
361.00
9,386.00
215
34,300.00
-
34,449.99
363.00
9,438.00
216
34,450.00
-
34,599.99
365.00
9,490.00
217
34,600.00
-
34,749.99
366.00
9,516.00
218
34,750.00
-
34,899.99
368.00
9,568.00
219
34,900.00
-
35,049.99
369.00
9,594.00
220
35,050.00
-
35,199.99
371.00
9,646.00
221
35,200.00
-
35,349.99
373.00
9,698.00
222
35,350.00
-
35,499.99
374.00
9,724.00
223
35,500.00
-
35,649.99
376.00
9,776.00
224
35,650.00
-
35,799.99
377.00
9,802.00
225
35,800.00
-
35,949.99
379.00
9,854.00
226
35,950.00
-
36,999.99
381.00
9,906.00
227
36,100.00
-
36,249.99
382.00
9,932.00
228
36,250.00
-
36,399.99
384.00
9,984.00
229
36,400.00
-
36,549.99
385.00
10,010.00
230
36,550.00
-
36,699.99
387.00
10,062.00
231
36,700.00
-
36,849.99
388.00
10,088.00
232
36,850.00
-
36,999.99
390.00
10,140.00
233
37,000.00
-
37,149.99
392.00
10,192.00
234
37,150.00
-
37,299.99
393.00
10,218.00
235
37,300.00
-
37,449.99
395.00
10,270.00
236
37,450.00
-
37,599.99
396.00
10,296.00
237
37,600.00
-
37,749.99
398.00
10,348.00
238
37,750.00
-
37,899.99
400.00
10,400.00
239
37,900.00
-
38,049.99
401.00
10,426.00
240
38,050.00
-
38,199.99
403.00
10,478.00
241
38,200.00
-
38,349.99
404.00
10,504.00
242
38,350.00
-
38,499.99
406.00
10,556.00
243
38,500.00
-
38,649.99
408.00
10,608.00
244
38,650.00
-
38,799.99
409.00
10,634.00
245
38,800.00
-
38,949.99
411.00
10,686.00
246
38,950.00
-
39,099.99
412.00
10,712.00
247
39,100.00
-
39,249.99
414.00
10,764.00
248
39,250.00
-
39,399.99
415.00
10,790.00
249
39,400.00
-
39,549.99
417.00
10,842.00
250
39,550.00
-
39,699.99
419.00
10,894.00
251
39,700.00
-
39,849.99
420.00
10,920.00
252
39,850.00
-
39,999.99
422.00
10,972.00
253
40,000.00
-
40,149.99
423.00
10,998.00
254
40,150.00
-
and above
424.00
11,024.00
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 21A. Unemployment Compensation
Article 6. Employee Eligibility; Benefits
§21A-6-1. Eligibility Qualifications
§21A-6-1a. Seasonal Employment
§21A-6-1b. Requalification Requirement
§21A-6-1c. Voluntary Withholding Program
§21A-6-2. Waiting Period Construed
§21A-6-3. Disqualification for Benefits
§21A-6-4. Individual Not Denied Benefits by Receiving Vocational Training
§21A-6-5. Considerations in Determining if Work Is Suitable
§21A-6-6. New Work Not Deemed Suitable
§21A-6-7. When Departments Treated as Separate Establishments With Respect to Labor Disputes
§21A-6-10. Benefit Rate -- Total Unemployment; Annual Computation and Publication of Rates
§21A-6-11. Benefit Rate -- Partial Unemployment
§21A-6-12. Suspension of Partial Benefit Rights
§21A-6-13. Computation of Wage Credits; Determination of Maximum Benefits
§21A-6-14. Payment of Benefits Upon Decease of Claimant
§21A-6-16. Child Support Intercept of Unemployment Benefits
§21A-6-17. Food Stamp Overissuance Intercept of Unemployment Benefits