StateTally

West Virginia Unemployment Benefits Calculator (2026)

SB 841 froze West Virginia's unemployment weekly maximum at $662 per week, a level that will stay in place even though the state average wage rises. The benefit is set at roughly 55% of your average weekly wage, with a minimum of $24, and you can receive it for up to 26 weeks.

Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice. Figures pending final verification against the current statute/schedule. · Ver esta página en español

Everything you earned in the base period (first four of the last five completed quarters), before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: WorkForce West Virginia — unemployment compensation benefit rate table (effective July 1, 2025) — W. Va. Code § 21A-6-10 (as amended by SB 841, 2024); WorkForce WV benefit rate table WVUC-B-59.

How West Virginia calculates it

  • Determine your total base‑period wages for the designated year.
  • Divide the total base‑period wages by 52 to calculate your average weekly wage.
  • Multiply the average weekly wage by 55% as required by law.
  • Read the resulting weekly amount from the WorkForce WV benefit rate table; the weekly benefit cannot exceed the $662 cap or fall below the $24 minimum.
  • The approved weekly benefit is payable for a uniform maximum of 26 weeks; there is no dependent allowance and no tapering provisions.

Worked example

With total base‑year earnings of $40,000, the calculation yields 1.06% × $40,000 = $423, resulting in a weekly benefit of $423 for up to 26 weeks ($10,998 total if fully drawn).

Frequently asked questions

How much can I receive per week in West Virginia unemployment benefits?

The weekly benefit equals 55% of your average weekly wage, but it cannot exceed $662 or be less than $24, per the state benefit table.

Are West Virginia unemployment benefits subject to state income tax?

West Virginia does not tax unemployment compensation at the state level, though the benefits are still subject to federal income tax.

How long can I collect unemployment benefits in West Virginia?

Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks regardless of wage class; every eligible claimant receives the same maximum duration.

What if my average weekly wage is very low—do I still get a benefit?

Yes. Even if your base‑period wages are below $2,200, the minimum weekly benefit is $24.

Did anything change recently to the weekly benefit cap?

Yes. SB 841, enacted in 2024, froze the weekly maximum at $662, and the July 1 2025 benefit table still reflects that cap.

Is the calculation different in Charleston, Huntington or Morgantown?

No. Benefits are set by the WorkForce West Virginia under one statewide formula, so a claim filed from Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown is computed exactly like one from anywhere else in West Virginia. Only your wages — not your city or county — change the result.

Embed this calculator

Attorneys, HR teams, and publishers: add this calculator to your own site free — copy the snippet below. Keep the credit line under the calculator: it links your readers to the source and its review date.

Unemployment by city in West Virginia

West Virginia applies one rule statewide, so the numbers do not change by city. These pages name the county court that actually hears the case and run the same verified formula.

Charleston · Huntington · Morgantown · Parkersburg · Wheeling · Martinsburg · Weirton · Fairmont · Beckley · Clarksburg · South Charleston · Vienna · St. Albans · Bridgeport · Bluefield · every city we cover

More calculators

Cite this page

Using these figures in an article, brief or report? Copy a citation — the link keeps readers on the source and its review date.

StateTally. (2026). West Virginia Unemployment Calculator 2026: up to $662/week. Retrieved September 17, 2026, from https://statetally.com/unemployment/west-virginia/