Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Virginia
The state's rules for quitting and for being fired are different. This page gives the state's own words.
All about unemployment in Virginia
Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.
Quit, fired or refused work
If you quit
If you quit without good cause, you are disqualified. The VEC also looks at whether you tried all reasonable alternatives with your employer before quitting. Good cause does not include quitting to become self-employed, or quitting to go with your spouse to a new place (except for certain military spouse moves).
Examples the state names:
- Leaving to go with a spouse on active military duty who has permanent change of station orders to a place not readily reachable from your job (with conditions set by law)
- A separation under a seniority-based policy is not treated as quitting
If you were fired
You are disqualified only if the VEC finds you were fired for misconduct connected with your work. Virginia law lists some examples, such as a confirmed positive test for a non-prescribed controlled substance under a known workplace drug policy, chronic absenteeism or tardiness in deliberate violation of a known policy, and loss of a required license through your own fault. The VEC may consider mitigating circumstances.
If benefits are denied for the separation
If you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct, you cannot get benefits until you work for an employer for 30 days or 240 hours and then lose that job.
Refusing work
If you refuse suitable work or a referral without good cause, you are disqualified until you work for an employer for 30 days or 240 hours and then lose that job.
Law: Va. Code sec. 60.2-618
Official source: Source page
You usually must be unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states this means you lost your job because there was not enough work.
Able, available and looking for work
Job contacts per week: 2
Each week you must be able and available to start work right away and contact at least two different employers. You cannot repeat a contact with the same employer unless you apply for a different opening. Online filers submit their job contacts in Customer Self Service; phone filers give basic information by phone and send detailed written information on the Work Search Record form every four weeks. You must be ready to accept non-remote work.
Records to keep
Keep a log of each week's work search: date, type of contact, position and employer contact information, with proof such as screenshots or email confirmations. All contacts may be verified or audited.
Law: Va. Code sec. 60.2-612(A)(7)
Official source: Source page
To be paid for a week, you must be able to work, available to work and actively seeking work.
Law: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(12)
Noncitizens
What the state says
If you are not a U.S. citizen, have your Alien Registration number ready when you apply.
Common reasons for a denial and what federal law says →
Free help
Call 1-866-832-2363. Legal aid and other free help in Virginia → Official sources →
More questions about unemployment in Virginia
Can I get unemployment in Virginia if I quit?
If you quit without good cause, you are disqualified. The VEC also looks at whether you tried all reasonable alternatives with your employer before quitting.
Can I get unemployment in Virginia if I was fired?
You are disqualified only if the VEC finds you were fired for misconduct connected with your work. Virginia law lists some examples, such as a confirmed positive test for a non-prescribed controlled substance under a known workplace drug policy, chronic absenteeism or tardiness in deliberate violation of a known policy, and loss of a required license through your own fault.