CHAPTER 21A. UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

ARTICLE 6. EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY; BENEFITS.

§21A-6-10. Benefit rate -- Total unemployment; annual computation and publication of rates.

(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

§21A-6-10. Benefit rate -- Total unemployment; annual computation and publication of rates.

Bill History For §21A-6-10

1988 Regular Session
House Bill 4513
1988 Regular Session
Senate Bill 522
1985 Regular Session
Senate Bill 195
1983 Regular Session
Senate Bill 174
1979 Regular Session
House Bill 1286
1978 Regular Session
House Bill 1442
1976 Regular Session
House Bill 1422
1974 Regular Session
Senate Bill 257
1973 Regular Session
House Bill 1232
1971 Regular Session
Senate Bill 280
1970 Regular Session
House Bill 612
1967 Regular Session
House Bill 762
1963 Regular Session
Senate Bill 217
1961 Regular Session
Senate Bill 211
1953 Regular Session
House Bill 225
1947 Regular Session
Senate Bill 270
1945 Regular Session
Senate Bill 182
1943 Regular Session
House Bill 278
1939 Regular Session
House Bill 275
1936 Second Special Session
House Bill 1