Virginia Labor Dept 2026: Phone, Login, Wage & Unemployment
A practical Virginia labor guide for workers, claimants, employers, HR teams, parents and job seekers. This page separates the two agencies users often mix up: Virginia DOLI handles wage claims, safety, youth employment and labor-law matters, while the Virginia Employment Commission handles unemployment benefits, CSS login, weekly claims, appeals and employer UI taxes.
Quick Answer: What Is the Virginia Labor Department?
For most searches, “Virginia Labor Dept” means two different agencies. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, usually called DOLI, handles wage claims, minimum wage, youth employment certificates, workplace safety through VOSH, labor-law compliance and some employer workplace requirements. The Virginia Employment Commission, usually called VEC, handles unemployment benefits, the Customer Self-Service portal, weekly claims, appeals, payment issues and unemployment insurance employer taxes.
Use DOLI for wages
Unpaid wages, Virginia minimum wage, wage retaliation, youth employment and workplace labor-law questions.
Use VEC for unemployment
File initial claims, reactivate claims, certify weekly benefits, appeal UI decisions and manage benefits.
Use VOSH for safety
Workplace safety and health hazards, fatality/injury reporting and whistleblower-protection routing.
Use employer portals
VEC employer UI tax registration and DOLI compliance resources for Virginia employers.
Virginia DOLI vs VEC: Choose the Right Agency Before You File
Virginia is different from many states because unemployment is not handled by DOLI. If you file with the wrong agency, you can lose time, miss an appeal deadline, or wait for help that cannot be provided by that office.
| Your issue | Correct Virginia agency | Best first step |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment benefits after job loss or reduced hours | Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) | Use VEC Customer Self-Service or the official VEC unemployment page. |
| Weekly unemployment certification | VEC | File weekly certification every 7 days until you return to work. |
| Unpaid wages or minimum wage issue | Virginia DOLI Payment of Wage Unit | Submit a wage claim through the DOLI portal or signed paper form by mail if needed. |
| Unsafe workplace or safety hazard | Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH), part of DOLI | File a VOSH complaint or contact a VOSH regional office. |
| Youth work permit / employment certificate | Virginia DOLI Youth Employment | Use DOLI youth employment certificate resources before the minor starts work. |
| Employer unemployment tax account | VEC Employer Services | Register and file employer UI tax reports through VEC/iFile/iReg where applicable. |
Virginia Labor Department Key Facts for 2026
Use these high-intent facts before you call, log in, file a wage claim, certify benefits or visit a local office.
| Topic | 2026 Virginia answer | User action |
|---|---|---|
| DOLI main phone | Virginia DOLI main number: (804) 371-2327. Hours listed by DOLI: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, closed weekends and state holidays. | Use for DOLI labor, wage, safety, youth employment and office-routing questions. |
| DOLI headquarters | Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Brookfield Place, 6606 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230. | Use the official DOLI locations page before visiting any office. |
| VEC unemployment phone | VEC Customer Contact Center: (866) 832-2363, generally 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, closed weekends and state holidays. | Call for unemployment claim help if online CSS cannot solve the issue. |
| VEC voice response | VEC lists (800) 897-5630 for voice response/payment-information tasks. | Have your VEC PIN and identity details ready before calling. |
| Virginia minimum wage 2026 | The Virginia minimum hourly wage rate is $12.77 from January 1, 2026 until January 1, 2027 for covered workers. | Use DOLI wage information or file a wage claim if you believe covered wages were not paid. |
| Unemployment benefit amount | For new claims filed on or after January 4, 2026, VEC says the minimum weekly benefit amount is $112 and the maximum is $430. | Use your Statement of Wages and Potential Entitlement for your exact amount and weeks. |
| Weekly UI certification | VEC says claimants must file weekly certification every 7 days until returning to work; if a weekly claim is not completed within 20 days, the claim may close. | Certify weekly and save proof of each submission. |
| Initial UI payment timing | VEC says claimants are generally paid within 21 days of filing, but some claims require additional eligibility review. | Keep filing weekly claims while waiting and respond to VEC notices quickly. |
| UI appeal deadline | VEC states a claimant can appeal a denial within 30 days. | Appeal before the deadline on the official notice; keep proof. |
| CSS maintenance | VEC lists scheduled CSS maintenance every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. | Avoid last-minute weekly certification during maintenance windows. |
Virginia Labor Department Map: DOLI Headquarters, Regional Offices and VEC Help
Use this map for direction planning to Virginia DOLI headquarters in Richmond. For unemployment services, check VEC online services first because many unemployment tasks are completed through the VEC Customer Self-Service portal rather than a DOLI office.
Before visiting any Virginia labor office
- Confirm the exact office and service on the official DOLI locations page.
- For unemployment, try VEC Customer Self-Service first because DOLI does not process UI benefits.
- Bring ID, written timeline, notices, wage records, pay stubs, schedules, employer names and screenshots.
- For safety complaints, write the hazard, location, exposed workers, dates, equipment and injury/near-miss details.
- For wage claims, organize pay period, hours worked, pay promised, amount paid and unpaid balance.
Virginia Local Tips: Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Roanoke and Southwest Virginia
Virginia labor problems look different by region. A Northern Virginia contractor, Richmond state employee, Hampton Roads shipyard worker, Shenandoah warehouse worker and Southwest Virginia hospitality employee may need different records and portals.
Northern Virginia
Workers in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun and Prince William often have multiple employers, federal contractors or D.C./Maryland wage history. For VEC, write down where the work was performed and where the employer reported wages.
Richmond and Central Virginia
If you need DOLI headquarters, wage claim help or agency routing, Richmond is the key reference point. Bring a short timeline, pay records, employer contact details and any official notices.
Hampton Roads and Tidewater
Shipyard, port, military contractor, hospitality and seasonal jobs can involve changing hours. For VEC weekly claims, report work and earnings accurately for the week worked.
Roanoke, Lynchburg and Valley areas
Manufacturing, warehouse, healthcare and retail workers should keep schedules, clock-in records, pay stubs and written employer messages when filing wage or UI issues.
Southwest Virginia
If internet access is weak, plan ahead for CSS login, weekly certification and document uploads. Do not wait until the last day of a deadline.
Students and youth workers
For minors aged 14 or 15, confirm DOLI youth employment certificate rules before work begins. Employers should keep records and avoid prohibited hazardous work.
Virginia Labor Action Helper: Which Portal, Phone Number or Agency Do You Need?
Choose your situation and this helper will route you to DOLI, VEC, VOSH or another official path. It does not collect personal data.
Select your issue to see the right agency, what to prepare, official link and record-saving tip.
VEC Login and Customer Self-Service: Virginia Unemployment Online Portal
The VEC Customer Self-Service portal is the unemployment login path for filing initial claims, reactivating existing claims and filing weekly claims. VEC notes that the portal is secured with ID.me and that scheduled maintenance occurs every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Before you log in
- Use the official VEC online services page.
- Have your Social Security number and identity documents ready when required.
- Prepare employer names, addresses, phone numbers and dates from the last 18 months.
- Review your most recent W-2 or pay stub for accurate employer information.
- Avoid last-minute weekly certification during scheduled CSS maintenance.
CSS safety checklist
- Do not enter login information on lookalike pages.
- Save confirmation numbers and screenshots for weekly claims.
- Keep your email, mailing address and phone number updated.
- Read every VEC notice because deadlines can affect benefits.
- Use official VEC support if you cannot access the portal.
Virginia Unemployment Benefits 2026: Apply, Payment Amount, Claim Timeline and Eligibility
Apply for Virginia unemployment after job loss or reduced hours, preferably in the first week. VEC says you can file a Virginia claim if you performed work in Virginia during the last 18 months, with special rules for federal, military and out-of-state work.
| Unemployment topic | Virginia VEC detail | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Required information | Social Security number, employer names, addresses, phone numbers and dates of employment for the last 18 months; union details if applicable. | Use W-2s, pay stubs and separation records to avoid employer-name mistakes. |
| Weekly benefit amount | For new claims filed on or after January 4, 2026, VEC lists a minimum weekly benefit of $112 and a maximum of $430. | Your Statement of Wages and Potential Entitlement controls your exact amount. |
| Payment timing | Claimants are generally paid within 21 days, but claims needing review can take longer. | Keep filing weekly certifications while waiting. |
| Work search | VEC routes claimants to the Virginia Workforce Connection for work-search and career resources. | Save job contacts, applications and interviews by week. |
| Payment issue | Payment updates and Way2Go issues may require VEC or Way2Go official support. | Do not share PINs or personal information on unofficial pages. |
Weekly Claims, Work Search and Part-Time Earnings
After applying, the weekly certification is not optional. VEC says you must file weekly certification every 7 days until you return to work, and if you do not complete your weekly claim within 20 days, your claim will be closed.
Weekly claim checklist
- File after the benefit week ends.
- Report work and earnings accurately for the week.
- Keep work-search records by week.
- Save CSS confirmation numbers and screenshots.
- Check notices before and after filing weekly certification.
Common weekly claim mistakes
- Waiting more than 20 days to certify.
- Reporting net pay instead of gross earnings.
- Forgetting temporary, gig or part-time work.
- Missing the Wednesday evening CSS maintenance window.
- Stopping weekly claims during appeal or review.
Virginia Unemployment Appeals: 30-Day Deadline, Documents and Hearing Prep
If VEC denies unemployment benefits, VEC says claimants can appeal the decision within 30 days. The exact deadline and appeal instructions on your official notice matter most.
Appeal preparation checklist
- Decision or determination being appealed.
- Notice date and deadline.
- Claimant name and identifying details as instructed.
- Employer names, pay records and separation documents.
- Short timeline of what happened.
- Proof of submission before the deadline.
During appeal
- Keep filing weekly certifications if you still want benefits.
- Read hearing notices carefully.
- Organize witnesses and documents before the hearing.
- Keep your phone and email available for official notices.
- Do not assume a verbal complaint counts as an appeal.
Virginia DOLI Wage Claims: Unpaid Wages, Minimum Wage and Retaliation
DOLI’s Payment of Wage Unit investigates unpaid wage complaints under Virginia law. DOLI says unpaid wage claims can be submitted electronically through the DOLI Portal, and that the quickest method is electronic submission. Paper claim forms must be physically signed and mailed; faxed or emailed forms cannot be accepted.
| Wage issue | Where to start | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid regular wages | DOLI Payment of Wage claim. | Pay period, hours worked, agreed rate, amount paid, amount owed and employer details. |
| Virginia minimum wage issue | DOLI wage claim if covered wages were paid
|