Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Unemployment Insurance

Virginia · Unemployment

vec.virginia.gov

State Unemployment Benefits in Virginia

The Virginia Employment Commission administers unemployment insurance. Under 16VAC5-60-30, if a claimant met the eligibility requirements before dying, the check for all benefits due is payable to the decedent's estate upon proof of the claimant's death.

Steps to takeKey facts

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Call the Virginia Employment Commission at 866-832-2363, or use the online Customer Contact Form on vec.virginia.gov, to report the claimant's death.
2
Provide proof of the claimant's death, and evidence of your authority over the estate (such as a certificate of qualification as executor), so VEC can issue any benefits due to the decedent's estate under 16VAC5-60-30.
3
Ask VEC whether any benefits were paid that the claimant was not entitled to, which are repayable to the Commission under Va. Code § 60.2-633.

Required Documents

  • Proof of the claimant's death: 16VAC5-60-30 makes the check for all benefits due payable to the decedent's estate upon proof of the claimant's death.

State Unemployment Benefits in Virginia: key facts

What Virginia says4

Reporting a death

The death is reported through VEC's general routes, the Customer Contact Center or the online Customer Contact Form linked from its Contact Us page, asking what proof of death and evidence of authority it requires for the estate to receive the final check.1

Benefits at and after the death

16VAC5-60-30 makes the check for all benefits due payable to the decedent's estate, upon proof of the claimant's death, where the claimant met the eligibility requirements of the Act before dying.2

Who may claim a final payment

Because 16VAC5-60-30 makes the check payable to the decedent's estate, the executor or court-appointed administrator receives it on the estate's behalf.2

Overpayments

Va. Code § 60.2-633 makes anyone who received benefits to which they were not entitled liable to repay them to the Commission.3

Where an overpayment was not caused by fraud, § 60.2-633 has the Commission discharge it from its records immediately upon the death of the claimant.3

Governing law: 16VAC5-60-30; Va. Code § 60.2-633

Not in Virginia's published guidance3

  • A claim form
  • A deceased-claimant procedure
  • A list of the documents that prove the death

Sources3

  1. 1.Contact Us (Virginia Employment Commission)
  2. 2.16VAC5-60-30, Disposition of benefit checks payable to a deceased claimant
  3. 3.Va. Code § 60.2-633

Virginia unemployment benefits

Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Unemployment Insurance

Claim status

1-800-897-5630

TTY

711

Hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed weekends and state holidays)
Verified Aug 2026

Tools for Settling an Estate in Virginia

Free tools for settling an estate in Virginia: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.

How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Virginia: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysVa. Code § 64.2-1300Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsVa. Code §§ 64.2-508.1, 64.2-528, 64.2-529, 64.2-550, 64.2-552, 64.2-556Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?

Virginia requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Va. Code §§ 58.1-320, 58.1-322.03, 58.1-360Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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