Free · official rates · checked September 25, 2026
Starting a business on unemployment in Virginia
Here’s what Virginia allows while you’re on unemployment, and how to build your plan alongside your job search.
Virginia
No Self-Employment Assistance
You are not eligible if you are self-employed full time. Any self-employment or gig income (e.g. delivery, ride-share) must be reported every week as earnings. Source
Job search: Contact at least two different employers each week and submit the contacts through Customer Self-Service (phone filers send a Work Search Record every four weeks). Keep a work search log, and fully register with a résumé in the Virginia Workforce Connection within 10 days of filing.
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Self-Employment Assistance in Virginia
No. Virginia doesn’t run Self-Employment Assistance, so unemployment is for people looking for work.
How self-employment affects your benefit
You are not eligible if you are self-employed full time. Any self-employment or gig income (e.g. delivery, ride-share) must be reported every week as earnings.
Gross weekly earnings over $100 are deducted from your weekly benefit; no payment if earnings equal or exceed your weekly benefit.
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Your weekly job search
Contact at least two different employers each week and submit the contacts through Customer Self-Service (phone filers send a Work Search Record every four weeks). Keep a work search log, and fully register with a résumé in the Virginia Workforce Connection within 10 days of filing.
Pontia keeps your job-search record for you and links to Virginia Workforce Connection, so your plan and your search run side by side.
Other help in Virginia
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS): can fund a self-employment plan if you have a disability.
- Medicaid: Virginia expanded Medicaid, so the new work requirement applies to expansion adults: 80 hours or $580 net a month, and hours on your business count. Scheduled to begin 1 Jan 2027 for Medicaid Expansion adults (80 hours/month of work, school, training or volunteering, or $580/month earnings), checked at 6-monthly renewals.
- SBA Microloans of up to $50,000, and free advice from your local SBDC and SCORE mentors.
- On SSI or SSDI: PASS and the SSDI trial work period let you test a business.
Questions
Can I collect unemployment while starting a business in Virginia?+
No. Virginia doesn’t run Self-Employment Assistance, so unemployment is for people looking for work. You are not eligible if you are self-employed full time. Any self-employment or gig income (e.g. delivery, ride-share) must be reported every week as earnings.
How many job contacts a week does Virginia require?+
Contact at least two different employers each week and submit the contacts through Customer Self-Service (phone filers send a Work Search Record every four weeks). Keep a work search log, and fully register with a résumé in the Virginia Workforce Connection within 10 days of filing.
How much is unemployment in Virginia?+
Between $160 and $478 a week in 2026, for up to 12-26 weeks. Your own amount is on your monetary determination.
What other help is there to start a business in Virginia?+
Free advice from your local SBDC and SCORE mentors, SBA microloans of up to $50,000, and, if you have a disability, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) can fund a self-employment plan. On SSI or SSDI, PASS and the trial work period let you test a business.
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Cite this page
"Start a business on unemployment in Virginia (2026)", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/us/virginia/ (updated September 25, 2026)
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