Employment law is often taken for granted by people who do not see how the state has ever helped them deal with an employer. In reality employment law in West Virginia helps make sure the hiring process is fair and that work safety standards are constantly upheld. In addition to making work a safer place for all employees, the employment law in West Virginia helps individuals even after they no longer have a steady job.
Unemployment benefits are benefits guaranteed under the employment law in West Virginia. These benefits provide monetary compensation to individuals who have been terminated. In order to qualify for these benefits you either have to be terminated through no fault of your own have left your employer with "good cause". You must also meet the requirements in West Virginia which include a total or partial unemployed status and have been making a sufficient wage that is covered by the West Virginia unemployed law. In addition this you must be able and willing to work a full time job.
In West Virginia you must first file an application for unemployment benefits to determine whether or not you qualify. Once you have qualified your date for receiving benefits begins on the day your claim is filed. The claims last for 52 weeks and the benefits are paid each week that you are either completely unemployed or partially unemployed. The benefits last until they have reached 26 times your weekly benefits.
The government in West Virginia also gives unemployed individuals the chance to keep their family medically insured. In some cases this is even more beneficial than receiving monetary compensation, especially if a family member requires constant coverage. To be eligible for COBRA medical insurance you must be terminated or have recently had to undergo a serious reduction of hours.
Family members are eligible to in most cases. A spouse can only receive COBRA insurance if they have lost coverage because of their spouse's loss of work or reduction in hours. They can also qualify if the employee covered by COBRA is eligible for Medicare or they separate or divorce from the covered individual. COBRA also covers children and the state of West Virginia has started a smaller version of the COBRA law that provides state employers with less than two employees COBRA coverage for terminated employees.