Tag: unemployment benefits

Unemployment Insurance is a social welfare program that is jointly run by the State and Federal Govt. These plans are designed to provide temporary financial assistance to anyone who lost their jobs due to no mistake of theirs. While one of the primary eligibility criterion for anyone to qualify for UI is that they should have been laid off for a fault that wasn’t theirs, sometimes people who quit voluntarily too may qualify.

Qualifying for UI if you quit is harder than when you were laid off. Which is why this article is going to outline how and when someone can claim UI when they resigned on their own accord.

Quitting Due To Hostile Environment

If you quit your job because the atmosphere at work was hostile or if you felt threatened, the authorities often show leniency while considering your application for the dole. This still doesn’t guarantee your eligibility as the officials will conduct a probe before they decide whether you are giving a true account of the situation.

In most cases, your eligibility often depends on the extent of hostility you faced at work. Some of the accepted reasons are –

• Your office was involved in some form of criminal/illegal activity

• Your office had safety issues which were reported to higher officials but never fixed

• Harassment or discrimination directed towards you

• Hostility following you reporting any incorrect activities to your superiors

Apart from the above mentioned reasons, there are some others which are accepted as valid reasons for a voluntary quit. They are –

• Quitting to take care of a sick family member

• Quitting because you have a temporary disability or because you are medically unfit for the job

• Quitting because you face domestic violence at home and it was no longer possible for you to continue working

How To Apply For UI After Quitting?

As soon as you put in the letter, you should ideally start applying for other jobs or apply for UI if you cannot work immediately. The typical eligibility criteria are as follows-

• Minimum wages and hours worked during base period

• Quitting due to a fault that wasn’t yours

• Actively seeking new job opportunities

• Available and ready for full time work

Apart from the part where you voluntarily quit, the rest should be met compulsorily. You can use our eligibility checker tool if you are unsure.

Keeping Up The Positivity

Irrespective of why you quit your job, it is important that you stay positive and think calmly to figure out a future plan. If there are solid reasons backing your resignation and if you meet the other requirements, chances are you will qualify for UI. Should you need any form of support of you if need to clear any questions, feel free to connect with the users on our discussion forum.

Never give up looking for new jobs and remember, stay happy and positive!

We must underline the fact that not all applications for unemployment benefits see light of the day. Denial or suspension of an existing benefit are quite common. You’re ought to be intimidated by that call or letter you receive with regard to suspension or disqualification from receiving unemployment. This can be a shocker in most cases specially if you are completely dependent on that weekly benefit provided by the labor department in your state.

The bottom line will be avoid panicking. You must sit down, understand the reason for denial and assess other options available. Remember, you’re not the first or the only one to face this situation. There are hundreds just like you. Let us walk you through the standard procedure on what your immediate and follow up actions should look like.

When you’re existing benefits are suspended or new claim denied, the labor authorities in your state will send out intimation letter or/and also contact you giving you further details on-

• Reason for Suspension/ Denial
• Period of disqualification
• If further action by you can help qualify
• Appeal and Adjudication process

If you’re a fresh applicant, estimate monetary benefits using a simple tool.

Typical Reasons for Denying Unemployment Compensation

Lets look at the most common reasons on the basis of which compensation is generally denied. The list below is not exhaustive.

1. ABLE AND AVAILABLE –If you’re not able to work or unavailable to work full time due to personal reasons.
2. ATTENDING SCHOOL OR TRAINING – In some states, if you left the job to pursue further schooling, you may be disqualified since it conflicts with your availability to work.

3. VOLUNTARY QUIT EMPLOYMENT –If the reasons for separation from employment was quitting voluntarily.

4. MONETARY ELIGIBILITY – In addition to the wages, all other miscellaneous  income such as severance pay, holiday pay, earnings from part time, consulting jobs must be declared. Failure to do so may result in denial of benefits.

5. ALIEN STATUS – Non citizens living in the US must have their alien status determined as per requirement from U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

6. FRAUD – If the applicant makes a false statement or intentionally provides incorrect facts to obtain compensation or increase it. In such cases, you may be prosecuted under fraud laws or be asked to pay back the benefits received along with interest.

7. INSUFFICIENT BASE PERIOD WAGES – If the wages earned in the base period did not meet the min. wage requirement.

8. ACTIVE SEARCH FOR WORK –You’re required to search and apply for jobs as per rules. If you fail to report this, benefits can be denied.

9. MEETING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – If you fall short of reporting to the labor department, when asked to do so or fail to submit routine reports like work search.

10. PENSION – Weekly benefit amount may be reduced if you received or going to receive pension.

11. SEVERANCE PAY – If you are in receipt of severance pay from your employer, it may have a saying at the time of application.

12. DISCHARGED FROM EMPLOYMENT – If you were fired from employment due to misconduct or other voluntary reasons.

13. OVERPAYMENT – If the payment value was over and above due to error from the system or otherwise, your benefits can be stopped until it is offset or you may be asked to remit the overpayment back.

14. MILITARY BENEFIT ENTITLEMENT – If the applicant separated from the military, the eligibility must be determined under federal laws.

15. REFUSED JOB OR JOB REFERRAL –If you are not applying for jobs and reporting them or fail to accept a suitable job offer without valid reasons.

Requalification

Read and understand why unemployment benefits were suspended or denied.One must carefully scrutinise and seek re application if the terms are not severe and you’re allowed to do so.

The letter(posted or e mailed) would contain procedure that will help you take follow up actions that includes reapplication. You may be asked to produce additional documents or provide information by the relevant authority. Ensure all actions required by you are fulfilled within the requested turnaround time. Failure to do so may result in unwanted delay and burden.

In grave situations where they clearly tell you that you will not qualify and if you strongly feel otherwise, ask for details of the appeals or adjudication process that helps escalation to a higher authority.