Unemployment Eligibility
Unemployment benefits, also called unemployment compensation, is the social welfare form of payment made by a state or any other authorized body to the unemployed people. These benefits are available to those people registered as unemployed, but are seeking a job. Labor or trade unions distribute some of these unemployment benefits in some states. You risk being ineligible for your unemployment compensation if you quit your job, but if you leave it for a good cause you are still eligible for the benefits. The good reason refers a case to some serious personal issues that affects your performance, and you have to quit. You can also use the employer’s conduct as a good cause to leave, but it must be pretty bad for you to quit. The reasons include refusal to pay your wages, unsafe working conditions or repeated and severe harassment.
You will still be eligible for the benefits if you quit your job for personal reasons like taking care of a new baby or a sick relative, moving to a new city or due to health reasons. The only condition you have to fulfill is that you must be ready, willing and able to take a new job.
When your job changes, not every change is a good reason to quit the job, and hence if there is no good cause for leaving you won’t be eligible for the benefits. However, when you quit a job, you can still apply for the benefits and just tell the truth for the reason of quitting.
When you are not ready to get a new job after quitting your job, you are not eligible to pick your unemployment benefits. You must always be prepared and available for a new job for you to be eligible for the benefits.
For one to continue receiving the unemployment benefits, you must also be physically fit to work. However, based on your medical conditions, you can prove that you are only available for light duty work, and hence you can argue your case.
Whenever you have permanently relocated to another state, and you had to quit your job but still actively looking for another job in that country, you are eligible for the unemployment benefits. However, different countries have a different interpretation on issues related to unemployment eligibility benefits.
When you refuse to take a job offer and hence remain unemployed, you won’t be eligible for the unemployment benefits. A suitable position can be said to be one that is almost equal although not being identical to the job you had.
Other conditions that can make you eligible for the unemployment benefits include losing a job as a result of a natural disaster and when you lose a job and are ready to start a business among others.
If you, or someone you know, are facing legal issues in the workplace, United Employees Law Group has the answers. Call Today for your free and confidential case review. Please feel free to CONTACT US with any questions about this blog or your exact situation.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock/g-stockstudio