How to Quit Your Job & Still Qualify For Unemployment Insurance Benefits

You will need to assert a "good cause" reason for quitting your job in order to qualify for unemployment benefits.

Quitting your job is your only option, it's a tough decision to make. Unemployment insurance benefits can help to lighten your load ... If you are eligible. Before you quit your job, make sure you are taking the appropriate steps to qualify for your unemployment insurance benefits. More importantly, make sure you have a "good cause" reason to actually quit.

Instructions

1. Determine good cause. Your eligibility for unemployment will depend on WHY you quit. If you quit your job for "good cause" that can be attributed to your employer, you may be eligible for benefits. "Good cause" reasons may include: unsafe working conditions; or a work environment that is damaging to your health. You'll need medical verification proving that your work is making you sick or making an existing condition worse.

   You may also qualify for unemployment under the "good cause" exemption if there has been a change in your working conditions that is causing hardship or harm. For instance, a change in work hours or duration, a pay reduction, or a requirement to perform job duties that are very different than what you were hired for.

   You may also qualify if your original employment contract has been broken by your employer. For instance, your employer has asked you to work different hours than what was agreed upon in your contract.

   Other "good cause" reasons may include:

   -- Sexual harassment. There is no reason that a person should have to work in a threatening environment. If sexual harassment persists even after your employer has been given the opportunity to correct the problem, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits.

   -- Quitting to protect yourself or your child from domestic violence. You may have to prove that you tried to keep your job.

   -- Quitting a job within 30 days of your start date because it ended up being "unsuitable." For instance, the commute was too long, or the job put your health, safety or morals at risk. After 30 days from your start date, it will be found that you have agreed to the unsuitable condition and you will not qualify for benefits based simply on those considerations.

   "Good cause" generally does not include:

   -- Quitting because of a health condition that is NOT caused by the job. For instance if you had a heart attack that prevented you from keeping your job.

   -- Quitting because you lost your child care.

   -- Quitting because your boss is difficult to get along with, unless you can prove a pattern of verbal abuse that any reasonable person would have been offended by and tried to avoid.

2. Take the appropriate steps: Before you quit, there are some things you MUST do to qualify for benefits. In essence, you cannot quit a job without exploring every reasonable option to keep it ... here are some of the steps you MUST take:

   -- Talk to your employer. Discuss why you want to quit and give them the opportunity to correct the problem.

   -- Explore other options to quitting such as taking a leave of absence. You'll have to prove that quitting was your only option and that any other reasonable person in your position would have done the same.

3. Once you have determined that you have good cause to quit, have given your employer the opportunity to correct the problem and explored all other options available to avoid quitting, the last step to take is to actually quit.

   Cover your bases by:

   -- Quitting in person. Clearly explain to your employer why you are quitting and the steps you took to avoid quitting.

   -- Provide a letter of resignation that clearly states why you decided to quit and how you tried your best to avoid it.

   Terminating your employment is a serious decision not to be taken lightly. Being properly educated about the unemployment insurance requirements and your rights is the best thing you can do to ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.

4. Check with your state's unemployment insurance department before you quit to make sure you are complying with its rules and standards. Unemployment eligibility requirements vary from state to state and it is always best to check with your state about their specific requirements.

Tips & Warnings

• Your employer may protest your unemployment claim if you quit. In most states, this does not delay your payments. But you may be required to pay back any benefits you receive if your employer wins the appeal.

References

• Connecticut Network for Legal Aid: Your Rights to Unemployment Benefits: Can I Collect if I Quit My Job?