In today’s economy, many people are looking for work. If you’re unemployed, you may be wondering if your situation is a disqualifying factor for unemployment benefits. Here are some situations in which you might not be eligible to receive unemployment benefits:.
What is your employment history?
If you were laid off, were fired, or quit without notice, you won’t be eligible for unemployment benefits.
If you were laid off and didn’t voluntarily quit your job to take a new one within two weeks of the layoff, you won’t be eligible for benefits.
If you took a leave of absence (or had an approved medical leave) and did not return to work within six months of the start date, you will not be eligible for benefits.
Is your unemployment high-severity?
If you’ve been unemployed for a long period of time, you might be disqualified from unemployment benefits if your situation is considered “high-severity.” This means that you have been out of work for a long period of time because you are unable to work due to an injury or illness.
You can find out if your unemployment is high-severity by looking at the duration of your unemployment. If it’s longer than four weeks, then it could be considered high-severity.
The definition of high-severity is also dependent on whether or not you have other income coming in. If you do, then it will be considered low-severity and will not disqualify you from receiving benefits.
If the duration of your unemployment has been less than four weeks, then it’s likely not high-severity and therefore not disqualifying.
Have you quit or been fired from your job?
In order to receive unemployment benefits, you have to be actively looking for work. If you quit or are fired from your job before accepting a new one, you might not qualify for these benefits.
Did you take a break from work to care for a dependent such as a child, spouse, or parent?
If you took a break from work to care for a dependent and your break lasted longer than 26 weeks, then you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Are you currently employed and in good standing with your company?
If you are employed, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits if your company is experiencing economic difficulties. However, if you are out of work and unemployed, your situation may be disqualifying.
Another question to ask yourself is whether or not you have been in good standing with your employer. If you’ve had any disciplinary actions taken against you by your company, this is something that would preclude you from receiving unemployment benefits.
With these questions in mind, it’s a good idea to discuss your situation with an experienced employment attorney before making any decisions on how to proceed.
Have you been convicted of certain crimes in the past 12 months that have nothing to do with losing your job?
Yes, you could be denied if convicted of certain crimes within the past 12 months. Certain crimes such as tax fraud and sexual misconduct can cause your benefits to be denied. However, if you’ve been convicted of a crime in the past 12 months that has nothing to do with losing your job, then you should not be disqualified from receiving benefits.
According to the Department of Labor website (https://www.dol.gov/labor/regs/compliance/whatsmycompensation.htm), if a person is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to any crime that is not related to their current unemployment claim, they will be ineligible for benefits during the entire time they are on unemployment.
If you’re concerned about whether your conviction disqualifies you from receiving benefits, it’s best to contact the state unemployment agency in which you were convicted or plead guilty or no contest and ask them what their policies are for non-disqualifying convictions.
Do you have a medical condition that makes it difficult for you to work?
If you’ve been laid off and are looking for work, you’ll want to see if your medical condition is a disqualifying factor. If you have a medical condition that makes working difficult, you may not be able to complete the steps necessary for unemployment benefits.
Conclusion
Although most people assume that unemployment benefits are a given, there are plenty of factors that can disqualify people from receiving any benefits at all. To ensure that you qualify for unemployment benefits, be sure to check out the following list of what can disqualify you from receiving unemployment benefits. For more information, please read the article in its entirety.