Unemployed workers are eligible for benefits if they have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Those laid off from their positions, as well as most employees who are terminated for reasons other than serious misconduct, are automatically qualified for unemployment benefits.
Obtain legal advice from an Employment Attorney near me in New Jersey who is experienced in handling your specific case.
In other words, can you collect unemployment if you resign?
Workers who voluntarily leave their jobs may still be eligible for unemployment benefits, depending on the circumstances. An individual who voluntarily leaves their work without just cause is not entitled to unemployment benefits in any of the 50 states. However, “good cause” is defined differently in different states.
Benefits for Voluntary Termination of Employment
Just because you feel you had a valid reason to resign from your position does not mean that the law agrees with you. A worker who decides to leave a job because it doesn’t offer any room for progress will not be eligible for unemployment payments. Some people leave their employment because they are unhappy or because they want to change careers altogether. A better quality of life and greater job satisfaction may result from these choices, but one thing they won’t bring about is a bigger paycheck.
In some jurisdictions, a former employee may be entitled to benefits if they left their employment for compelling personal reasons, such as following a spouse to a new job across the country or returning home to deal with a family emergency. Generally speaking, in other states, benefits are only accessible if the employee’s reasons for leaving have something to do with their position.
At what point do you lose eligibility for unemployment benefits if you voluntarily quit your job?
Here are some scenarios when your resignation could qualify you for unemployment benefits.
- The release of negative energy in a positive direction. Workers in most states could claim unemployment benefits if they were effectively forced to quit their jobs.
- We need to focus on the medical aspect. An employee who resigns due to illness, injury, or disability may still be eligible for unemployment benefits in many states.
- Intimate partner abuse. Many states allow a worker to collect unemployment if they quit due to domestic violence.
- Taking good care of a member of one’s own family. An employee who voluntarily quits their job to care for a seriously ill family member may still be eligible for unemployment benefits in some states.
