If you had to leave a job, you might be wondering if you’re eligible for unemployment benefits. Many people think quitting will make them ineligible for unemployment benefits, but that is not necessarily true. In Arizona, there are certain situations where you might be eligible for unemployment benefits even if you quit your job.
This article will discuss situations where you might still be eligible for unemployment benefits even if you quit. We’ll also cover other key unemployment facts.
Let’s start with a look at the requirements for claiming unemployment.
To be eligible for unemployment, you must have:
● Been employed for at least 20 weeks,
● Earned enough wages during that time to meet the state’s minimum amount, and
● Lose your job through no fault of your own
When am I still eligible for unemployment even if I quit?
You may still be eligible for unemployment benefits even if you quit, as long as you left due to something that wasn’t your fault.
For instance, you may still be eligible for unemployment if you quit because of:
● Your own illness or the illness of a parent or child,
● A need to take care of your child or a parent,
● Your need to move because your spouse got a new job,
● Domestic violence,
● Intolerable or substandard work conditions that you communicated to your employer.
It’s worth noting that the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) will investigate quitting over intolerable work conditions. They will need proof that you pursued an alternative before quitting in an attempt to get the conditions to change unless that pursuit would have been futile. They may also investigate whether intolerable conditions exist for most other employees in the workplace.
Situations When Unemployment May be Denied if You Quit
There are still some situations where quitting might disqualify you for unemployment benefits. If you leave because you do not want to work or go to school full-time, you will be ineligible for benefits.
Additionally, the DES will consider whether you pursued a reasonable alternative instead of quitting. For example, if a leave of absence or transfer was possible, and it would have cured the situation that caused you to quit, the DES will deny your claim for unemployment benefits.
Contact My Office for Assistance
This article is intended to provide a brief overview of Arizona unemployment eligibility and is not a substitute for speaking with an experienced attorney.
Contact my office for a consultation if you’d like to learn whether you’re potentially eligible for unemployment benefits.
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