Before you quit your job: Here’s what you need to know about unemployment eligibility

The job market in the United States has been moving along more or less steadily, although not as robustly as many would hope. The unemployment rate has stayed a little over 4.0% since crossing the marker in May 2024, but it is still below the ten-year average of 4.6%, and well below the 6.1% 50-year average.

Even though employers keep adding jobs, the categories in which there have been openings has been fairly lopsided with the bulk of available positions in the healthcare sector. Those looking for a job are finding that it has become a full-time job in its own right and it can take months to finally land a position.

Those thinking about making a switch without having another gig lined up may be wondering if they could rely on unemployment insurance to get them by while they search. Unfortunately, voluntarily leaving your job will most likely shut you out of being able to claim unemployment benefits.

That’s because, in order to claim unemployment benefits in the United States the individual must be out of work through no fault of their own. Workers who were made redundant, and generally even those who were fired, are eligible to claim unemployment support.

“Generally, if you voluntarily resign your job, you’re not eligible for unemployment,” explains Paul Sonn, state policy program director at the National Employment Law Project. “It’s not something people who quit their jobs can count on.”

You could be eligible if you have a ‘good cause’ for leaving

There are exceptions to the rule for those who chose to leave the job for ‘good cause’. You quit, but you didn’t exactly do so voluntarily as there was some situation that made it impossible for you to continue in the position you held.

If you left the job because of safety concerns in the workplace, or because the company was attempting to force you out, you can still claim. However, the eligibility requirements, like the unemployment benefits themselves, are governed at a state level. This means that the rules are different in different regions and there are often no precise guidelines the cover eligibility.

“It’s something decided on a case-by-case basis,” Sonn says. “You’d need to apply for benefits and explain the situation.”

However, here are a few circumstances in which an individual might have decided to leave a job and still be eligible to receive unemployment benefits while out of work:

Constructive discharge – If a work situation becomes so difficult or otherwise demanding that you, or any reasonable person, feel like you are essentially being forced to quit, you can still claim.

Medical condition – The rules vary in different states, but most do allow employees with an illness, injury or disability to claim unemployment benefits if their condition is caused or aggravated by the work. Keep in mind that you must prove that you took all the reasonable steps like requesting accommodations or a leave of absence before you quit and that it was absolutely necessary.

Domestic violence – In many states, employees who quit work due to reasons relating to domestic violence are able to collect benefits.

Provide care for a family member – If you leave the workplace to provide care for a family member then you should still be able to claim unemployment benefits in roughly half the states. However, the rules on eligibility for compelling family circumstances varies greatly between states.

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