Can you get unemployment if you quit for mental health

Unemployment assistance can be a valuable benefit to receive if you are between jobs, but the reason you're unemployed will determine whether you're eligible for those checks (i.e., a global pandemic). During the pandemic, about one in four workers depended on unemployment checks, according to data by think tank The Century Foundation, with federal aid providing $600 per week in addition to state UI benefits.

The pandemic has also changed the way Americans approach work; several industries have seen record numbers of employees quit in search of better pay and flexible hours. Better work life balance and compensation are certainly valid reasons for looking for a different job, but one thing to note: you likely won't be getting unemployment benefits if you quit voluntarily. "Workers should not count on receiving unemployment insurance benefits after they quit their jobs," says Nance L. Schick, an employment attorney and mediator in New York City.

However, there are some exceptions to the rule, if the reason qualifies as 'good cause.' Here's what you need to know about qualifying for unemployment if you quit your job.

You quit because of drastic changes in your workplace.

In order to receive unemployment benefits after quitting a job, you need to have 'good cause' for leaving. Generally, people who qualify for unemployment benefits need to leave a job through no fault of their own, such as getting fired or laid off. But there are some situations that can push you to quit a job, which could then make you eligible to get unemployment checks.

While the rules for what reasons qualify you can vary by state, most allow those who quit because of unsafe or hostile workplaces to receive UI payments. These reasons include "discrimination, unsafe working conditions, harassment, illegal activities, refusal to pay, dramatic change in job responsibilities, or reduction in hours that turn into part-time employment," says Anthony Martin, CEO of insurance agency, Choice Mutual.

To have the reason you're quitting be considered a good cause, you need to report it to your company. "When they ignore the issue, you have good cause to quit your job and potentially get unemployment," says Martin. "While harassment or discrimination can be exceptions to this, you can improve your chances of approval by getting proof by filing a formal complaint."

Circumstances that force you to quit your job can help you qualify for unemployment while you find another opportunity. You can check state-specific requirements for UI insurance on the Department of Labor's website for reasons your state allows.

You quit because of qualifying personal reasons.

There are also some personal reasons that could make you eligible for UI after quitting voluntarily. "Even a spouse getting a job offer in another state can be considered a good cause in some states," says Martin.

Quitting due to a medical reason such as a prolonged illness, injury, disability, or on your doctor's recommendation could also be acceptable—however, some states might only allow it if the injury was caused by the job. If you quit a job because of domestic violence or needing to care for a severely ill family member, you might be eligible for UI checks too.

Check your state's UI policy before quitting.

Because state laws vary on which reasons are considered good cause for quitting a job and being able to collect unemployment, it's a good idea to check what your state's rules are before you decide to quit. Once you do decide to quit, make sure you file for unemployment immediately after, because the approval time can take a while.

Still unsure if you qualify? Apply anyway, suggests Tina Hawk, senior vice president of HR at GoodHire. "Many others presume that their specific circumstances disqualifies them from receiving benefits, and in 99 percent of cases they're wrong," says Hawk. "On top of that, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits even if you've previously been denied them."

If you do get denied, you can try to appeal your claim—"but you might have a tight deadline (e.g., 10 days) to appeal, depending on your state," says Martin.

If you're approved and start receiving unemployment checks, you will need to file a claim each week to continue getting payments, and show proof that you are actively looking for a new job.

If you quit your job without "good cause connected with the work" you may not be eligible to receive benefits. "Good cause connected with the work" means that your reason for leaving must be directly related to your job, and be so compelling that you had no choice but to leave the job. While in most cases you cannot voluntarily quit a job and collect unemployment insurance benefits, where you can show “unsafe, unhealthful, or dangerous” working conditions, that were so intolerable that you had “no choice but to leave the employment,” you could be eligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits. The burden of proof is on you, the employee, to prove that you quit for good cause. 

If you leave your job for personal reasons – for example, to move out of the area – your reason for quitting is not connected with the work. If you quit your job for better pay or more hours, you may be eligible for benefits under certain circumstances.

In both cases, a claims examiner will contact you by phone or email for a fact-finding interview to decide if you are entitled to benefits based on Unemployment Insurance law and policies.

However, if leaving your job was related to domestic violence, of if your spouse/civil union partner is an active military member who is being transferred outside of state, you may still be eligible to collect benefits. You will be scheduled for a claims examiner interview or emailed a questionnaire to provide proof of these circumstances. The examiner will decide if you can receive benefits based on Unemployment Insurance laws and regulations.

To remove a disqualification for voluntary leaving, you must return to work (in covered employment) for at least eight weeks, earn at least 10 times your weekly benefit rate, and then become unemployed through no fault of your own.

If you were fired or discharged from your job, you may not be eligible for benefits. A claims examiner will determine if there was any misconduct connected to your separation.

There are two types of misconduct: misconduct and gross misconduct.

A misconduct disqualification would begin the week your firing or suspension occurred, and continue for the next five weeks. After the disqualification period ends, you may be eligible to collect benefits.

If you were fired for any reason that is serious enough to be considered a crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree under the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, you may be disqualified from collecting benefits indefinitely. This is known as a gross misconduct discharge.

To remove a gross misconduct disqualification, you must return to work (in covered employment) for at least eight weeks, earn 10 times your weekly benefit rate, and then become unemployed through no fault of your own. In addition, the wages you earned with the employer who discharged you cannot be used to establish a current or future claim for Unemployment Insurance benefits, or to remove a disqualification.

If you were fired, you will have a fact-finding interview either by phone or email to determine your eligibility. The examiner may request certain documentation as supporting evidence of your separation. The examiner will determine if you are entitled to benefits based on Unemployment Insurance laws and regulations. An exception to a disqualification based on willful misconduct may apply when the separation was related to or due to domestic violence.

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