The Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits program is designed to provide financial assistance to those who have lost jobs for no fault of their own. To qualify for the benefits, applicants must have earned sufficient wages in their previous employment. Along with wages, the reason for separating from previous organization plays a crucial role in deciding if an application makes the cut for the UI Benefits. If applicants don’t fulfil these conditions, it will result in an instant the disqualification of UI benefits.
It is also necessary to disclose the reason for separating from the previous organization. The applicants must demonstrate that they did not lose the job due to any fault of their own. Here are some of the most common reasons for people to separate from previous employment which will lead to disqualification from receiving UI Benefits:
1. Voluntary Resignation
If you voluntarily resigned from your previous job, your application for UI Benefits is most likely to get rejected. Reasons such as loss of interest in the job or a need to take a break from work are not given due consideration by most states.
However, some cases of voluntary resignations are taken into consideration in a few states. If the reasons for voluntary resignation are; you were not paid for your work, the working conditions were hazardous, or there were illegal activities taking place in the organization, or if you accompanied your spouse who had to relocate due to his/her job, etc. Also, issues like workplace harassment and compelled to quit due to domestic violence are taken into consideration.
Applicants must have sufficient evidence to back their claim to make sure that their applications get considered. If you quit your job for any acceptable reason, along with the evidence for your claim, you must also provide evidence to prove that you tried to solve the issue prior to resigning. The applicants must take note that the burden of proof lies on them and not on the employers.
2. Criminal Charges or Conviction
If you lost your previous job due to a criminal charge and were convicted for the same, your application for benefits will be disqualified. The duration of disqualification differs from state-to-state but such individuals are generally disqualified for a significantly long period of time.
3. Work-related Issues or Bad Reviews
If you were fired by your previous organization for reasons relating to your performances, your application will be rejected. Once you file for unemployment, the department which oversees matters relating to UI Benefits in your state will share the application with your ex-employer to verify the claim. If your ex-employer states poor performance as a reason for your exit, your eligibility will be immediately withdrawn.
In such cases, the disqualified individuals are expected to work again for another employer. They must also eliminate the wages earned and hours worked for this employer while calculating their base period wages.
4. Non-US Citizen (Immigrant workers)
Individuals who are not citizens of the United States are not allowed to work in the country without receiving a letter of permission. Applications submitted by non-citizens will instantly be rejected without the required documents.
The non-citizens will receive a registration number when they apply for a work permit, which is also known as ‘Alien Registration Number’. They need to submit the alien registration number without fail when they apply for UI Benefits.
Conclusion
Unemployment benefits are not collected by the employees nor does the government pay it from its funds. The UI Benefits program is funded by the employers, and therefore all the state governments take extra precautions to make sure that you meet all the eligibility conditions. Check out the eligibility conditions set for the state you belong to know in detail about the rules by your state. If in case your application gets disqualified, note that you could always file for an appeal challenging the decision.
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