What is Unemployment Eligibility?

If you have worked steadily for at least a year, in a non-contract or freelance position, losing your job may mean you are eligible for unemployment. Unemployment is not only defined as you having lost a job, but it can also be defined as a US federal and state program that helps to partially compensate workers who have lost a job through no fault of their own. In other words, if you’ve been laid off, fired, or had to quit because of a hostile work environment, there’s a good chance you possess unemployment eligibility.

Not everyone who loses a job or who quits is automatically eligible for unemployment benefits. Generally, the person must work for a year, and they must make no grave errors in their work, which have caused them to lose their job. Since employers pay for unemployment benefits, if you lost your job through poor work behavior, like never showing up for work, or always showing up late, employers may contest your right to benefits. In most cases, job loss is considered not the fault of the employee, and may have to do with company layoffs. Even if you’ve done your job poorly, but at least shown up consistently, you still may have unemployment benefits available to you.

The unemployment program in the US is a cooperative state and federal program. Each state administers its own program, takes applications for unemployment benefits, and makes disbursements from in-state locations. You are paid weekly for up to 13 weeks, and must show proof that you are actively seeking a job during the time you receive benefits. When unemployment rate is particularly high, people may receive unemployment checks for longer, based on federal discretion.

As long as you lost your job in a way that is faultless, unemployment eligibility considers the following when determining your benefits:

Not all workers have the same unemployment eligibility, and there is a cap or top payment you can receive on a weekly basis. Even if you made a significant amount of money, the highest monthly benefit you can receive is less that $2000 US Dollars (USD). For most people this falls well short of their monthly expenses, particularly if they need to carry insurance during their periods of unemployment through COBRA programs.

Low disbursements of unemployment benefits may offer you eligibility in other programs, like federal medical insurance, called Medicare, and welfare payments. These programs consider the total income made in your household and the number of dependents you are supporting. Unemployment eligibility is not based on your household’s total income, but solely on the income you made in the highest earnings quarter you had in the last year.

To check unemployment eligibility, contact your state unemployment department. If you’re unsure what this is named in your state, you can call any of the state welfare programs to find out what the program is called. This can vary from state to state. It’s important to file as soon as you lose a job, so that you can begin receiving disbursements as quickly as possible.