
I GOT FIRED FROM MY JOB.
AM I ELIGIBLE TO OBTAIN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?
The answer depends on the circumstance of your case. If you were terminated for misconduct or voluntarily quit your job, you generally cannot seek unemployment benefits. However, if you quit your job for good cause attributable to your work, you may be entitled to unemployment benefits. The good cause standard varies case by case. For example, I recently had a client who reached out to me regarding job termination for wearing an N-95 mask while at work. Based on the client’s circumstance, she may be eligible to obtain unemployment benefits despite termination for alleged misconduct. With respect to retirement, you cannot collect unemployment benefits if you accepted an early retirement incentive or severance package unless you accepted such package because of a real, imminent, and substantial risk of losing the job. If you are collecting workers compensation through a total disability claim, you will be denied unemployment benefits.