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Posted on July 9, 2024 | By Omid Nosrati | Employment Law
For people who lost their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control, unemployment benefits provide an essential safety net. Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible. Many people are left wondering, what disqualifies you from unemployment in California? You can more successfully navigate California’s complicated unemployment system if you know what automatically disqualifies you from getting benefits.
In California, unemployment benefits are intended to give monetary support to people who fulfill the state’s qualifying conditions and are unemployed due to no fault of their own. The purpose of these benefits is to assist recipients in their job hunt. But not every unemployed person will be eligible for these benefits, and disqualification may result from specific behaviors or situations.
Resigning from your job willingly and without good reason is one of the main grounds for denial of unemployment benefits in California. Reasons for good cause may include hazardous working conditions, a notable cut in hours or compensation, or other significant changes to the terms of employment. You won’t be qualified for benefits, though, if you left because you didn’t like your boss, your coworkers, or your job.
You are usually not eligible to get unemployment benefits if you are fired due to misconduct such as insubordination, persistent tardiness, breaking corporate rules, stealing, and more. You might still be eligible for benefits, though, if your poor performance on the job or your inability to fulfill employment requirements in spite of your greatest efforts led to your termination.
In California, you must be actively looking for work in order to continue receiving unemployment benefits. This implies that you ought to be applying for jobs, going to interviews, and networking in a fair effort to find employment.
Refusing an offer of suitable work without a valid reason could result in your unemployment benefits being terminated. In general, suitable work refers to a position that, taking into account the state of the labor market, matches your qualifications, experience, and previous income. Reasons such as insufficient compensation, onerous commute distances, or safety and health concerns could be valid grounds for rejecting a job offer.
You must be looking for a job if you want to get unemployment benefits. In other words, you need to be prepared to accept a job offer if one is made. You might not be eligible for benefits if you are a full-time student, have health conditions that keep you from working, or have other obligations that keep you from working.
Being imprisoned or detained may also result in a person losing their eligibility to unemployment benefits. An individual is not deemed available for work if their incarceration prevents them from working, which is a requirement to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Participation in strikes or labor disputes may also have an impact on one’s eligibility for unemployment benefits. Participation in strikes or other labor conflicts may result in unemployment; in such cases, one may be disqualified until the disagreement is resolved. This is context-dependent, though, and there are exceptions based on the particulars of the labor dispute and each individual’s involvement in it.
Lying or committing fraud is a serious offense that can result in disqualification and other legal repercussions. This involves fabricating job records, underreporting or failing to disclose income received while receiving benefits, or fabricating the reason for unemployment.
If there is a clear expectation that employment will cease at a set period, then those working in seasonal or contractual roles may be disqualified once their contract expires or the season ends. Employees in these categories should check the state’s requirements to confirm their eligibility since some seasonal or contractual jobs might not be eligible for continuous unemployment benefits.
If you find out that you are not eligible for unemployment benefits, there may be other options for you. For instance, if you are unable to work due to a physical limitation, thus disqualifying you from unemployment, you may be eligible for disability benefits instead. Some other options include:
In California, you may be denied unemployment benefits for a variety of reasons, including leaving your job voluntarily without cause, being fired for bad behavior, not actively seeking employment, turning down suitable employment, having insufficient income or poor work history, being incarcerated, giving false information, or taking part in a labor dispute.
If you are fired in California, you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits as long as your dismissal was not due to misconduct. Serious offenses such as theft, persistent tardiness, or insubordination are considered misconduct. You can still be eligible for unemployment benefits if your poor performance or failure to meet job criteria led to your termination.
If you have cause for quitting, such as hazardous working conditions, a major reduction in hours or salary, or a major change in the terms of your employment, you can resign from your job in California and still be eligible for unemployment benefits. It is highly recommended that you document relevant evidence to support your reasoning for quitting.
Being willing and ready to take a job when one is provided is a requirement of being available for employment. You might not be eligible for benefits if you have obligations that keep you from working, such as going to school full-time or having health problems that keep you from working.
If you are seeking unemployment benefits, speaking with an attorney can help you understand if you are eligible. At Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation, our lawyers can help you take the next steps. Contact us today for more information.
