unemployment benefits

If you quit due to medical reasons can you apply for unemployment benefits?  I'm going to file for medical disability but I quit because of health problems so I was wandering what are chances of getting unemployment benefits while waiting for disability retirement.  Dr. will write a note to unemployment office saying I quit in good faith and it was for health reasons.

Are you able to work at all?

To collect Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, you must be able to do at least some gainful employment.  If you cannot work at all or can only work part-time, those circumstances will normally disqualify you from such benefits

If you are simply in a situation where you cannot do a job lifitng 50 pounds on a routine basis, but can do work with no lifting over 20 pounds, for example, you probably won't be disqualified for Unemployment Insurance benefits.

Some of these determininations are rather state specific.  It never hurts to apply.  The worse that can happen is the UI folks say "no".

In most states, you can file online. 

needhelp87:

If you quit due to medical reasons can you apply for unemployment benefits?

You can apply but I seriously doubt that you'll be eligible for benefits.

needhelp87:

Dr. will write a note to unemployment office saying I quit in good faith and it was for health reasons.

That will virtually guarantee that you get disqualified for benefits.

According to the IL unemployment website:

• Generally, to be found eligible for benefits, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own, have earned wages in "insured" employment, be available for new work, and be actively seeking work.

And

You may be disqualified from receiving benefits because you:

• Quit your job and/or refused suitable new employment.

http://www.ides.state....

One option is to make an "in service" withdrawl from your TSP Account (it's not the best option; but, it's there).  You will have to pay taxes on the withdrawl.  If your physician completes the "Physician's Statement" stating that you are "permanently and totally disabilied" within the IRS Schedule R Instructions, you will not have to pay the additional 10% early withdrawl tax; however, you have to be careful in how you request the TSP in-service withdrawl (i.e., which option you check).

  We have had many discussions in this forum on that Subject. We used to have a Search Box but nothing really works here anymore. I love you have up to a minute to edit your post?    There really is no one answer, each State has a different take. And if you are receiving a Pension, chances are you will have to pay back the entire benefit. However Unemployment is specifically not set up for people that quit their last job. They are really not interested in your Health problems, in fact they demand you be willing and able to take any work. And how they have the nerve to force people to apply 45 miles away for a Company that would not even tell you what their name was? Why I should sue California for what happened to me 20 Years ago, even though if I win they would just give me an IOU. We have no Money!

Each state has its own rules, but they are all very similar. In Iowa, you also have to be "willing and able to work".  However, being "able" doesn't mean that you can't work with some accommodations. Just make sure you clearly state what your disabilities are when you apply for unemployment insurance benefits. When you talk with your state unemployment representative, show him/her you are really motivated and enthusiastic about it in spite of all your disabilities. There are laws and rules that allow people with disabilities to work with certain accommodations; however, in practice very few companies want to run the extra mile to accommodate a disable employee, and these companies will be very reluctant to hire you if you have severe disabilities.

Again, make sure you explain to them that you are willing to work in jobs that are suitable to you due your abilities, experience, and/or education. You must be totally honest explaining your disabilities but you should emphasize "abilities" instead of your disabilities. Tell him/her what you think you CAN do instead of what you CAN NOT do. I don't think you have to reimburse them later if your disability claim is accepted. I don't think you should even tell them you are also applying for disability. If you have to (if they ask you that question in the form), you need to explain to them that OPM disability retirement is only a PARTIAL disability program. It does NOT mean you are totally unable to do ANY work, just the PARTICULAR job you was hired for while working for the federal government.

"Again, make sure you explain to them that you are willing to work in jobs that are suitable to you due your abilities, experience, and/or education. You must be totally honest"

I had a hard time just getting my Receipt from the Social Security Office. The lady 'helping' me had never heard of FERS Disability Retirement.

 

I currently collect unemployment and FERS disability retirement in NJ.  The organization you retire from has to give the state a federal form which states why you retired.  I retired from a law enforcement position, so I told unemployment I could work and was able to work, but I retired because I could not do a specific part of my job.  If you retire from a desk job it will be hard to show you are able to work.  Your unemployment will be offset due to your pension.  My full unemployment was 579$ a week and it was reduced to 50$ a week due to my pension.

I called the unemployment office.  I was told your disqualified if you voluntarily quit unless it was for good cause such as health reasons, sexual harassment in the workplace, spouse in military being transferred, and couple of other situations.  So I'm going to go ahead and try it but I'm guessing agency will deny it and then I'll have to appeal it.  I figure I have nothing to loose so it is worth shot.  I'm also going to apply for disability retirement thru the help of Mr. McGill. 

Exactly so why would this be worth it. And at any time you can be told to report at Walmart for example as a Full Time Security Agent/ Door Greeter. If  the State does force you to take a position, (which is their mission yet highly doubtful in today's economic climate), you would still only get that FIFTY BUCKS.  I will say $579 is not bad. I got the maximum in California which was $234 in the 90's. Thanks for your insight on the Offset.

Very interesting, I did not know that, thats the first I've heard of that, and good for you.