Unemployment Articles and Guides

A Positive Test Doesn't Always Mean You're Disqualified Early in my career, I watched a colleague make a determination that stuck with me. A claimant had tested positive for illegal drugs and was let go as a result, and my colleague disqualified him for misconduct on that basis alone. There was one problem: the employer had no drug policy. No rule against drug use, nothing the claimant had ever agreed to or been warned about. The claimant's job also wasn't a safety-sensitive

Refusing a task and losing your temper aren't the same thing under the law. Here's how each gets judged. Discharge Quick Answer Series, Part 4 Got fired after pushing back on your boss, saying the wrong thing in the heat of the moment, or refusing a task, and now the denial letter says “insubordination”? That word covers two different situations, and states don’t treat them the same way. Before you assume your claim is dead, it’s worth understanding exactly what adjudicators

Not every policy violation disqualifies you. Here's what states look at before they decide. You broke a rule at work — maybe a dress-code violation, using your phone on the production floor when it wasn’t allowed, or not following a required safety procedure like wearing required protective equipment. Now you’ve got a termination letter that says “violation of company policy,” and you’re wondering whether that phrase just cost you your unemployment benefits too. Here’s the sh

Why 'not good enough' and misconduct aren't the same thing — and what actually decides your claim. This is Part 2 of our Discharge Series. Last week, we covered attendance—showing up late, calling in too often, or walking off the job. This week, it’s performance: what happens when your employer says you just weren’t cutting it? The two may look similar from the outside, but for unemployment purposes, they often turn on a different question entirely. What It Is A poor-performa

Why the reason behind your last absence can matter more than how many you had. This is Part 1 of our Discharge Series. Getting fired doesn’t automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits — it depends on the specific reason, and the details matter more than most people realize. Each article in this series takes one common firing reason and breaks down what states actually look at when they decide your claim. You missed too many days, or showed up late one too many ti

What that letter from the state actually means, why your last paycheck doesn't count, and what to do if the number looks wrong. That letter from the state arrives after you file for unemployment: your “monetary determination.” It shows a benefit amount that feels either like a lifeline or a letdown. But what does it actually mean? Why does it often ignore your most recent paycheck? And what should you do if the number looks off? When you file for unemployment, you’ll receive

You certified this week. You checked the box that says yes, you looked for work. But here's the part most people don't realize until it's too late: your state isn't just asking you to look — they're asking you to be able to prove it. Quick answer: States typically require 1–5 documented job contacts per week, most commonly 3 — check your specific number, don't guess. A "contact" means applying, sending a resume, attending a job fair, or directly contacting an employer — brows

You filed your claim. You sat through the waiting week. Benefits finally started. You’re relieved — and you should be. But here’s the part nobody warns you about: you’re not done. Not by a long shot. Every single week you’re collecting unemployment, you have to prove you’re still eligible. That process is called a weekly certification — and if you skip it, or mess it up, your benefits stop. Period. What a Weekly Certification Actually Is Think of it as checking in with the st

You filed your claim. You certified for your first week. You watched the payment portal. And then... nothing. Before you panic and call the agency, there’s something you need to know — something that’s almost certainly explained in your paperwork, but easy to miss when you’re stressed and watching for a deposit. That first week probably wasn’t supposed to pay. It’s called the waiting week, and it’s built into the system on purpose. What the waiting week is The waiting week is

Most people assume quitting disqualifies them automatically. Here’s what the system actually looks at. If you recently left a job — and you made the decision to walk away — your first instinct might be to assume unemployment benefits are completely off the table. That instinct is wrong. And just like with discharges, it costs people thousands of dollars every year. Here’s the truth from someone who spent 30 years inside the unemployment insurance system: quitting does not aut

Most people assume being fired disqualifies them. Here’s what the system actually looks at. If you just lost your job — and your employer ended your employment — your first instinct might be to assume unemployment benefits are off the table. That instinct is wrong. And it costs people thousands of dollars every year. Here’s the truth from someone who spent 30 years inside the unemployment insurance system: being discharged does not automatically disqualify you. What matters i

Tech workers are finding out the hard way Let's start with a number: $450. That's the maximum weekly unemployment benefit in California — one of the most expensive states in the country, and home to Silicon Valley. If you're a software engineer who just got handed a layoff notice, $450 a week isn't a safety net. It's a speed bump. This wasn't the original plan When Congress enacted unemployment insurance through the Social Security Act of 1935, the intent was straightforward:

Remember Donald Fagen's 1982 song IGY? It painted this gloriously optimistic picture of the future — a world of spandex jackets, solar-powered cities, and a "Just Machine to make big decisions, programmed by fellows with compassion and vision." We were supposed to be gliding into a golden age where technology solved everything and nobody had to worry too much about, you know, working. (If you have no idea who Donald Fagen or Steely Dan is, stop what you're doing, look up IGY

Navigating the unemployment claims process can feel overwhelming, especially if you are unfamiliar with the system. Whether you have recently lost your job or are facing a temporary layoff, understanding how to file a claim effectively is crucial. This guide will walk you through the steps necessary to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve. Along the way, it provides practical tips and insider insights from inside the unemployment system. Important: Unemployment rules v

Losing your job is stressful enough without having to navigate a system that feels like it was designed to confuse you. I spent over 20 years working inside state unemployment agencies — and another decade helping states modernize their systems. I've seen what works, what trips people up, and what the agency is actually looking for when they review your claim. This guide is my attempt to cut through the noise and give you a straight-up, honest explanation of how unemployment

When you file for unemployment insurance, you're not just submitting a form and hoping for the best. You're entering a legal process with real rights and protections — and knowing them can make the difference between receiving the benefits you've earned and walking away empty-handed. A person examining unemployment insurance paperwork for clarity and understanding. After more than 30 years working in unemployment insurance, first on the state agency side and now in system mod