Can someone answer me on this. If you take a voluntary lay off can you collect unemployment?

Question

Can someone answer me on this. If you take a voluntary lay off can you collect unemployment?

Answer 1

Yes as long as you aren't disqualified by any of those reasons listed in the first response and/or waived your rights when you accepted the package that was or may have been offerred.

Just quitting would disqualify you but if you quit for "good cause" (i.e. harassment, etc.) or something then you would have a shot.  It's also important that you received a "pink slip" when you left.  If not, at least in Louisiana, the employer can't dispute your filing for unemployment.  I've had that happen to me personally.  They failed to provide a pink slip so I filed unemployment and they couldn't fight it.  Not that my $126 a week check went far.  It was just the principle!

Answer 2

You will need to check with your local unemployment agency because filing restrictions vary by state, but here's what I found searching "unemployment restrictions by state"

When to File:

Filing for unemployment should be the first item on your agenda when you've been laid-off. It might take two or three weeks to collect a check, so the sooner you file, the faster you'll get paid. A delay in filing will mean a delay in collecting.

How to File for Unemployment

You may be able to file for unemployment online or over the phone. Review the information you will need to open a claim. Then, visit your state unemployment office to determine the best way to open a claim and to get started collecting unemployment.

In general, to file a claim you will need:

Social Security Number

Alien Registration Card if you're not a US citizen

Mailing address including zip code

Phone number

Names, addresses and dates of employment of all your past employers for the last two years

Eligibility

In order to receive unemployment compensation, workers must meet the requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established (one year) period of time. In addition, workers must be determined to be unemployed through no fault of their own.

Disqualification

The following circumstances may disqualify you from collecting unemployment benefits, depending on state law:

Quit without good cause

Fired for misconduct

Resigned because of illness (check on disability benefits)

Left to get married

Self-employed

Involved in a labor dispute

Attending School

Answer 3

yes i did. but it was offered from my company due to reduction of their work force,so in first batch my company offered the old employees to get the package which was very exciting to the people who were in the age of 62 to 64 group because company offered them all the benefits and they were also covered by the health insurance plan at the same low rates as they were working and they were receiving severance allowce as $1000/year of service.beside the pay checks as regular employee and not working,every day as a regular employee,with the promise of they can collect the unemployment checks too.it sound too good to be true,so i waited for an other year to be 62 years of age in case if i do not get any job i can ask early retirement from social security to pay my bills.and then they ask again more volentears for lay off,it was in jan/2006,and i asked them to lay me off in june/06 so i was laid off from july/1/06,and went to aply for unemployment and i was on unemployement checks till dec/06 and was fully covered for my health insurace for one year that end in june/2007.by that time i was 63 i applyed unemployment which started from jan/07 was a very very small check,so i planned to utilize my retirement time in traveling the world,and whole year motsly i was out,now i need to think what really i have to do to increase the income.

in short you can take layoff volentarly and can collect the unemployment too.make sure your company is ok to report that you are laid off,by the company.i mean the reason for applying the unemployment.my company said ok,so i never have any problem in collecting unemployment.good luck to you.