If you feel unsafe at your job despite taking other steps, you may be eligible for unemployment compensation, if you feel you must quit.
· Unemployment insurance is a program that may provide you with money if you lose your job through no fault of your own. You must meet the following requirements to qualify for unemployment insurance:
o You must be looking for work.
o You must be ready to work, but unable to find work. This means that you must be physically and mentally able to work. If you are injured because of domestic violence and cannot work, or if you are in hiding, or if you are staying at a shelter that prohibits you from working, or if you must care for your children full-time because you do not have child care, you are not ready to work.
· Each state has its own rules to decide who is eligible for unemployment insurance and how much compensation is given.
· If you live in Colorado and you quit your job because of domestic violence, you must provide the unemployment division with a copy of a law enforcement report or proof that criminal charges have been filed against your abuser, or a protective order, medical records, or any other additional evidence documenting abuse.
· You must provide written proof that you are receiving assistance or counseling from a recognized counseling individual or organization.
· You cannot have been on unemployment in the past three years.
If you quit your job without meeting these requirements, you may be denied benefits because you will be considered to have voluntarily quit your job. Contact an attorney or the Department of Labor and Employment (Unemployment Insurance Division) to find out more about unemployment benefits. Do not assume that you meet these requirements and will automatically receive unemployment benefits.
In Colorado, unemployed workers file their claim for benefits with the Unemployment Division by telephone. Nationwide, the telephone number is (800) 388-5515.
· When you call the Unemployment Division, a representative will either set up a time for you to come to that office for an interview or conduct a telephone interview. It is important to cooperate with the state agency and provide them with detailed information about your job loss.
· The Unemployment Division will request information from you (the claimant) and your employer about why you had to leave your job. Those facts are then evaluated according to the requirements as stated in the Colorado Employment Security Act.
If you are denied unemployment insurance benefits, you should file an appeal immediately. The appeal gives you another chance to present your argument for why you should receive unemployment benefits. There is generally a time limit for filing an appeal. When you receive notice that your claim for unemployment has been denied, there will be information on how to file the appeal. If you have questions, ask the Unemployment Division or hire an attorney to help you.
(Source CBA2)
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