Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Kentucky

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you quit, you are disqualified unless you had good cause attributable to the employment. The Office of Unemployment Insurance decides after hearing from you and your employer. Quitting for personal reasons, or without trying other options first, is a common reason for denial.

Examples the state names:

• Leaving a second job you held at the same time as your most recent job
• Leaving work 100 or more road miles from home to take work less than 100 road miles from home
• Leaving to accept a bona fide job offer with a reasonable expectation of continued work
• Leaving to go with your spouse who is reassigned by the military to a place 100 or more road miles away

If you were fired

You are disqualified if you were discharged for misconduct or dishonesty connected with your most recent work. The law lists examples of misconduct, including lying on a job application, knowingly breaking a reasonable rule that is enforced equally, unexcused absences or lateness, refusing reasonable instructions, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs at work, endangering safety, and missing at least 5 days of work because of jail after a conviction. Taking part in legitimate union activity is not misconduct. Your employer must notify the agency and you in writing of the alleged misconduct.

If benefits are denied for the separation

A disqualification for quitting without good cause, misconduct, or refusing suitable work lasts until you have worked in each of 10 weeks (not necessarily in a row) and earned 10 times your weekly benefit amount in covered work. Knowingly making a false statement can disqualify you for up to 52 more weeks.

Refusing work

If you refuse suitable work without good cause, you are disqualified. After you have received at least 6 weeks of benefits, suitable work means a job that pays at least 120% of your weekly benefit amount, is within 30 miles of your home (or is permanently remote), and that you are able and qualified to do, even without related experience.

Law: KRS 341.370

Official source: Source page

You usually must be unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states this means you lost your job because there was not enough work.

Able, available and looking for work

Job contacts per week: 5

Each week you claim, you must do at least five work search activities, and at least three of them must be job applications or job interviews. Other activities that count: job shadowing, a job fair or networking event, a job search skills workshop, or a Kentucky Career Center program. You are excused if your union finds you work, you are in approved training, you have a definite recall date within one year, you are on a temporary leave of absence, or your employer filed an E-Claim or Work Share claim for you.

Records to keep

Keep proof of every activity, such as application confirmations, interview emails or letters signed by employers. Work search may be checked or audited for up to one year after your claim expires.

Law: KRS 341.350(3)(c)

Official source: Source page

To be paid for a week, you must be able to work, available to work and actively seeking work.

Law: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(12)

Noncitizens

What the state says

When you file, you must give your Social Security number or Alien Registration number. The Office of Unemployment Insurance must verify that claimants are U.S. citizens or in a satisfactory immigration status before paying benefits. You are not available for work in a week you are not legally able to work in the United States.

Free help

Call 502-564-2900. Legal aid and other free help in Kentucky → Official sources →