Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Missouri

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you quit without good cause attributable to the work or your employer, you are disqualified. Good cause means a reason that would make a reasonable employee stop working, or leaving because of illness or disability. DES decides.

Examples the state names:

• You quit to take a better-paying job, took it and earned some wages there
• You quit temporary work to go back to your regular employer
• You quit new work that was not suitable within 28 days of the first day worked
• You left because of pregnancy, with medical proof, and offered to return as the law requires
• You quit to move with a military spouse under a permanent change-of-station order

If you were fired

If DES finds you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you are disqualified. Misconduct includes, for example, knowing disregard of the employer's interest or knowingly breaking the employer's standards. In serious cases DES can also cancel wage credits from that employer.

If benefits are denied for the separation

For quitting without good cause or refusing suitable work, you cannot get benefits until you earn wages in insured work equal to 10 times your weekly benefit amount. For misconduct, you must earn 6 times your weekly benefit amount.

Refusing work

If you refuse, without good cause, to apply for or accept suitable work, you are disqualified until you earn 10 times your weekly benefit amount. Work is not suitable if, for example, the job is open because of a strike, or the pay, hours or conditions are much worse than for similar work in your area.

Law: RSMo 288.030.1(23), 288.050

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: 3

Each week you must be able to work, available for work and actively looking for work. Unless DES tells you otherwise, you must make at least three work search contacts each week. DES tells you the number required when you file. If you are a union member with a hiring hall, or have a recall date within eight weeks, some steps can be waived.

Records to keep

Record all your job contacts on a Work Search Record in case DES asks for it. DES randomly audits work search records and contacts the employers listed.

Law: RSMo 288.040.1(2)

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)

Free help

Call 1-800-320-2519. Legal aid and other free help in Missouri → Official sources →