Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Montana

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you left work without good cause attributable to your employment, you are disqualified. The law lists situations where you are not disqualified.

Examples the state names:

• Personal illness or injury on a health care provider's advice, and you offered to come back after recovery but your work was not available
• Leaving temporary work to go right back to your regular employer
• Being ordered to military service for less than 180 days, and finding your job had ended for other non-disqualifying reasons
• Your spouse's mandatory military transfer
• You or your child were a victim of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault

If you were fired

If you were discharged for misconduct connected with your work, you are disqualified. For gross misconduct, the disqualification lasts 52 weeks. Failing or refusing a drug test under the employer's written drug policy also disqualifies you, except a marijuana test for a registered cardholder.

If benefits are denied for the separation

After quitting without good cause, you requalify by earning at least 6 times your weekly benefit amount in covered work, or by attending a state-accredited school for 3 months in a row. After misconduct, you must earn at least 8 times your weekly benefit amount. Gross misconduct: 52 weeks.

Refusing work

If you fail without good cause to apply for or accept suitable work, you are disqualified until you earn 6 times your weekly benefit amount, and your maximum benefit amount is reduced by 6 times your weekly benefit amount. Work is not suitable if, for example, the job is open because of a strike or the pay or conditions are much worse than for similar local work.

Law: Mont. Code Ann. 39-51-2302, 39-51-2303, 39-51-2304

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: 1

Each week you must submit at least one job application or resume to an employer who is hiring, for work you are qualified for and willing to take. Checking job listings or calling to ask if a business is hiring does not count. You cannot use the same employer two weeks in a row unless it is for a different position. You may not have to search if you are job or union attached or in approved training.

Records to keep

Record the business name, person contacted, date, position, the business phone number, the web address for an online application, and the result. Keep copies of applications, confirmations or emails as proof for three years.

Law: Mont. Code Ann. Title 39, ch. 51; Admin. R. Mont. Title 24, ch. 11

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

Only U.S. citizens, nationals and legally authorized workers are eligible. If you are not a U.S. citizen or national, you must give a copy of the front and back of your registration card so your status can be verified with USCIS.

Free help

Call 1-406-444-2545. Legal aid and other free help in Montana → Official sources →