Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Vermont

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you quit without good cause connected to your employer, you are disqualified until you work for a real employer again and earn more than 6 times your weekly benefit amount.

Examples the state names:

• Leaving to go with a military spouse who must relocate under orders
• Leaving to go with a spouse in the U.S. Foreign Service assigned overseas

If you were fired

Being fired does not by itself stop benefits. If VDOL finds you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you are disqualified for 6 to 15 weeks and your total benefits are capped at 23 weeks. If it finds gross misconduct (for example theft, fraud, intoxication, serious intentional damage or injury, a felony, or repeated insubordination or public profanity after a written warning), you are disqualified until you work again and earn more than 6 times your weekly benefit, and wages from that employer are not counted.

If benefits are denied for the separation

Quitting without good cause or gross misconduct: no benefits until you work again and earn more than 6 times your weekly benefit amount. Misconduct: 6 to 15 weeks, as VDOL decides.

Refusing work

Refusing suitable work without good cause stops benefits until you work again and earn more than 6 times your weekly benefit amount. What counts as suitable widens the longer you are out of work.

Law: 21 V.S.A. secs. 1340(b), 1344(a)(1), (2)

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

Unless VDOL excuses you, you must make and report at least three job contacts each week, in the week you make them. Valid contacts include submitting a job application or resume, or applying online on an employer's site or Vermont JobLink, for jobs you are qualified for and willing to take. Phone calls, browsing the internet, just posting a resume, and applying to the same job twice within five weeks do not count. If an employer confirms a definite full-time return-to-work date within 10 weeks, you may be excused. If chosen for RESEA, you must take part.

Records to keep

Keep accurate records of your job contacts, including copies of online confirmation pages or emails. VDOL checks contacts at random.

Law: 21 V.S.A. sec. 1343(a)(3)

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 1-877-214-3332. Legal aid and other free help in Vermont → Official sources →