Basic Qualifications

• Regardless of the reason you are no longer working, you must meet certain criteria before California will accept your claim. You must earn enough money in your base period to qualify. Base periods are the four quarters before your last quarter of work. For example, if you stop working in May, your base period is January to December of the previous year. You must be available for work and actively looking for a job to qualify.
  
  

Filing a Claim

• When you file a claim for unemployment, you must list the reason you are no longer working. You must be truthful because the department will mail your previous employer a form that asks an explanation of facts about your unemployment. You employer will have 10 days to return the form to the department. After the department receives the form, it will conduct a phone interview to decide your eligibility.
  
  

Good Cause

• The department may rule in your favor if you can prove that you had good cause to quit your job. Past court rulings state the reason(s) you quit your job must be compelling, substantial and real, according to the department. Acceptable reasons can include lack of work, attending a state-approved training course and sincere religious beliefs that prevent job execution. Past department rulings denying claims include those where the employee quit instead of taking an available leave of absence and refusing to take a drug test.
  
  

Telephone Interview

• Telephone interviews typically take place within two weeks after you file a claim. The interviewer will ask questions about the reason(s) you quit work and try to verify that you tried to work out a solution to the problem with your employer. Interviewers may ask about current work offers and verify you can work. Proving eligibility for unemployment after quitting a job is your responsibility. It is essential that you document any conditions that led up to your quitting and actions you took when trying to continue your employment. The department tries to resolve claims as quickly as possible after you file.