You’ve probably heard that you cannot quit your job and collect unemployment benefits, right? Well, here’s the thing, you CAN. There are a few good reasons why Unemployment might compensate you with benefits even if you quit your job. Here’s some of the reasons you can quit your job and still get collect benefits.

Filing for unemployment can be confusing if you’ve never done it before. Unemployment is managed at the state level, therefore, there may be differences in what you need to do to apply. If you’re not familiar with the process of how to apply for unemployment benefits, you need to check with your state unemployment agency and they will give you specific instructions on what you need to do. To make it super easy for you, I put together this resource to direct you to your states unemployment agency website.

If you recently lost your job, you could qualify for unemployment benefits. Keep in mind that you cannot apply for unemployment benefits if you just up and quit your job or were fired for negligence or misconduct. Unemployment is meant to be a temporary form of assistance that replaces a part of the salary you’re no longer earning. Most states will grant you unemployment benefits for 26 weeks or half a year, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements and can prove that you are looking for work. Here’s how to apply for unemployment if you lose your job.