06 Jun Can I get unemployment if I’m not looking for a new job?

Q. Can I collect unemployment if I was let go from my job, received a severance package but I am not actively looking for work?
— On my own

A. There are several layers of checks made by the Labor Department.

Unemployment Insurance benefits are meant for people who lose their job “through no fault of their own,” such as an employer’s lack of work or a layoff due to downsizing, the agency says.

“If you voluntarily quit your job for reasons that were not work-related, or you were terminated for misconduct, your eligibility will need to be reviewed,” it says.

If you were fired due to misconduct or you quit voluntarily, your benefits may be delayed or denied, it said.

If you’re deemed eligible to receive benefits, there’s more that happens each week to make sure you still qualify.

You’ll have to certify that you are:

• able to work
• actively seeking work
• available for work, and
• not refuse an offer of suitable work

So even if you’re initially approved for benefits, you won’t be able to keep them unless you attest that you’re actively looking for work.

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This story was originally published in June 2025.

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