Unemployment after WC injury

[murphsmom]

Hello,

Due to circumstances of my WC claim being initially denied until QME determined that it was indeed work related (which took months to scheduled QME and receive decision), WC and state disability (CA) took so long to process my claim in the beginning that I went eight weeks without a paycheck from anyone.

As you might expect, it ruined me financially and it has been difficult to catch up. It affected my credit and forced me to move. I moved in with a friend whose roommate had just moved out so that we could share expenses.

I should be released by my doctor next month but the move has put me into a new location an hour away from my job. (Out of work eight months)

Will I be eligible for unemployment when my doctor releases me if I don't want to move back or commute?

Thank you for the information. This forum is so helpful.

[1171]

unemployment eligibility is based on quarterly earnings; if you have enough you should be.
file ASAP before your eligibility expires; don't wait for the release date-- pre-file now.

[murphsmom]

(03-10-2011 03:42 PM)1171 Wrote:  unemployment eligibility is based on quarterly earnings; if you have enough you should be.
file ASAP before your eligibility expires; don't wait for the release date-- pre-file now.

Thank you for your reply. I didn't know that you could actually pre-file. My employer is not yet aware that I don't intend to return. Wouldn't that be a problem? My doctor and I have discussed a release date in mid-April, pending good results from PT which we anticipate. Other than that date, my employer simply knows that I was forced to move in with a friend, not that I do not plan to come back to work there.

If I pre-file, that would give them a heads up, wouldn't it? I don't want to jeopardize the WC and disability benefits I am currently receiving because I simply could not afford to risk that.

Again, thank you so much for your time and advice.

[1171]

yup.
if your employer advises unemployment that your job is available and it's within your medical restrictions unemployment won't pay.
changing your commute distance doesn't make you eligible for unemployment.