If you lost your job through no fault of your own because of a plant closure, layoff, natural disaster to the workplace, or other situation, you are, in most cases, eligible for unemployment compensation (usually called UI). You are not eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits if you quit your job or were fired for misconduct. The definition of "misconduct" and other issues related to UI vary from state-to-state. incompetence is not generallyh considered misconduct; violation of company policy or insubordination is. If your working conditions were so intolgerable that you felt you had to leave y our job, you may have been "constructively" terminated or discharged, leaving you still eligible for UI benefits.

Self-employed persons, independent contractors, casual employees, and farm workers are usually not covered by unemployment insurance.

(Reviewed 9-08)