This is a PSA but also a rant, I guess.
Tl;dr: In states that exclude the most recent quarter from unemployment qualification, you could work up to 9 months and still be DQ'd from unemployment because you don't meet the timing criteria.
After an initial hire in 2019, I moved jobs in April 2023. This means I quit my former job voluntarily to move to the new job.
I got laid off from the new job in November 2023. Downsize. Lol.
For anyone who hasn't dealt with unemployment, a short informational: In order to qualify, you have to make a certain amount of money in a certain time. This time is looked at by quarter periods (predetermined 3 month increments). My state requires you to work in 2 qualifying quarters.
The current, unfinished quarter does not count as part of the qualification basis. My state ALSO excludes the most recent complete quarter from the qualification basis. Not all states do this — for the exact reason that I'm about to describe.
In real time, this means that my October through November work doesn't count toward my unemployment qualification because that is the current quarter. My July through September work doesn't count because my state chooses to exclude the most recent quarter.
So, my only qualifying quarter is April through June. One quarter.
Again, my state requires two quarters of work from wherever you are laid off. My prior employer doesn't count because I left “voluntarily”.
Therefore, even though I worked nearly 7 months in this job and for 4 years prior in another job, I will be getting $0.00 in unemployment.
I am now responsible for rent, a car payment, utilities, groceries, and massive student debt without income.
I did everything “right” (except for maybe a big loan for school) – STEM student, fiscally responsible, paying down debt etc – and still ended up here.
I already had a lot of personal stuff going on that was leading me into a pretty hard space mentally. I'm resilient, but I'm scared and angry.
Don't work in Tennessee, folks. The only reason I stay here is because I organize social causes on the side and it means a lot to me.
Wish me luck, and be aware that you can work basically 8 months in Tennessee but not qualify for unemployment because of this exclusion of most recent quarter.
Lol 🫡