While that is certainly the better option than quitting. Posting here because it's a bit of a common comment on this subreddit. I'm currently in the process of trying to draw unemployment. Something to note about this though. I am not unemployed. I am on medical leave and this was the only option I was given to have some sort of income during that time (according to them, I do not qualify for temporary disability). Unemployment will do everything they possibly can to make sure you don't get any benefits.
For me, it all started with the first phone call. I could not get any clear answer to any question. They tell me I have to continue to search for full time employment. But why? I'm not unemployed. And I'm disabled, I'm on medical leave for a reason, because I can't work. I keep trying to clarify why this is the case (it's even on the unemployment application, options for people on leave), but I got nothing. It was like they were just reading from a script the whole time. So now I have to bullshit looking for a job even though so far I've been rejected from multiple places because I can't physically qualify.
But since I'm on leave, they said they would be sending me a letter for my doctor to fill out. So what's the problem there? Well, on the form, it says that the required time for them to receive it was seven days. From the mailing date. From the date they mailed the form. Guess how long it took for me to get it. FIVE days. On the weekend. When my doctor was closed. I couldn't get to them until the next week, well after the date was technically expired. On top of that, they sent me another form. One that said they need all forms of income since 2011. Why 2011? Fuck if I know. I don't even know where I was living in 2011. And my current job I've had for eight years. If that's not long enough to go back, then I don't know what to say. And I wasn't even informed I'd be getting something like that.
“So, just call em and ask about it all, right?” Haha yeah, as if. Because that system is totally fucked. You can't just call and sit on hold while you wait, no no. You have to call, at 5 p.m., after they close. And they input your info through an automated service, for them to call you. Do you input a time for them to call? Oh no, that would make some amount of sense. No, they call you, when they want, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. the next day. Sleeping in the morning when they call? Too bad. Miss the call in any way? Sucks for you. Because the automated service makes it clear they will only call once, and if you miss them, that's on you. Like I'm not even kidding, they made an automated service that is intentionally insulting. So, you just call again that day to set up a time again for the next? NOPE! You have to wait a WEEK to try again. Why is this system the way it is? Who fucking knows.
I've been waiting a month. The last time I was able to talk to them, they told me everything is still processing and they're just behind. And they assured me it wasn't denied or anything. Even though the website seems to make it clear that it is. Maybe my state just sucks (it does). And maybe everyone else doesn't have to go through all this bullshit like I have, even when I'm not unemployed. But this is a word of warning. They will try to fuck you.