Job Separation

• To qualify for unemployment benefits in any state, you must experience loss of work through reasons not attributable to you. One of the most common reasons a soldier's spouse has to leave her job is that her spouse gets a new assignment in another location. Although this technically isn't your fault, this isn't something your employer can control and the reason is attributable to your lifestyle instead of the employer's business. Therefore, you can't collect unemployment in this situation.
  
  

Financial Eligibility

• When you apply for unemployment, your state reviews your base year salary to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements. The base year is the first four of the past five full calendar quarters before you file for unemployment. During that time, each state has it own requirements for the earnings you must have made as a covered employee. To view your state's financial requirements, check with its labor office for the current regulations.
  
  

Job Search

• Another qualification for unemployment is that you actively seek work. Unemployment benefits are temporary payments until you find new employment. Some states require you to join their state-sponsored career matching program while others don't care how you conduct your job search as long as you do it. You should keep a record of your job search, because if the labor department ever audits your account, they may ask you to submit it. If you don't, you will lose your benefits.
  
  

Ability and Availability to Work

• Unemployment benefits are for those who are physically and mentally able to work. So, if you find yourself unable to work and out of work, you shouldn't apply for unemployment. Your state offers disability programs for those who can't work. You can't collect unemployment if you're unavailable to work either, such as if your military spouse is deployed and no longer have childcare during your working hours. If the inability or unavailability to work isn't permanent, such as for the last couple of months of a pregnancy or a temporary illness, you can still collect unemployment for the other weeks. Just remember when you file your weekly claim to note the weeks that you are unable to work so the labor office can adjust your payments.