Claimant Advocacy Case Studies: Voluntarily Leave to Care for a Sick Family Member
Our Claimant Advocacy Program helps workers in DC who have been denied an unemployment claim. This post is one part of a series of examples of how the Claimant Advocacy Program has helped past participants.
An employee requested an adjusted work schedule or extended leave in order to care for his mom, who had recently been diagnosed with terminal illness.
The employer indicated that the employee had to resign or face termination for failing to work his assigned schedule. The claimant decided to quit work in order to care for his mother.
When filing for unemployment, the claimant provided evidence to support the need to quit to care for an ill family member. The claimant received and had his mother’s doctor complete the physician certificate request for information about the claimant being responsible for his mom's care. The employee was denied benefits, and so he filed an appeal.
At the hearing, the claimant was responsible for providing evidence to show he quit for good cause connected with the work. In this case, the claimant provided documentation that showed the claimant quit to care for an ill or disabled family member. He also testified that he was able and available to work evenings or part-time while caring for his mom. Therefore, the claimant was deemed qualified for benefits on appeal.
Have you been denied an unemployment claim in DC? Learn more about our Claimant Advocacy Program.