If I quit my job because of illness, can still qualify for unemployment benefits?

 As a general rule, if you voluntarily quit your job, you will not qualify for unemployment benefits. However, there are exceptions to this rule, if you quit with good cause to do so.  In Washington an applicant for unemployment insurance is disqualified from receiving benefits if  “he or she has left work voluntarily without good  cause”.  There are eleven circumstances that constitute good cause to voluntarily quit your job and still qualify for unemployment.  See, RCW 50.20.050(2)(b).  Among these are quitting because of illness.  However, in order to do so you must establish that: (1) the separation was necessary because of the illness or disability; (2) that leaving was primarily because of such illness and (3) that you pursued all reasonable alternatives to preserve your employment status, unless doing so would be futile.“Necessary” means that the working conditions are of such a degree or severity that they would cause a reasonably prudent person acting under similar circumstances to quit work.  “Primarily because of the illness or disability” would require a showing that illness or disability was the primary reasons for quitting. For example, a medical note or report supporting the need to leave work may be sufficient. You must also be able to show that you exhausted all “reasonable alternatives”, by requesting a leave of absence, by having promptly notified the employer of the reason for the absence and by having promptly requested reemployment when again able to assume employment. If you do not, then you must be prepared to show why doing so would not have been successful or futile.If you are faced with an illness or disability that may require you to quit your job, you may be able to qualify for unemployment benefits if you carefully consider the factors discussed above.  If you need help determining whether you may be eligible for unemployment if you voluntarily quit your job, you should contact an attorney who can provide you advice in making your decision.