DC Government

“I’m looking for advice re: unemployment claims.”

“Dear PoPville,

I’m looking for advice re: unemployment claims. I was fired from my job on 8/13. I applied for unemployment on 8/15 and was approved for benefits starting on 8/8.

Each week I fill out the same form where I let the office of unemployment know that I’ve been looking for work so I’m still eligible for benefits.

This question is on each form:

“Did you refuse work, quit a job, or were you discharged from a job during the week claimed?”

The first form I filled out was for the last week of my job (8/9-8/13). So I said “yes”. Because I WAS discharged from that job. I don’t know how else to interpret this sentence.

I’m so confused!!!

I have called the unemployment office to see what happened and they said that because I answered “yes” to this question I could not receive benefits. They noted down that it was a mistake and they are working on fixing it. I have called several times subsequently and they just tell me that when it is fixed I will start receiving my money. It hasn’t happened yet.

Looking for any advice on this situation, including what “discharged” means, or what to do so that I can receive my money.”