Johnson v. Division of Employment Security

# Johnson v. Division of Employment Security **What Happened** Johnson applied for unemployment benefits after losing her job. The state's Division of Employment Security denied her claim, stating that her willingness to work only four days per week made her unavailable for full-time work. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with the state agency. The judge agreed that Johnson's four-day-per-week limit was too restrictive. Under Missouri law, to qualify for unemployment benefits, workers must be genuinely available and willing to accept suitable full-time work. The court found Johnson did not meet this requirement. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that limiting your availability can affect unemployment benefits eligibility. If you want to collect unemployment after job loss, you typically need to demonstrate you're ready to work full-time hours. Part-time or limited schedules may disqualify you, even if you lost your job involuntarily. Workers should understand these restrictions before applying for benefits and consider whether their work availability meets their state's requirements.