CRONE, Judge.
S.A., who was laid off from her job at Daimler Chrysler, accepted an early retirement package, and her unemployment benefits were suspended. Although S.A.
S.A. began working for Daimler Chrysler on June 1, 1999. In February of 2008, S.A. was laid off, but continued to receive some pay from Daimler Chrysler. She also received unemployment benefits. Eventually, Daimler Chrysler offered an early retirement package to S.A., who was fifty-five years old at the time. S.A. accepted the early retirement offer and ceased to be a Daimler Chrysler employee on May 30, 2009.
On June 10, 2009, S.A.'s unemployment benefits were suspended because a claims deputy determined that she had voluntarily left employment without good cause in connection with the work. S.A. requested a hearing before an administrative law judge ("ALJ"). The hearing was held on December 2, 2009, and S.A. was the only witness. S.A. testified that she accepted early retirement "because [her] benefits were running out and [she] was told that there was virtually no chance of [her] getting back to work, and [she] needed the insurance, so that retirement would offer." Tr. at 3-4. The ALJ affirmed the claims deputy's determination that S.A. had left employment without good cause in connection with the work and therefore was ineligible to continue receiving benefits.
S.A. appealed to the Board. The Board found that the ALJ had failed to address Indiana Code Section 22-4-14-1, which is titled "Claims; inverse seniority layoffs." Pursuant to that section, the Board concluded that S.A.'s acceptance of the early retirement package made her ineligible to continue receiving unemployment benefits. S.A. now appeals.
On appeal, we review the Board's: (1) determinations of specific or basic underlying facts; (2) conclusions or inferences from those facts, or determinations of ultimate facts; and (3) conclusions of law. McHugh v. Review Bd. of Ind. Dep't of Workforce Dev., 842 N.E.2d 436, 440 (Ind.Ct.App.2006). The Board's findings of fact are subject to a substantial evidence standard of review. Id. We do not reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses, and we consider only the evidence most favorable to the Board's findings. Id. We will reverse only if there is no substantial evidence to support the Board's findings. Id. "The Board's conclusions as to ultimate facts involve an inference or deduction based on the findings of basic fact." McClain v. Review Bd. of Ind. Dep't. of Workforce Dev., 693 N.E.2d 1314, 1317 (Ind.1998). The reviewing court determines if the Board's inference was a reasonable one. Id. at 1318. Finally, we assess whether the Board correctly interpreted and applied the law in making the conclusions of law. McHugh, 842 N.E.2d at 440.
S.A. argues that the Board erroneously determined that she left employment without good cause in connection with the work. An individual who voluntarily leaves his or her employment "without good cause in connection with the work" is not eligible for unemployment benefits. Ind.Code § 22-4-15-1(a). The question of whether an employee quit without good cause is a question of fact to be determined by the Board. Indianapolis Osteopathic Hosp., Inc. v. Jones, 669 N.E.2d 431, 433 (Ind.Ct.App.1996). The claimant has the burden to prove that good cause existed. Id. The reason for quitting must be job-related and objective in character, excluding purely subjective and personal reasons, and the demands placed
S.A. argues that she had been receiving unemployment benefits for fifteen months before she accepted the retirement package. Therefore, she argues, she was already "unemployed" at the time, and accepting the retirement package did not change her status. However, we conclude that the Board properly applied Indiana Code Section 22-4-14-1(c), which states:
S.A. originally accepted compensation in connection with a layoff, and therefore was eligible for benefits, although the compensation from her employer would be deducted from her benefits, pursuant to Indiana Code Section 22-4-5-1. She later elected to retire and now fits within the exclusion contained in Indiana Code Section 22-4-14-1(c): "This subsection does not apply to a person who elects to retire in connection with a layoff or plant closure and receive pension, retirement, or annuity payments."
We acknowledge that S.A. felt pressured to retire. However, her case is strikingly similar to York v. Review Board of the Indiana Employment Security Division, in which we held that an employee who accepted an early retirement package left employment without good cause in connection with the work. 425 N.E.2d 707, 711 (Ind.Ct.App.1981). York worked for Ford Motor Company and entered a retirement agreement on April 30, 1980, at a time when Ford was consolidating and eliminating jobs. York was denied benefits because the Board found that his reasons for leaving work were personal.
Affirmed.
FRIEDLANDER, J., and BARNES, J., concur.