For job hunting deduct- Define break between your past job and looking for a new one - what is the acceptable amount of time ?

[babsprings]

This is clarification of the previous request.  If you are unemployed, the type of work you did for your past employer is your occupation. If there is a substantial break between your past job and looking for a new one, you cannot deduct your expenses. 

Define substantial break between jobs?  If the individual was last employed in 2015 and has been looking for a job in his last substantial employment; is substantial break defined as 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years?  In other words "What is the maximum amount of time whereby the individual is allowed to take their job hunting/search/interviewing, etc. expenses?

[Coleen3]

No, there is no amount of time given by the IRS. The term substantial break is never defined. See the link below for all the rules to be able to deduct expenses.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/job-search-expenses-can-be-tax-deductible