Can I collect unemployment if I refuse to relocate for a job offer?
I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks now and doing my weekly claims. A company just offered me a position but it would require moving to Rochester which is like 5 hours from where I live in NYC. I have kids in school here and my elderly mom nearby. If I turn this down because I don't want to relocate, will NYS Department of Labor cut off my benefits? I'm really worried about this affecting my claim status. Has anyone dealt with this before?
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Ella Cofer
Generally speaking, you're not required to accept work that involves relocation unless it's within a reasonable commuting distance. For NYS Department of Labor purposes, 'suitable work' considers factors like distance from your home, your personal circumstances, and family obligations. A 5-hour move from NYC to Rochester would likely be considered unreasonable, especially with school-age children.
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Taylor To
•That's such a relief to hear! I was panicking that they'd say I'm not actively looking for work or something. Do I need to document this somehow when I file my weekly claim?
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Kevin Bell
wait what?? i thought you had to take any job offer or they cut you off. this is confusing
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Savannah Glover
•No, that's not how it works. The job has to be 'suitable' according to NYS Department of Labor standards. They can't force you to uproot your entire life, especially when you have valid reasons like children in school and family caregiving responsibilities.
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Felix Grigori
I had something similar happen last year. Got offered a job in Buffalo but I live on Long Island. When I talked to someone at NYS Department of Labor they said refusing jobs that require relocation is totally acceptable as long as you document your reasons. Just keep records of the job offer and your reasoning.
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Taylor To
•How did you get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor? I've been trying to call for weeks but can never get past the busy signal.
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Felix Grigori
•Honestly I used this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to actual agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was a lifesaver when I needed to talk to someone about my specific situation.
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Felicity Bud
GOOD LUCK getting a straight answer from NYS Department of Labor about what counts as 'suitable work'!!! I've been dealing with them for months and they give different answers every time. The whole system is a mess and they make up rules as they go.
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Ella Cofer
•I understand the frustration, but the guidelines for suitable work are actually pretty clear in the unemployment handbook. Distance, salary compared to previous work, and personal circumstances are all legitimate factors they consider.
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Max Reyes
Yeah you should be fine refusing that. I mean 5 hours is basically moving to a different state practically! Plus with kids you definitely have grounds to refuse.
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Mikayla Davison
Make sure you keep documentation of the job offer and your refusal with the reasons why. When you do your weekly claim certification, there might be a question about job offers - just be honest about it. The fact that it requires relocation with your family situation should protect your benefits. You're still required to actively search for suitable work in your area though.
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Quinn Herbert
I went through something very similar when I was on unemployment benefits. A job offer that requires a 5-hour relocation from NYC to Rochester definitely falls outside the "suitable work" requirements, especially with your circumstances. The NYS Department of Labor considers factors like commuting distance, family obligations (like kids in school), and caregiving responsibilities (your elderly mom). Document everything - save the job offer email, write down your reasons for declining, and when you file your weekly claim, answer honestly if asked about job offers. You should be completely fine continuing your benefits as long as you keep actively searching for work in your local area.
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StarSailor}
•This is really helpful, thank you! I was so stressed about this whole situation. Just to clarify - when you say "document everything," should I also keep records of other job applications I'm submitting in my area? I want to make sure I'm covering all my bases in case they ask for proof that I'm still actively job searching locally.
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