PA UC eligibility if I refuse job relocation 2 hours away - can I get benefits?

i think ur good. my brother had somethin similar happen last yr when his warehouse moved to delaware. he got approved for benefits cause PA considers anything over 45 min commute to be not suitable work. at least thats what he told me lol

This is actually spelled out in PA unemployment eligibility rules. Under Pennsylvania law, work is NOT considered suitable if: - The commute would be unreasonably long (generally over 45-60 minutes one-way) - The commute would create undue hardship compared to your previous position - Moving would cause family hardship When you file, be very clear about why you're refusing the position - specifically mention the 2-hour commute and family situation. You'll likely need to document that the company is closing your location and that the only position offered was at this distant location. Keep in mind UC may contact your employer to verify details. Document everything!

same thing happened to me!!! but my company moved from Allentown to Lancaster. UC DENIED me at first because they said i refused work!!! i had to APPEAL and then wait for a hearing. took almost 2 months to get approved. make sure you explain EVERYTHING about why you cant take it!!!!

When you file your initial claim, make sure you have the exact address of the new location to show the actual distance. Also keep any emails or letters about the closure and relocation offer. You might want to calculate and document the actual commute time during your normal work hours using Google Maps or something similar to prove it's 2 hours each way. If you need to speak with someone at UC about your specific situation (which I recommend), good luck getting through on the phone lines. I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone when I had a similar issue last year. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to a UC rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Definitely worth it to get a clear answer on your specific situation before filing.

You need to be careful about how you report this to PA UC. If you simply say "I quit because they wanted me to relocate" you might be automatically denied. Instead, when filing, indicate that your local workplace closed (which is true) and that the only position offered required an unreasonable commute that would create undue hardship. PA unemployment considers these factors when determining if work is "suitable": 1. Distance from your home 2. Family obligations 3. Prior experience/training 4. Previous wage rates A 2-hour commute (4 hours daily) is generally considered unreasonable by PA standards. Just make sure you document everything - the notification of closure, the offer letter for the new location, and any correspondence about your decision. When you file, be prepared to explain your situation in detail during your initial claim and possibly again during a fact-finding interview.

I went through almost EXACTLY this in 2023!!! My employer closed our Erie office and offered positions in Pittsburgh (2.5 hrs away). I filed for UC and they DENIED me saying I "refused suitable work" - can you believe that??? I had to appeal and wait for a hearing which took FOREVER while bills piled up. The hearing ref eventually approved me but I went 9 WEEKS with no income!!! The whole system is designed to make you give up. My advice: 1) Get EVERYTHING in writing about the closure 2) Calculate exact mileage and driving time 3) Document why moving isn't feasible (spouse job, kids school, etc) 4) Prepare for them to deny you anyway and have to appeal 5) Start looking for work immediately so you can show work search efforts GOOD LUCK - you'll need it with PA's broken system!!!!!

To answer your question about timing - you should file your initial claim after your last day of work at the current location. However, if you've officially declined the relocation offer before that, make sure to save that documentation. When you file, you'll need to report that your separation was due to a "lack of work" (the location closed) and that you were offered a position that wasn't suitable due to distance. Be prepared to explain this situation in the fact-finding questionnaire or interview. Remember that PA requires you to conduct weekly work search activities once you start claiming benefits. You must apply for at least two positions and complete one work search activity each week. Keep detailed records of all work search efforts.

what kinda job do u have? might matter for what they consider suitable work. my friend is a nurse and they told her she had to take a job that was like 50 min away cause there was nursing shortage or something? but most jobs i think 2 hrs is def too far!!

One more important point - when you file, PA UC will want to know your reason for separation. The correct answer in your case is "Lack of work" because your location is closing, not "Quit" or "Voluntary separation." If you select "Quit" it could trigger an automatic denial that you'd have to appeal. During the more detailed questionnaire that follows, you can explain about the relocation offer and why it wasn't suitable. Also, start your job search now and document everything. PA requires you to register with PACareerLink within 30 days of filing your initial claim.

I would recommend getting something in writing from your employer that specifically states: 1. That your current location is closing 2. The exact date of closure 3. That you were offered a position at the new location 4. The exact address of the new location This documentation will be crucial if you need to appeal an initial denial. Also, when you file, if you get confused about any questions, try to speak with someone at UC directly. When I was filing last year, I kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours on the phone. As I mentioned, I used Claimyr to get through quickly (claimyr.com) and it saved me weeks of frustration. The UC rep was able to clarify exactly how to answer certain questions for my specific situation.

Just wanted to add that you should also document any costs that the relocation would impose on you - gas, car maintenance, potential childcare changes, etc. A 4-hour daily commute is not just unreasonable time-wise, but also creates significant financial burden that PA UC should consider when determining if the work is "suitable." Also, if your spouse's job or your kids' school situation would be disrupted by moving, document that too. PA considers family circumstances when evaluating whether refusing relocation is justified. The fact that your spouse has employment in your current area is actually a strong point in your favor. I'd suggest writing out a clear timeline of events (closure announcement, relocation offer, your response) and keeping copies of all communications. This will help you stay consistent in your story when filing and during any potential interviews or appeals.

Hey Omar, I went through something similar about 6 months ago when my manufacturing job relocated from Scranton to Wilkes-Barre (about 90 minutes each way). I was super worried about getting denied too, but here's what worked for me: When I filed, I made sure to emphasize that my workplace was CLOSING (not that I was quitting) and that the only available position would require an unreasonable commute that would create financial hardship. I calculated that the extra gas, tolls, and car maintenance would have cost me almost $400/month, plus I would have had to leave my house at 5:30 AM every day. PA UC approved me without any issues! I think the key was being very specific about why the relocation wasn't feasible rather than just saying "it's too far." I mentioned my kids' school schedules, the financial burden of commuting, and that moving wasn't an option due to my spouse's job. Start documenting everything now - mileage, estimated gas costs, your family situation, etc. And definitely file as "lack of work" when your location closes, not as quitting. You've got this!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My company is relocating from Philadelphia to Reading (about 90 minutes away) and I've been stressing about the UC implications too. Reading through everyone's advice here has been really helpful - especially about documenting everything and being specific about WHY the relocation creates undue hardship. One thing I'd add is to check if your company is offering any relocation assistance or commuter benefits. Mine offered a small relocation stipend but it wouldn't even cover one month's rent deposit, let alone the costs of selling/buying a house. I documented their "assistance" offer to show it was inadequate compared to the actual financial burden. Also, if you haven't already, try to get a sense of what the job market looks like in your area for your field. PA UC sometimes considers whether equivalent work is available locally when determining if refusing relocation is reasonable. Since you're in retail management, there are probably plenty of similar positions that don't require a 4-hour daily commute! Hang in there - from what everyone's shared, it sounds like you have a strong case as long as you document everything properly.

Just wanted to add another perspective - I'm an HR manager (not for UC, just regular corporate HR) and I've seen this situation come up several times. From what I've observed, PA UC generally sides with employees when the commute would be genuinely unreasonable or create undue hardship. A few practical tips: - When you decline the relocation offer, send an email to your manager clearly stating your reasons (commute time, family obligations, financial burden). This creates a paper trail. - If possible, ask HR for a letter confirming that your current position is being eliminated due to location closure and that the only available position requires relocation. - Keep screenshots of MapQuest/Google Maps showing the actual drive time during your normal work hours. The fact that you've been with the company 6 years actually helps your case - it shows you're not just trying to avoid work, but that the circumstances genuinely make the new position unsuitable. Most reasonable people would agree that a 4-hour daily commute is excessive, especially with a family to consider. You should be fine as long as you document everything properly and explain the situation clearly when filing. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - plenty of people get approved without issues, they just don't post about it online!

Omar, I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago! My company relocated from Reading to Lancaster and I was terrified about the UC implications. Here's what I learned: The 2-hour commute is definitely grounds for refusing the position. PA considers commutes over 45-60 minutes unreasonable, and yours is way beyond that. When I filed, I was very specific about the financial impact - calculated that my commute would cost $350/month in gas alone, plus childcare complications since I'd be leaving earlier and getting home later. Key things that helped me get approved: 1. I filed as "lack of work" since my location closed (not "quit") 2. Got a letter from HR stating my position was eliminated due to closure 3. Documented all the reasons moving/commuting wasn't feasible 4. Calculated exact costs of the commute vs my salary I was approved within 2 weeks without needing to appeal. The caseworker actually said 2+ hour commutes are almost always considered unreasonable unless it's a specialized profession with limited opportunities. Start gathering your documentation now - closure notice, any emails about the relocation offer, your family/financial reasons for not being able to relocate. You've got a strong case!

I'm currently going through something very similar - my retail job is relocating about 100 miles away and I've been researching PA UC rules like crazy. From everything I've read and the experiences people have shared here, you should be in good shape as long as you document everything properly. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have any medical conditions that would make a 4-hour daily commute particularly difficult (back problems, anxiety, etc.), that could be additional documentation to support your case. Even something like needing to pick up prescriptions regularly or having medical appointments that would conflict with the extended commute times could strengthen your position. Also, I've been tracking gas prices and calculating that a 4-hour daily commute (assuming about 120 miles round trip) would cost roughly $400-500 per month just in fuel, not counting the wear and tear on your vehicle. That's a significant portion of most people's take-home pay and definitely constitutes undue financial hardship. The consensus here seems to be that PA UC generally recognizes commutes over 45-60 minutes as unreasonable, and yours is literally 3-4 times that threshold. Stay strong and document everything - you've got this!

Reading through everyone's experiences here is giving me hope! I'm in a similar boat - my manufacturing job is relocating from Pittsburgh to Cleveland (about 2.5 hours away) and I've been panicking about whether I'll qualify for UC benefits if I refuse. What I'm taking away from all the advice here is: 1. Document EVERYTHING - closure notice, relocation offer, my reasons for declining 2. File as "lack of work" not "quit" 3. Calculate the actual financial burden of commuting 4. Be very specific about family hardships (my elderly parents live nearby and I help care for them) 5. Get something in writing from HR about the situation The success stories from people like ApolloJackson and Amina give me confidence that PA UC does recognize when these relocations are genuinely unreasonable. A 2+ hour commute would basically mean leaving my house at 5 AM and not getting home until 8 PM - that's no way to live! Omar, it sounds like you have an even stronger case than some of us since you have kids in school and a spouse with a good job locally. Start gathering that documentation now and don't let the system intimidate you. From what everyone's shared, you should be approved as long as you explain the situation properly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for all of us dealing with these impossible relocation demands!