Can I refuse a job offer from previous employer without losing TWC benefits?

This is tricky territory with TWC. Generally, you must accept "suitable work" when offered or risk disqualification. However, TWC considers several factors when determining if work is suitable: - The degree of risk to your health, safety, and morals - Your physical fitness for the work - Your prior training and experience - The distance from your home - Your prior earnings Importantly, they also consider if your skills, experience, and earnings potential have CHANGED since working for that employer. Your new degree could be relevant here. You should document exactly why this position doesn't align with your new qualifications and how it might impede your career development. Be prepared to explain this if TWC questions your refusal.

I WAS IN YOUR EXACT SITUATION last year!!! Former boss wanted me back at same pay but with MORE responsibilities. TWC initially flagged my account when I refused and my benefits were put on hold for 3 WEEKS while they "investigated" 🙄 The system is TOTALLY rigged against workers trying to advance. They'll try to force you to take ANY job regardless of your qualifications. Had to appeal their decision and it was a NIGHTMARE getting anyone on the phone.

my cousin went through this and got disqualified cuz they said he refused suitable work. they dont care about ur degree they just want u off benefits

After struggling with this exact issue, I found a service called Claimyr that helped me actually get through to a TWC agent to discuss my situation. Instead of getting endless busy signals, I got connected to someone who could explain exactly what documentation I needed to refuse an unsuitable job offer. Saved me weeks of stress! You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh

Something similar happened to my wife. She refused an offer from her old job after getting her nursing certification and TWC put a hold on her benefits. The key is to request a determination interview right away. Don't wait for them to flag your account - be proactive! Here's what helped her case: 1. Documentation showing the previous job was in a different field than her certification 2. Proof of active job searching in her new field (nursing) 3. Wage comparison showing the offered job paid substantially below what her new certification qualified her for She had to complete 3 work search activities weekly while this was being resolved, but ultimately TWC ruled in her favor and continued her benefits.

i been on unemployment 3 times and heres what i know... TWC looks at if the pay is at least 90% of what you made before. if it is, and you turn it down, ur probably gonna lose benefits. but the whole "2 different positions" thing might help your case cuz thats basically changing ur job description, not giving u the same job back. document EVERYTHING and take screenshots of all communication with the employer!!!

I worked at TWC years ago actually. The rule about suitable work has exceptions. For college grads, there's a 6-month period where you can limit your job search to positions related to your degree before you have to expand it. But this only applies if you just graduated. How long ago did you get your degree? And have you been applying to jobs in your field? These details matter for your case.

Wait my situation is kinda similar! but i already went to the interview with my old company just to see what they were offering. Did I mess up? Will TWC think I was considering the job seriously? I haven't formally rejected it yet but I don't want it.

Based on all the responses here, you should take these steps: 1. Document why the position is unsuitable (multiple positions for same pay, not aligned with your new degree) 2. Proactively contact TWC (use the contact methods others suggested) to explain your situation 3. Continue completing your work search requirements (all 3 activities weekly) 4. Keep requesting payments on your regular schedule 5. Gather evidence of your job search in your degree field 6. Prepare for a possible appeal if TWC initially rules against you Your recent graduation is a significant factor in your favor. Just make sure you're professionally declining the offer with clear, documented reasons rather than simply ignoring it.

Just want to add that TWC also considers whether accepting the job would interfere with your ability to search for work in your field. Since you're a recent accounting graduate, taking a job that requires you to work two different positions could limit your availability for interviews and networking in your actual career field. This is another angle to document when you contact TWC - that accepting this position would actually hinder your reasonable job search efforts in accounting. Make sure to emphasize that you're not just refusing work, but refusing work that would impede your professional development and job search in your qualified field.

I went through something very similar when I graduated with my business degree. My former retail manager offered me my old position back at the same hourly rate, but I knew it wouldn't help my career progression. Here's what worked for me: I called TWC immediately and explained that I was a recent graduate looking for work in my field. The agent told me that as long as I could demonstrate I was actively job searching in positions related to my degree and that the offered job was significantly below my new qualifications, I could refuse it. Key things that helped my case: - I had applied to 15+ jobs in my field that week - The offered position paid less than entry-level roles I was qualified for - I documented that my degree opened up a different career path TWC didn't even flag my account because I was proactive about calling them first. The agent said recent graduates have more flexibility in what constitutes "suitable work" for the first 6 months after graduation. My advice: Don't wait for them to contact you. Call TWC first thing Monday morning, explain your situation, and ask for guidance on how to properly document your refusal. Being proactive shows you're not trying to avoid work - you're trying to find appropriate work for your qualifications.

I'm in a very similar situation - just graduated with my marketing degree last month and my old restaurant wants me back as a server/host (two positions) for the same pay I made before. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so helpful! One thing I want to add based on what I've learned from calling TWC last week: they specifically asked me about the "career progression" aspect. The agent explained that if taking the offered job would actually hurt your long-term earning potential or career development, that's a valid reason to refuse it. In my case, working nights and weekends at the restaurant would prevent me from attending networking events, professional development workshops, and daytime interviews in my field. @Oscar Murphy - since you mentioned the position involves two different roles, make sure to emphasize how this would impact your availability for professional opportunities in accounting. TWC seems to really consider this factor for recent graduates. Also, document any professional events or interviews you'd have to miss if you took their offer - this strengthens your case that accepting would actually hinder your job search in your qualified field. Good luck with your call to TWC on Monday! Being proactive definitely seems to be the key based on everyone's experiences here.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My former employer wants me back in a hybrid role that combines customer service and inventory management - basically two jobs for my old salary. After reading everyone's experiences here, I realize I need to be more strategic about this. What's really helping me understand my options is seeing how TWC actually evaluates these cases. The fact that they consider career progression and whether the job would interfere with your professional development is huge. I've been documenting everything - the job offer details, why it doesn't align with my new qualifications, and how accepting would limit my ability to pursue opportunities in my field. For anyone in this situation, I'd definitely recommend being proactive like others have mentioned. Don't wait for TWC to flag your account. I'm planning to call them this week to discuss my situation before I formally decline the offer. Having all the documentation ready (degree, job applications in your field, salary comparisons) seems to make a big difference in how these cases are handled. It's encouraging to see that recent graduates do have more flexibility in what constitutes "suitable work" - I didn't know about the 6-month period mentioned earlier. That's exactly the kind of information that makes calling TWC directly so valuable.

I went through something very similar last year when my former employer offered me my old retail position back after I finished my degree in computer science. The key things that saved me were: 1) I called TWC BEFORE refusing the offer to get guidance, 2) I documented that entry-level positions in my field paid 40% more than what they were offering, and 3) I showed that working retail hours would conflict with tech meetups and interviews I had scheduled. The TWC agent I spoke with emphasized that recent graduates (within 6 months) have stronger protection when refusing jobs that don't match their new qualifications. She specifically told me to document how accepting would "impede reasonable career progression" - that exact phrase seems important to them. My advice: prepare a written summary before you call TWC explaining: your graduation date, your job search efforts in accounting, why the two-position role is unsuitable, and specific examples of how it would interfere with your professional development. Having this ready made my conversation with TWC much smoother and they approved my refusal without any benefit interruption.

As someone who just went through this exact situation 6 months ago, I can tell you that being proactive with TWC is absolutely crucial. I was a recent graduate (marketing degree) and my former retail manager offered me back my old position plus additional cashier duties for the same $15/hour I made before graduation. Here's what worked for me: I called TWC the same day I received the offer, BEFORE declining it. The agent walked me through exactly what documentation I needed to provide to justify my refusal. Key points that helped my case: 1. I had proof of active job searching in marketing (12+ applications that week) 2. Entry-level marketing positions in my area averaged $22-25/hour vs the $15 offered 3. The retail schedule (nights/weekends) would conflict with professional networking events and interviews 4. Working two different positions (sales + cashier) for the same pay was essentially a demotion given my new qualifications The TWC agent specifically mentioned that recent graduates have a 6-month window where they can be more selective about "suitable work" as long as they're actively pursuing jobs in their degree field. She said the key phrase to use is that accepting would "impede reasonable career progression." My benefits continued without interruption because I was transparent and proactive. Don't wait for them to flag your account - call them first and explain your situation. Having your documentation ready (degree, job applications, salary research) makes all the difference.

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying about being proactive with TWC - it really does make all the difference! I'm a recent graduate myself (finished my nursing degree 4 months ago) and had a similar situation where my old retail job wanted me back at the same hourly rate but with manager responsibilities added on. The biggest thing I learned is that TWC actually WANTS to help recent graduates transition into their career fields - they just need you to communicate properly with them. When I called, the agent explained that forcing new graduates to take jobs below their qualifications actually hurts the economy long-term because it wastes their education investment. My situation was resolved in one phone call because I had everything documented: my degree, proof of job applications in nursing (I'd applied to 8 positions that week), and salary data showing nursing positions paid $8-12 more per hour than retail management. The agent said as long as I was actively pursuing work in my field and the offered job would "impede career progression" (that phrase again!), I was fine to refuse. Oscar, your situation is even stronger than mine was because you're dealing with TWO different positions for the same pay - that's essentially asking you to work harder for less relative value given your new qualifications. Document everything, call TWC first thing Monday, and don't stress too much. Recent graduates have more protection than most people realize!

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! As someone who's been stressed about this exact situation all weekend, it's clear that being proactive with TWC is the key to success. What I'm taking away from all the advice: 1. Call TWC FIRST before declining the offer - don't wait for them to flag your account 2. Document everything: recent graduation date, active job search in your degree field, salary comparisons, and how the position would "impede reasonable career progression" 3. The 6-month grace period for recent graduates is huge - I had no idea this existed! 4. Emphasize that working two different positions for the same pay would actually hinder your ability to network and interview in accounting I'm calling TWC first thing Monday morning with all my documentation ready. It's so helpful to see that multiple people have successfully navigated this situation by being transparent and proactive rather than just hoping TWC won't notice. The fact that they actually want to help recent graduates transition into their career fields makes me feel much more confident about this call. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - this community is amazing!

I just went through this exact situation two months ago! My former employer offered me back my old restaurant job plus bartending duties (two positions) for the same $13/hour after I graduated with my finance degree. I was terrified about losing my benefits, but here's what I learned: TWC actually has specific provisions for recent graduates - you get a 6-month period where you can be more selective about what constitutes "suitable work" as long as you're actively job searching in your degree field. The key is being proactive and transparent with TWC. I called them the day I received the offer and explained my situation. The agent told me to document three things: 1) proof of active job searching in finance, 2) salary comparison showing the pay gap between my offered job and entry-level positions in my field, and 3) specific ways accepting would interfere with my career development (networking events, professional development, interview availability). My case was approved without any benefit interruption because I was upfront about everything. The agent specifically mentioned that working multiple positions for the same pre-graduation pay when you have new qualifications that qualify you for better opportunities is a textbook case of work that would "impede reasonable career progression." Don't stress too much - your situation is actually quite strong given your recent graduation and the unreasonable nature of the offer (two positions, same pay, different field than your degree). Just make sure to call TWC before declining and have all your documentation ready!