Can I refuse a job offer, skip claiming that week, then resume UI claims the following week?

Be careful with this approach. ESD can still find out about job refusals even if you skip filing for a week. Employers sometimes report job refusals to ESD, especially if they know you're on unemployment. When you resume filing the following week, you'll be certifying that you've reported all job offers/refusals during your claim period (not just for weeks you claim). Also, "suitable work" considers your previous wages and commute distance. A job paying significantly less than your previous position ($17 vs $29) with a long commute might be considered unsuitable, meaning you could legitimately refuse it without penalty if you document your reasoning properly.

i did this last yr n got caught. had 2 pay back 4 weeks of benefits + penalty. they found out cuz the employer told them. dont risk it!!!!!

You're missing a key detail here - the law requires you to accept SUITABLE employment. A job paying 41% less than your previous position is likely NOT considered suitable work under ESD guidelines. The 45-minute commute is also a factor they consider. Instead of trying to hide the refusal (which can backfire), I'd suggest documenting exactly why this job isn't suitable based on the pay discrepancy and commute. You can report the refusal, explain your reasoning, and continue claiming benefits. I went through this exact situation in 2024. I refused a job paying 35% less than my previous position, documented why, and continued receiving benefits while finding something appropriate to my experience and pay history.

this whole system is RIGGED against us!! they make these complicated rules to trap people. one time i didnt report a 4 hour gig thinking it was no big deal and they hit me with "fraud"!! now i report EVERYTHING. dont trust ESD they will find a way to get you

I work in HR and can offer some insight. When candidates decline job offers and we know they're on unemployment, we sometimes (not always) report this to ESD. It depends on company policy. Regarding your specific situation, here's the ESD guideline on suitable work: https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/suitable-work Pay attention to this part: "You can refuse work if the wages, hours, or other conditions are substantially less favorable than those prevailing for similar work in your area." With your situation - previous wage of $29/hour vs. offered $17/hour - you have a strong case for refusal based on the substantial pay difference. Document everything: the job offer details, the wage difference percentage (41% less), and the commute time. When refusing, be professional and simply state the position doesn't meet your wage requirements based on your experience and previous earnings.

Have you tried calling ESD directly to ask about this? I know their phone lines are ridiculous, but I've had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through quickly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. I used it last month when I had a similar question about suitable work, and they connected me to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. The agent was able to give me specific guidance for my situation.

I'm going through something similar right now! From what I understand, the "skip a week" approach doesn't work because when you next file, you're certifying for your entire claim period, not just the week you're claiming. But honestly, I think you have legitimate grounds to refuse this job and still maintain benefits. A 41% pay cut is substantial! My experience: I refused a job last month that was 30% below my previous wage and I documented EVERYTHING. I wrote down the company name, contact person, job title, offered salary, and detailed explanation of why it wasn't suitable (including comparable salary data for my position in our area from Indeed and Glassdoor). When I reported it during my weekly claim, I got a questionnaire to fill out. I submitted all my documentation, and they ruled in my favor - no disruption to my benefits.

Wait I'm confused about something... if you're applying for jobs that pay close to your previous wage ($29/hr), why did you apply to this job that only pays $17/hr in the first place? ESD requires you to apply for suitable work, which would be jobs similar to your previous position. Not trying to be critical, just wondering if this might raise a red flag with ESD if they ask why you applied for a job that you then deemed unsuitable.

Just to summarize what everyone's been saying: 1. You can't hide a job refusal by simply not claiming that week 2. However, you don't need to hide this refusal because it appears to be legitimately unsuitable work based on: - 41% lower pay than your previous position - 45-minute commute 3. Document everything about the offer and why you're refusing 4. Report the refusal on your next weekly claim 5. Be prepared to complete a questionnaire about the refusal The key is transparency with ESD about why this work isn't suitable rather than trying to avoid reporting it, which could lead to overpayment issues later.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it's so relevant to your situation. I just went through almost the exact same thing last month - refused a job paying $15/hr when my previous position was $27/hr in accounting. Like others have mentioned, trying to hide the refusal is risky and unnecessary. I was honest about the refusal, documented the 44% pay difference, and ESD ruled it was unsuitable work. The whole process took about 2 weeks to resolve, and I continued receiving benefits without any issues. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you document the refusal, also include information about the job market in your field. I included screenshots from job boards showing typical salary ranges for medical billing specialists in our area to support my case that $17/hr was well below market rate. Good luck with your interviews next week! It sounds like you're being smart about looking for appropriate positions rather than just taking anything.