ESD rules for declining lower-paying job offer in different field - will I lose benefits?

u don't have to take evry job offered 2 u. ESD has rules about 'suitable work' - if it's way less pay or not in ur field ur usually ok to decline. but u HAVE TO REPORT the job offer when u do ur weekly claim & explain why u declined or they can hit u with fraud later. been there, dun that.

According to ESD regulations, you aren't required to accept work that isn't "suitable." Suitable work is determined by several factors including: 1. Your prior experience, training, and earnings 2. The wage offered compared to your previous wages 3. The distance from your residence 4. Any risks to your health or safety 5. Your length of unemployment In your case, the job pays significantly less than 50% of your previous wages and is in an unrelated field requiring additional investment from you. These are valid reasons to decline the offer while maintaining your benefits. When filing your weekly claim, you MUST report that you refused a job offer and explain why. ESD may contact you for more details, so document everything about the offer (company, position, salary, etc.). Keep in mind that as your unemployment period extends, what's considered "suitable" may broaden somewhat.

CAREFUL! I declined a job last year because it paid $5 less per hour than my previous position and ESD disqualified me for three weeks!!! Said I didn't have "good cause" to refuse work. Had to appeal. They're really strict about this stuff now because unemployment is low and they want people working.

I was stuck in a similar situation trying to reach ESD about a job offer question. After spending days trying to get through on the phone and getting nowhere, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). It helped me connect with an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I spoke with explained that requiring YOU to pay for training before starting is actually a red flag, and that's considered an unreasonable condition that would make the job unsuitable. Having an official determination directly from ESD gave me peace of mind about declining the offer.

I work in HR and deal with unemployment cases frequently. Here's what you need to know: 1. The rule of thumb is that after collecting benefits for ~8 weeks, you may be expected to expand your job search beyond your exact previous position. 2. However, you are NEVER required to accept work that pays less than 75% of your previous wage in the first third of your benefit year. 3. The requirement to pay for your own training before employment is considered an unreasonable condition by most state unemployment agencies. When you decline, immediately document: - The exact offer details (get it in writing if possible) - Why it's unsuitable (salary comparison, unrelated field, required personal expense) - Your continued efforts to find suitable work You should be fine, but be very explicit in your weekly claim about why you declined.

lol just dont tell ESD about the offer problem solved 😎

Thanks everyone for the advice! I just reported the job offer on my weekly claim and clearly explained why I declined (less than 50% of previous salary, unrelated to my field, requiring me to pay for certification before starting). I uploaded documentation showing my previous salary and the offer letter with the certification requirement. I'm still nervous about it, but your advice has made me feel much more confident about my decision. I'll update once I hear back from ESD on whether they accept my explanation.

Quick update on the rules: For 2025, ESD updated their guidelines a bit. After the first 10 weeks of unemployment, you're expected to consider jobs paying at least 80% of your previous wage. After 15 weeks, this drops to 75%. Only after 20+ weeks are you expected to consider positions below 70% of your previous wage. Since you're only at week 6 and the offer is 50% of your previous wage, you're well within your rights to decline. The requirement to pay for your own training strengthens your case further. Keep up with your job search activities (minimum 3 per week) and document everything carefully!