Does driving distance justify job refusal for receipt of unemployment benefits?
Q Can a person receiving unemployment benefits refuse to accept a job offer if it’s 25 miles from her home?
A In Idaho, individuals who are eligible for unemployment benefits are required to be ready, willing, and able to take any offer of suitable work during each week a claim is made. Being “ready” to go to work means an individual is available for work, actively searching for full-time work, and isn’t placing unrealistic personal restrictions on available positions. Unrealistic restrictions include limiting the days or shifts an individual is willing to work or the distance she is willing to travel and can lead to ineligibility for benefits.
The locality requirement for availability is just one of many factors reviewed if suitable work was offered to an individual and she refused. The distance factor is determined by the distance normally traveled by other workers in the individual’s commuting area and occupation. Under Idaho’s administrative guidelines, eligibility won’t be disqualified if the travel distance to available work is excessive or unreasonable.