Do I lose my UI if I refuse a job offer, if I am waiting on another job offer? (extension, work)

[soconfussed]

New York UI - I'm one of the unlucky ones that got laid off after the extension window, so I only get 26 weeks UI and it ends the end of Jan 2011. I am going to get an offer from this one company soon, and I'm waiting for an offer from another company (but may not see it for a month - but know I will be getting an offer). I would prefer to work for the second company - but I will get an offer from the first company in a week. If I refuse their offer because I'm waiting on another offer, will I lose my benefits?

[dcs930]

I'm in Louisiana (where politics and government is really screwed up!). I lost my job in November last year making $40,000. I applied to UI, where I would recieve the maxed out weekly benefits of $309. I interviewed for a part-time teller position at a bank making $8.75 hr working 24 hours a week. I sat at the local UI office for hours, to ask if I "HAVE" to take the position, and I was told "NO"! Because the part time job income was that less than what my income credits were with the Dept of Labor. I was told that if I take the position, that I would have to report my earnings to DOL and the weekly UI benefits would reflect the difference. So in other words, It was pointless to work, because I would get the same weekly income with UI as with the teller job + UI...
Well, needless to say, I took the part time position so I can gain experience.

Your income is entered as credits once you are paid over $600 (well in LA, it could be a different amount in NY). You will only lose your benefits if you turn down a job where the weekly income would be more than the UI weekly benefit amount..

[soconfussed]

The offer from the first company (and the second) will be within the 80% range, so these will be good offers that I'll have to take. My question is, I'm going to get an offer from company #1 within the week (good job, will be a good offer, but over an 1 hour to drive in the winter), I'm going to get an offer in about 1 month from company #2 (good job, good offer, and 20 minute drive). So I want to take company #2. But the offer for company #1 will get to me first, can I turn it down, without lossing my UI? The offer will met all the requirements to have to take it, but I know I have a job offer that is coming that the job is closer to me to drive to. Can I turn down an offer for that reason and not lose UI?

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by soconfussed

My question is, I'm going to get an offer from company #1 within the week (good job, will be a good offer, but over an 1 hour to drive in the winter), I'm going to get an offer in about 1 month from company #2 (good job, good offer, and 20 minute drive). So I want to take company #2. But the offer for company #1 will get to me first, can I turn it down, without lossing my UI?

Is it a one-hour commute one-way? And is that typical in your area? Where I live, a one-hour drive one-way is too far. Check your state website or try to call UI to find out how they view this. I, personally, would not take a job an hour away from my house.

[MisterEd]

Originally Posted by soconfussed

New York UI - I'm one of the unlucky ones that got laid off after the extension window, so I only get 26 weeks UI and it ends the end of Jan 2011. I am going to get an offer from this one company soon, and I'm waiting for an offer from another company (but may not see it for a month - but know I will be getting an offer). I would prefer to work for the second company - but I will get an offer from the first company in a week. If I refuse their offer because I'm waiting on another offer, will I lose my benefits?

Now how could they possibly know if you turned down a job (unless maybe if you were sent there from the UI office)? If you're that worried take the first job and quit when the seconds comes through.