TWC Provides Acceptable Reasons For Work Refusal

AUSTIN – On June 16, 2020, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) took action to provide guidance to unemployment claimants concerning their continued eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits (UI) should they refuse rehire.

Each UI benefits case is currently evaluated on an individual basis. However, because of the COVID-19 emergency, the following are reasons benefits would be granted if the individual refused suitable work.

Reason for refusal

• People 65 years or older, and/or people with medical issues, like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or a weakened immune system, or are at a higher risk for getting very sick from COVID?19. (Source: DSHS website)
• Household member(s) at high risk – People 65 years or older or are at a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 (source DSHS website).
• Diagnosed with COVID – the individual has tested positive for COVID-19 by a source authorized by the State of Texas and is not recovered.
• Family member with COVID – anybody in the household has tested positive for COVID-19 by a source authorized by the State of Texas and is not recovered and 14 days have not yet passed.
• Quarantined – individual is currently in 14-day quarantine due to close contact exposure to COVID-19.
• Child care – Child’s school or daycare closed and no reasonable alternatives are available.

Any other situation will be subject to a case by case review by the TWC based on individual circumstances.

For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.