Good luck! One last tip: when you certify for benefits, make sure you indicate you're "able and available" for work. Some substitute teachers make the mistake of saying they're only available for teaching positions, which can complicate their claim. Unless you have specific work restrictions, you should be open to suitable work in other fields during your unemployment period.

Just wanted to add another perspective - I work for a different type of staffing agency (not education-focused) and they were very clear during my onboarding that they cannot guarantee work during any specific period, including school breaks. This actually worked in my favor when I filed for unemployment during a slow period last year. The EDD rep specifically asked if my agency had any written policies about work availability during summer months. Since they didn't (and couldn't guarantee placement), I was approved. I'd suggest reaching out to your agency's HR department to get clarity on their summer placement policies in writing - this documentation could be really valuable for your claim. Also, keep track of how many days per week you typically work through them during the school year. If it's inconsistent or part-time, that might also support your case that you don't have "reasonable assurance" of steady income.

Im dealing with someing similar right now with my claim. I refused a job because the schedule was different than what was advertised. It's been 3 weeks and my payments are still pending while they investigate. So frustrating. Hope you have better luck!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it definitely sounds like your former employer is trying to manipulate the system. The timing is way too suspicious to be coincidental. I went through something similar last year where my old job suddenly offered me a position they knew I couldn't accept (night shift when I had documented childcare responsibilities). The good news is that you have strong grounds for refusing this offer. Since you had a documented accommodation for transportation limitations when you worked there before, they absolutely know this is unsuitable work for you. When you certify, be completely honest about refusing the job and explain the transportation issue clearly. Make sure to mention that this was a previously documented accommodation. Also, definitely document everything - save any voicemails they left, note the exact times they called, and if possible, get something in writing about the job offer details (especially the 6AM start time). If they try to report you to EDD, having this documentation will help prove they knowingly offered you unsuitable work. You're doing the right thing by refusing work you literally cannot perform due to transportation constraints. Don't let them intimidate you!

I'm glad you were able to get through and reschedule! This is a really important thread for anyone who might face a similar situation. I had a retroactive interview about 18 months ago for a claim from 2021, and like you, I was completely caught off guard by the timing. One thing I learned during my experience: when you do have your rescheduled interview, make sure to have your separation documentation ready (layoff notice, final pay stub, etc.) and be prepared to answer the specific questions listed on your notice. The interviewer will stick pretty closely to those questions, so reviewing them beforehand really helps. Also, don't be surprised if they ask about your work search activities during specific weeks - even though it's been years, they sometimes want to verify you were actively seeking work during your benefit period. I had to reconstruct some of my job search records from old emails and browser history. Good luck with your interview next week! It sounds like yours is just a routine audit, so you should be fine as long as you're prepared and honest about everything.

This thread has been so educational! I had no idea EDD could circle back years later for these kinds of reviews. @Beth Ford I'm really glad you were able to get it sorted out and rescheduled. The fact that it's just a random audit is actually reassuring - I was worried they might be targeting specific claims for fraud investigations or something more serious. The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver too. I've been putting off calling EDD about a different issue because I know how impossible it is to get through. Knowing there's a way to actually reach a human being without losing an entire day might finally motivate me to deal with it. Thanks for keeping us updated throughout this process - it's really helpful to see how these situations actually play out in real time rather than just hearing horror stories after the fact!

UPDATE: I filed my claim online yesterday and already have a confirmation number! The application specifically asked if I worked for an educational institution and if I had reasonable assurance of returning. I answered honestly that I had a letter stating they 'expect' to rehire me but it wasn't guaranteed. Now I'm waiting for the EDD determination. I'll keep everyone posted about what happens in case others are in the same situation!

I'm a new member here but wanted to share my experience as a school bus driver who went through this exact situation two summers ago. The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - my layoff notice, the "reasonable assurance" letter, and even emails from my supervisor about the uncertainty of my position. When I applied, EDD initially approved me because my letter used language like "anticipated" and "subject to budget approval" rather than guaranteeing my job. I ended up receiving benefits for about 8 weeks of summer break. My advice is to apply immediately since processing takes time, and document everything in case you need to appeal. The worst case scenario is they say no, but you won't know unless you try!

idk if this helps but I had issues filing online too. Turns out my claim was flagged for identity verification. Had to upload extra docs. Might be worth checking if thats whats holding up your application.

I had the exact same problem last week! What finally worked for me was using an incognito/private browsing window and disabling all browser extensions. Also make sure you're not using any VPN or proxy - the system seems to block those. If you're still stuck after trying the browser fixes, there's also a paper application you can mail in as a backup option. The form is DE 1101 and you can download it from the EDD website. It takes longer to process but at least it's something while you keep trying online. Hang in there!