Can school district employees get EDD benefits during summer break when pay is spread over 11 months?

u cant get unemplyment if ur going back 2 same job in august, edd considers that having resonable assurance of work. they deny school workers automatically during summer.

The previous commenter is only partially correct. The "reasonable assurance" rule does apply to school employees, but there are important nuances. It primarily affects certificated employees (teachers, counselors) who have guaranteed positions when school resumes. As a classroom aide, you might still qualify if: 1. Your position is not 100% guaranteed for the next school year 2. You work for a non-profit or private contractor that services the school, not directly for the district 3. You can demonstrate that your summer break represents a true layoff rather than scheduled time off You should definitely apply and explain your situation. The worst that happens is they deny your claim. Be prepared to provide: - Your contract showing the 10-month work period - Documentation of your pay schedule (showing the 11-month distribution) - Any communication about your employment status for the upcoming school year Don't self-disqualify without trying!

I went through the EXACT same thing last year!!! I work as a special ed assistant and when I applied for EDD, they scheduled an eligiblity interview to determine if I had "reasonable assurance" of returning. I got denied initially, but then I appealed and provided my contract showing that I technically get "laid off" at the end of each school year even though they usually hire me back. The catch is - I had to really stress that there was NO GUARANTEE I would be rehired. My position depends on student enrollment and district budget. Also, I was honest that I was LOOKING for other work during summer (even though I planned to return if offered). That seemed to be the key factor in winning my appeal. But the whole process took almost 6 weeks, so apply on your LAST DAY of actual work in May to get the ball rolling ASAP!

If you're struggling to get through to schedule your eligibility interview, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in the same situation last summer - calling 50+ times a day and never getting through. A colleague recommended this service that gets you connected to an EDD rep usually within an hour. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Totally worth it because I needed to explain my school employment situation directly to a rep rather than just through the online form. The rep was able to properly code my claim so it didn't get automatically rejected under the school employee rules.

i dont understand why schools do this tbh... like why spread the pay over 11 months instead of 10?? or even better why not 12 so people get SOMETHING all year round??? my wife works for a different district and they give the option of 10 or 12 month pay distribution.

Here's what CA EDD specifically states about school employees (I work in HR for a college): "School employees may file a claim for the recess period. However, school employees with reasonable assurance of returning to work after the recess period are not eligible for benefits based on the school wages during the recess period." The key parts that affect your situation: 1. If your return is NOT guaranteed (no official contract or letter yet), you have a stronger case 2. If your pay is artificially spread over 11 months for a 10-month position, that's different from teachers who are paid annual salaries 3. The burden is on EDD to prove you have reasonable assurance, not on you to prove you don't I recommend applying immediately after your last work day and requesting an eligibility interview. Be prepared to explain that you have not received written assurance of continued employment and that you're actively seeking other work during this period.

has anyone else noticed that EDD website is SUPER confusing about this issue?? the info about school employees is buried deep in their site and even then its all legal jargon! i bet they make it confusing on purpose so people dont apply 🙄

Make sure when you certify for benefits (if you get approved) that you answer the work search requirements correctly! I almost messed this up. You have to show you're looking for work during the summer even if you're planning to go back to the school. I listed a minimum of 3 job contacts per week on my certification.