Can substitute teachers apply for EDD unemployment during summer break (June-Aug)?

Yes, substitute teachers CAN apply for unemployment during summer break! I was in your exact situation last year. EDD has specific rules for educational employees, but as a temp/substitute, you're usually eligible since there's no "reasonable assurance" of work in the fall. I recommend filing your claim the day after your last assignment ends. When you certify, make sure to answer that you're available for work during the summer (because you are - just not at the school). Be ready for a possible eligibility interview where they'll ask about your employment status. Also, if you're still trying to reach EDD about this, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a rep after wasting days trying on my own. They have this system that calls EDD for you and connects you when there's an agent. Saved me hours of frustration. Check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km

NO NO NO this is TERRIBLE advice!!! School employees CANNOT get unemployment during summer break if they have REASONABLE ASSURANCE of returning in fall!! The EDD will make you PAY BACK every penny plus penalties if you mislead them! I worked in school admin for 9 years and saw countless subs get hit with overpayment notices. Be VERY careful!!!!!

To clarify the rules here: Whether a substitute teacher can collect unemployment during summer depends on their specific employment situation. The key is "reasonable assurance" as mentioned above. As a substitute, you need to determine: 1. Do you have any written guarantee of work in fall? 2. Are you on a year-to-year contract? 3. Can the district reduce your hours significantly? If you're a day-to-day sub with no guarantees, you likely qualify. Just be 100% honest on your application. When you certify, you'll need to be available for and seeking other work. Also, make sure you have your last assignment date documented. The EDD website specifically states that school employees may be eligible if they "performed services in other than an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity.

i filed last summer as a sub and got approved but took FOREVER lol they did phone interview like 3 weeks after i applied asking bunch of questions about my school job. make sure u say ur looking for other work during summer too or they deny u

I'm going through the same struggle right now - it's like EDD purposely makes this confusing for school employees!! I've been calling for days with no luck getting through. Has anyone had success using the "Contact EDD" option through UI Online instead of calling? I'm desperate to figure this out before the school year ends.

Not to go off topic but why doesnt the school district just pay teachers year round?? seems stupid to force ppl onto unemployment every summer instead of just spreading the same salary over 12 months. the whole system is broken imo

Update: I finally got through to EDD this morning! For anyone in the same situation: yes, substitute teachers typically CAN file for unemployment during summer break if you don't have reasonable assurance of returning in the fall. The rep said to apply after my last day, answer all questions honestly (especially about school employment), and be prepared for an eligibility interview. She said to gather documentation showing I'm a day-to-day sub with no guaranteed hours. Thank you everyone for your help!

Quick tip from someone who's been thru this: When you file, you'll get a form asking about "school wages" and whether you have reasonable assurance. Answer truthfully but keep documentation of your sub status. Also, EDD might contact your district to verify your status, so don't be surprised if there's a delay while they do this. Most importantly - DOCUMENT YOUR JOB SEARCH during summer. Keep a log of where you apply even if it's just 2-3 places a week.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been subbing for 3 years now - you're definitely on the right track! Each summer I've successfully collected UI benefits. The key things that helped me: 1. Keep ALL your substitute assignment records (dates, schools, hours) - EDD asked for this during my first eligibility interview 2. When they ask about "reasonable assurance," explain that as a day-to-day sub you have zero guarantee of work hours or even being called back 3. During the interview, emphasize that you're actively seeking other employment for summer (which you should be doing anyway) One thing nobody mentioned - if you work summer school as a sub, you'll need to report those earnings when you certify. It won't disqualify you but will reduce your weekly benefit amount for those weeks. Also, don't stress too much about the eligibility interview. Mine was pretty straightforward - they just wanted to confirm I understood the rules and wasn't trying to game the system. The whole process took about 4 weeks from application to first payment, so apply as soon as your last day ends! Good luck and don't let the naysayers scare you - substitute teachers have different rules than contracted employees for a reason.

As a former sub who went through this exact situation, I want to emphasize something that might ease your stress: the EDD reps are actually pretty knowledgeable about the substitute teacher situation since it comes up every summer. When I finally got through (took me 3 days of calling), the rep immediately knew the rules and was very helpful. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually start preparing your application now by gathering all your documents. Make sure you have your Social Security card, ID, and most recent pay stub ready. Also, if you're in multiple districts, you'll need wage information from ALL of them. The waiting period was the hardest part for me mentally, but once approved, the payments were retroactive to when I first became unemployed. So even if there's a delay in processing, you won't lose out on benefits you're entitled to. Hang in there - you've got this! Summer unemployment as a sub is totally legitimate and you shouldn't feel guilty about it.

I just wanted to jump in and share some encouragement for everyone going through this process! I'm a sub in my second year and successfully collected benefits last summer. The guilt is real - I felt the same way at first, but remember that unemployment insurance exists specifically for situations like ours where work is temporary and unpredictable. A few practical tips that helped me: - Start your application the Monday after your last assignment (don't wait for the weekend) - When they ask about job search activities, include things like updating your resume, creating online profiles, and networking - not just formal applications - If you get stuck in phone queues, try calling right at 8am when they open - I had better luck then The whole process took about 5 weeks for me from application to first payment, but like others mentioned, it was backdated so I didn't lose any money. The eligibility interview was actually pretty quick - maybe 15 minutes of basic questions about my work situation. You're not gaming the system - you're using a benefit that's designed exactly for workers in your situation. The fact that you're being so careful and thorough about following the rules shows you're doing this the right way!