EDD benefits during school district summer break - will my claim get suspended?

This happened to my sister last year!!! School district employees usually CANT get unemployment during summer breaks bc its considered "reasonable assurance" of returning to work. Its SO unfair but EDD consideres u employed even when ur not getting paid. They told her she was ineligible during summer break even tho she had ZERO income!!!!!

This is a specific situation covered under EDD rules regarding school employees. When you have "reasonable assurance" of returning to work after a scheduled break (like summer), you're generally not eligible for benefits during that break. This is covered under the California Unemployment Insurance Code Section 1253.3. But there might be some options depending on your exact circumstances: 1. If your new job pays significantly less than your previous job, you might qualify for partial unemployment. 2. If you don't have a formal contract guaranteeing your return in September (just a verbal offer), you might have a case. 3. You could work a temporary job during summer while maintaining your school position. I'd recommend calling EDD directly to explain your specific situation before making any decisions.

You should definitely try Claimyr.com - it's how I finally got through to EDD after weeks of trying. They have a service that connects you with an EDD agent, usually within an hour or so. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km I was in a similar situation with seasonal work and needed to find out about my specific claim details. Got through to an actual helpful agent who explained my options. Totally worth it for getting a definitive answer for your situation rather than guessing.

just wondering - did they offer you any summer school teaching options? some districts have summer programs and they usually need staff. might be worth asking HR if theres any summer work available to fill the gap?

HELLO??? Has EVERYONE ignored the obvious solution?? Just DON'T tell EDD about the job until September!!! Then you can keep collecting all summer and start the job officially in fall. They'll never know the difference. The system is DESIGNED to screw us over so you gotta play the game.

School employee here with accurate info: When you accept the position, you'll need to report it to EDD when you certify. Your claim will likely be suspended once you start working, but here's what many don't know - you can actually file a new claim specifically for the summer period, but you must be VERY clear in stating: 1. You do NOT have reasonable assurance of returning (if that's technically true - check your offer letter language) 2. You are available for full-time work during summer 3. You are actively seeking work during this period There's a specific EDD form for school employees to address this situation. Call and specifically ask for the "Affidavit of School Employee" form. The determination will depend on your specific employment agreement and district policy. Worth pursuing if you truly have no income for those months.

One more important thing to consider: Your benefit year. If you were laid off in January, your current benefit year will remain open for 12 months from when you first applied, even if benefits are paused while you work. If you do qualify for summer benefits (which depends on your specific contract situation), you would likely be reopening your existing claim rather than filing a completely new one. Also, keep in mind that your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest-earning quarter in your base period, which would still be from your previous job. This means if you do qualify for summer benefits, you'd likely receive the same amount you're getting now. Definitely worth calling EDD directly to get clarification for your specific circumstances.

btw srsly look into summer gigs now. food delivery, amazon flex, instacart etc can all make decent $ during summer months and u dont need anyones permission. plus u can quit easy when school starts again in sept. thats what i did last summer break, made almost as much as my regular job lol

Update: I finally got through to EDD today! The agent confirmed what many of you said - I likely won't qualify for benefits during summer break if I have a definite return date in September. BUT she did say if my contract specifically states I'm "laid off" during summer (not just on unpaid break), I could potentially qualify. I'm going to: 1) Ask HR about the specific wording in my contract, 2) Look into summer school IT opportunities, and 3) Set up delivery app gigs as a backup plan. Thanks everyone for all the advice - this community has been so helpful while navigating this mess!