EDD eligibility for school district employee during summer break?

You probably won't qualify. I work for a school district too and tried this last summer. EDD denied me because of the "reasonable assurance" rule - if you have a job waiting for you in the fall, they consider you employed even during unpaid breaks. SUPER FRUSTRATING!!! They don't care that we don't get paid for 2+ months!

The answer depends on your specific employment classification. School employees with "reasonable assurance" of returning to work after regularly scheduled breaks (like summer vacation) typically don't qualify for UI benefits during these breaks under CA Unemployment Insurance Code Section 1253.3. However, there are exceptions: 1. If you don't have a reasonable assurance of returning to your position 2. If your work during the following year will be substantially less favorable than the previous year 3. If you have other non-school employment that qualifies you You should still apply and explain your situation fully. Make sure to mention if your hours/wages for next year will be reduced compared to this year, as that can sometimes help your case.

i was working as a janitor at a high school last yr and got ui no problem during summer. just be honest about yr situation and let edd decide.

My sister is a noon duty supervisor and she gets unemployment every summer break! She's been doing it for years.

School employee UI eligibility is complicated! As others mentioned, those with "reasonable assurance" usually don't qualify during scheduled breaks, but part-time status can sometimes affect this. I'd recommend applying and being completely honest about your situation. If you get denied, request a phone interview to explain your circumstances. It's often difficult to reach EDD by phone, though. When I had a similar issue, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD representative. They have a service that helps you bypass the phone wait times. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km A detailed conversation with an EDD rep can often clarify these nuanced situations better than just relying on the online application process.

have u tried looking 4 summer work? might b easier than dealing w/edd tbh

I'm in almost the exact same situation but I work in the cafeteria! I applied for UI and was initially denied, but I requested a phone interview and explained that I had no guarantee of the same hours in the fall (which was true in my case). They ended up approving me but it took almost 5 weeks to get resolved. Start the process ASAP because even if you get approved, you might not see money until July at this point.

One other important point: EDD will want to know if you're "available for work" during the summer. Make sure you indicate that you're actively looking for summer employment and are available to work. If you suggest you're just waiting for the school year to start again, that can hurt your case. Also, keep detailed records of your job search efforts, as you may need to certify these if approved.

I'm a substitute teacher and faced this same issue last year. The key thing that helped me was being very specific about my employment status when I applied. Since you're part-time and not a full-time contracted employee, you might have a better chance than regular teachers. Make sure to emphasize that your position is hourly/part-time rather than salaried, and that you don't have a formal contract guaranteeing your return. Also, if there's ANY uncertainty about your hours or position for next year (budget cuts, enrollment changes, etc.), mention that too. The "reasonable assurance" rule is stricter for contracted employees than for hourly workers like us. Good luck!

I work as a paraprofessional at a middle school and was in your exact situation two summers ago. The trick is in how you frame your application - don't just say you're "on break," explain that you're temporarily laid off due to lack of work during the summer months. That's technically what it is! I also made sure to mention that while I expect to return in the fall, there's no written guarantee and my hours could potentially change based on enrollment or budget decisions. I got approved after about 3 weeks of processing. The key is being honest but strategic about how you describe your employment situation. Also, definitely start job searching now and keep records - they may ask for proof that you're actively seeking work. Hope this helps!

I'm also a school district employee (special education aide) and successfully got unemployment last summer! The key things that helped me were: 1) I emphasized that I'm an hourly employee with no contract, 2) I mentioned uncertainty about next year's hours due to potential IEP changes and budget constraints, and 3) I was very clear that I was actively seeking summer employment and available to work immediately. Don't get discouraged by the initial application - even if you get an automatic denial, request the phone interview. During my interview, the EDD rep was much more understanding of the nuances of school employment than the automated system. I also recommend applying ASAP because the process can take several weeks even if approved. Document every job application you submit and be prepared to show you're genuinely seeking work, not just waiting for September. Good luck!

I'm a newcomer here but I've been reading through all these responses and wanted to add my perspective. I work as a school custodian and was in a similar situation last year. What really helped me was being very detailed in my application about the temporary nature of my layoff - I explained that while the school district expects to recall me in August, there's no written contract guaranteeing my position, hours, or wage rate for the next school year. I also made sure to emphasize that I'm classified as an hourly employee, not salaried, which seems to make a difference in how EDD evaluates these cases. The process took about 4 weeks total but I was approved. My advice would be to apply immediately, document every job search effort, and if you get an initial denial, definitely request that phone interview - the human review process seems much more fair than the automated system. Also, check if your district has made any budget announcements or enrollment projections that might affect staffing - any uncertainty about next year's employment can strengthen your case. Best of luck!

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to share my recent experience as a school bus driver who successfully got UI benefits last summer. Like many of you, I was initially worried about the "reasonable assurance" rule, but I learned that the key is being very specific about your employment classification and any uncertainties about returning. In my case, I emphasized that: 1) I'm an hourly employee with no guaranteed hours, 2) My route assignments can change based on enrollment and budget decisions, and 3) I was actively seeking other employment during the break. The initial online application was denied, but during the phone interview (which took about 3 weeks to get scheduled), the EDD representative was much more understanding of the nuances. What really helped was that I had documentation showing I was genuinely job searching - I applied to delivery companies, summer camps, and other seasonal work. Even though I didn't get hired elsewhere, having that paper trail showed I wasn't just sitting around waiting for September. For those of you who are part-time aides or hourly workers, I'd definitely encourage you to apply. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised. Just make sure to frame it correctly - you're temporarily unemployed due to lack of work, not just "on vacation." Good luck everyone!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional insight that might be helpful. I'm a school library aide and went through this exact situation last summer. What I learned is that EDD actually has specific guidelines for educational institution employees in their handbook, and the "reasonable assurance" determination is more nuanced than many people realize. A few key points that helped my case: 1) I documented that my position is subject to annual review and isn't automatically renewed, 2) I showed that my hours could vary based on library program funding, and 3) I demonstrated active job searching with a detailed log of applications and interviews. The most important thing I discovered is that part-time hourly positions like ours are often evaluated differently than full-time contracted positions. Since we don't have employment contracts guaranteeing our return, we're more likely to qualify than teachers with signed contracts. I'd also suggest reaching out to your union representative if you have one - they often have experience with these situations and can provide guidance on how to frame your application. My union steward actually helped me understand which aspects of my employment status to emphasize. The process took about 5 weeks total, but I was ultimately approved and received benefits through August. Don't give up if you get an initial denial - the appeal process is worth it for our employment category. Document everything and be persistent!