EDD won't let me reapply for summer unemployment after previous COVID claim - account locked

Yes, there's a specific process for this! Since you had a previous claim and you're a teacher/substitute, you're likely running into the "reasonable assurance" issue with EDD. During school breaks (summer, winter, spring), school employees with reasonable assurance of returning to work in the next term generally don't qualify for UI benefits. However, substitutes sometimes CAN qualify if you don't have guaranteed hours in the fall. For your account access issue - that's a separate problem. After long periods of inactivity, EDD often restricts accounts for security. You'll need to call the technical support line (not the regular claim line) at 1-833-978-2511 to get your account unrestricted.

ur wasting ur time. i'm a school bus driver and try getting bennefits every summer. they ALWAYS deny school workers during breaks. they call it "reasonable assuranse" which is bs because who knows if they'll acutally call you back. dont waste ur time

I had EXACTLY this problem last year!!! The site kept blocking me and saying I couldn't file a new claim when my old one was from like 2 years before. It's so FRUSTRATING! I spent weeks trying to get through on the phone and would just get disconnected every single time. The EDD system is completely broken and they don't care about helping real people who need benefits we're entitled to! I ended up having to contact my state assembly person's office to get help after wasting a month of my life trying to reach a human at EDD.

I work with a lot of teachers, and this is a common issue. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your online account was likely automatically restricted due to inactivity since 2021. This is a security measure. 2. For substitute teachers without guaranteed hours, you may qualify for benefits during summer IF you can show you don't have "reasonable assurance" of work in the fall. 3. You need to speak with a Tier 2 specialist who can both unrestrict your account AND help with the reasonable assurance determination. You should try to contact EDD at 8:01 AM exactly when they open - that's usually the best time to get through. Make sure to specify you need a Tier 2 representative for technical account issues when you do reach someone.

I had the same account restriction issue after not using my account for a few years. I tried calling for days with no luck - just constant busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting on hold. Finally tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an EDD rep who fixed my account in about 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km After my account was unrestricted, I still had to deal with the reasonable assurance issue since I work at a community college. The key is documentation - I had to provide proof that I don't have guaranteed classes for fall semester.

For documentation to prove you don't have reasonable assurance, you could request a letter from your school district stating that substitute work is on an as-needed basis with no guaranteed hours. A copy of your substitute teacher agreement might also help if it specifies the on-call nature of the work. The key is showing that your work is not guaranteed for the fall term. Regarding applying without UI Online access - yes, you can file a new claim by phone if you reach a representative, or you can request a paper application by calling and following the prompts for that option. But honestly, getting your account access restored is probably the faster route once you connect with someone.

UPDATE: I finally got through!! Called at exactly 8:01 this morning and managed to speak with someone. The rep confirmed my account was restricted due to inactivity. She was able to reset it, and I can now access UI Online again. Regarding my eligibility as a substitute teacher - she said I CAN apply but will need to provide documentation that I don't have reasonable assurance of work in the fall. I'm getting a letter from my district HR department stating that substitute work is on-call with no guaranteed hours. Thanks everyone for your help! Will update again once I know if my claim is approved or not.