Can school bus drivers collect unemployment during summer break in NY?
I drive a school bus for my local district and summer break starts in two weeks. My supervisor mentioned something about unemployment but wasn't clear if we're actually eligible. I've heard mixed things from other drivers - some say we can file, others say school employees can't get benefits during scheduled breaks. Does anyone know the actual NYS Department of Labor rules for this? I really need the income over the summer to cover my bills.
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Paolo Ricci
Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment as a school bus driver during summer break! The key is that you need to be available and actively looking for work. NYS Department of Labor considers you unemployed if you don't have reasonable assurance of returning to work in the fall. Even if you do have that assurance, you can still collect if you're seeking other employment during the break.
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Keisha Williams
•That's great news! Do I need to prove I'm looking for summer work or can I just indicate I'm available? My district already told us we'll be back in September.
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Amina Toure
wait I thought school employees couldnt get UI during breaks?? my sister works cafeteria and they told her no
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Paolo Ricci
•It depends on the specific job and circumstances. Cafeteria workers often have different employment terms than bus drivers. The 'reasonable assurance' rule varies by position and how the school district classifies the employee.
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Oliver Zimmermann
I've been driving bus for 8 years and file every summer. You just need to certify weekly that you're able and available for work. The district sending you a letter saying you'll return in fall doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits - that's a common misconception about the reasonable assurance rule.
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CosmicCommander
•Do you actually look for other jobs or just say you're available? I'm worried about the job search requirements.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•You need to actively search and document it in your job search log. I usually apply to summer driving positions, temp work, anything that fits my schedule. NYS Department of Labor takes the job search requirement seriously.
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Natasha Volkova
This whole system is so confusing! I called the NYS Department of Labor three times last summer and got different answers each time. One person said definitely yes, another said maybe, and the third one put me on hold for 45 minutes then hung up. How are we supposed to know what's right?
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Oliver Zimmermann
•The phone system is honestly terrible. I had better luck using Claimyr.com last time I needed to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor. They have this service that gets you through to agents without the usual runaround. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Natasha Volkova
•Never heard of that but willing to try anything at this point! Thanks for the suggestion.
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Javier Torres
Filed my first claim last week for summer break. The online system was pretty straightforward once I figured out how to navigate it. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready and be honest about your availability to work.
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Esmeralda Gómez
I'm in a similar situation - been driving for the district for 3 years but this is my first time considering filing for unemployment over the summer. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! One thing I'm still unclear on though - when they ask about "reasonable assurance" on the application, do I check yes or no if my district already told us verbally we'll be back in September? They haven't given us anything in writing yet but our supervisor said we're all expected back. I don't want to mess up my application by answering that question wrong.
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Mei-Ling Chen
•For the reasonable assurance question, verbal promises usually don't count as "reasonable assurance" - it typically needs to be in writing. Since you don't have anything written yet, I'd lean toward answering "no" to that question. The key is being honest about your actual situation. If they later give you a written notice about returning in September, you can always update your information. Better to be accurate about what you actually have in hand right now rather than what you expect to receive.
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Gemma Andrews
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been through this process multiple times. I've been driving school bus for 12 years and file for unemployment every summer. The most important thing is to be completely honest on your application and during your weekly certifications. Yes, you can collect benefits even if you have reasonable assurance of returning in the fall - the key is that you must be genuinely available and actively seeking work during the break. I usually look for summer camp transportation jobs, delivery driving, or other temporary positions. Keep detailed records of your job search activities because they may audit your claim. Also, don't let anyone at the school district discourage you from filing - it's your right as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. The benefits really help bridge the gap during those unpaid summer months.
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Sara Unger
•This is exactly the kind of detailed, practical advice I was hoping to find! Thank you for sharing your 12 years of experience with this process. I feel much more confident about filing now knowing that it's legitimate and that keeping good records is the key. Do you have any tips for the best places to look for those summer driving positions? I'm thinking delivery services might be good since they're always hiring, but I'm not sure what other options might work well for someone with a CDL and school bus experience.
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