New York Unemployment eligibility for school paraprofessional during summer break?
I'm a paraprofessional at a school and currently not working due to summer break. Been looking for other work but no luck so far. Not sure if I can claim unemployment during this time. Been out of work since end of June. Anyone know if school staff can get benefits during summer?
26 comments


Noah huntAce420
Unfortunately school employees usually cant get unemployment during scheduled breaks. Its considered reasonable assurance if youre expected to return in September. You might want to check if your union has any resources or summer work programs.
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Ana Rusula
•this is correct 💯 my sister is a teachers aide and goes thru this every summer. its rough but thats how it works
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Dananyl Lear
•ugh thats what i was afraid of...guess ill keep applying to summer jobs 😩
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Fidel Carson
Hey I was stuck trying to reach unemployment for weeks but found this website claimyr.com that calls and waits on hold for you then connects you when someone picks up. costs $20 but totally worth it. Here's a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Isaiah Sanders
•sounds kinda sketchy tbh... has anyone else tried this?
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Fidel Carson
•not sketchy at all! saved me hours of hold time. they just do the calling for u
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Xan Dae
•can confirm it works, used it last month 👍
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Fiona Gallagher
Try looking into summer school programs or summer camps they always need para's and support staff this time of year
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Dananyl Lear
•thanks! applied to a few but its pretty competitive rn
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Thais Soares
There's actually a detailed section about this on the NY unemployment website. School employees with reasonable assurance of work in the next academic year typically don't qualify for benefits during summer break. However, if you can prove you don't have reasonable assurance of returning, or if you normally work summers but weren't offered work this year, you might have a case. Best bet is to call them directly using claimyr.com to get through - they'll review your specific situation. You could also check with your school district about summer programs or look into temp agencies that specialize in educational staffing. Some districts have agreements with specific agencies for summer work.
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Nalani Liu
•This is super helpful info! 🙌
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Axel Bourke
same boat bestie 🚣♀️ been doing instacart to get by
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Aidan Percy
have u checked indeed? saw bunch of summer camp jobs posted last week
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Dananyl Lear
•yea sending apps out like crazy but no bites yet 😭
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Mateusius Townsend
Also check with your local library systems - many are hiring summer reading program assistants right now! Libraries love hiring people with educational backgrounds. Pay isn't amazing but it's something to tide you over until September. Also try reaching out to your union rep if you have one - sometimes they know about temporary positions or can connect you with other districts that need summer help.
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Mia Green
Don't give up! I'm also a para and went through this last summer. One thing that helped me was checking with private schools - they often have different schedules and summer programs. Also try looking into tutoring companies like Kumon or Sylvan, they're usually hiring for summer. And if you're really struggling financially, you might qualify for emergency assistance programs through your county. Keep your chin up, September will be here before you know it! 💪
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Paolo Longo
•this is really encouraging to hear from someone who's been through it! def gonna look into those tutoring companies - didn't even think of that. thanks for the positive vibes 🙏
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Layla Sanders
Have you tried reaching out to your school district's HR department directly? Sometimes they have a list of paras who are available for summer work and can connect you with other schools in the district that might need coverage. Also, don't forget about ESY (Extended School Year) programs - some districts run these for special needs students during summer and often need additional para support. It's worth asking even if you haven't heard anything yet, as they sometimes have last-minute openings when staff take vacations.
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Alana Willis
•great suggestion about ESY programs! I totally forgot those exist. gonna call HR tomorrow and ask about that - hopefully they have something available. thanks for the tip! 🤞
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Kelsey Hawkins
Another option to consider is reaching out to your local YMCA or community centers - they often run summer day camps and are always looking for people with experience working with kids. The pay might not be amazing but it's usually pretty flexible with scheduling. Also, if you're comfortable with it, consider posting on local Facebook groups or Nextdoor - lots of families are looking for summer childcare help or tutoring for their kids. Since you already have experience as a para, parents would probably feel really confident hiring you. Hang in there! 💪
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Owen Devar
•yes! the YMCA idea is brilliant - they're usually pretty good about hiring school staff for summer programs. and you're so right about the facebook groups, lots of parents post looking for summer help especially if their kids have special needs since paras have that experience. definitely worth checking out!
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Tami Morgan
I feel your pain! Same situation here - been a para for 3 years and summer is always tough financially. One thing that's worked for me is checking with your district's food service department - they sometimes need extra help with summer meal programs. Also, if you're bilingual, translation services are in high demand right now for summer enrollment events. And don't overlook retail - many stores are hiring seasonal help for back-to-school prep starting in July. Target, Walmart, and Office Depot usually post these jobs around now. It's not glamorous but it helps bridge the gap until we're back in September! Good luck! 🍀
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Lucas Parker
•wow these are all such great ideas! the food service thing is smart - never thought about summer meal programs but that makes total sense. and you're right about retail ramping up for back to school season. definitely gonna check out target and see what's available. thanks for all the practical suggestions! 🙌
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Astrid Bergström
Hey! I went through this exact same thing a few years ago when I was working as a para. The "reasonable assurance" rule is unfortunately pretty strict - if your contract says you'll be back in September, unemployment usually won't approve benefits even if you're actively job hunting over the summer. BUT here's what helped me survive those lean months: check with your district about substitute positions during summer school (even if it's just a few days here and there), look into local recreation departments for camp counselor positions (they love hiring school staff!), and consider signing up with substitute teacher agencies that also place paras - sometimes they have summer gigs. Also, don't forget about things like VBS programs at churches, they often need classroom helpers for their summer programs. The summer struggle is real but there are options out there! Hang in there! 🌟
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Lorenzo McCormick
•this is so helpful! I had no idea about VBS programs - that's actually a really good fit since I already work with kids all day. gonna start calling around to local churches this week. the substitute agency idea is smart too, didn't think they'd have summer placements but makes sense they might. really appreciate you sharing what worked for you! gives me hope that I can find something to get through these next few weeks 🙏
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Ruby Garcia
Just wanted to add another suggestion that helped me last summer - check with your local community colleges! They often run summer bridge programs or remedial courses and need instructional assistants. The pay is usually decent and they really value people with para experience. Also, many summer camps for kids with special needs are always looking for qualified staff - organizations like Easter Seals or Arc often have summer programs and specifically seek out people with your background. Don't forget about head start programs too - some run year-round or have summer components. It's tough being in limbo but your skills are definitely needed somewhere! Keep pushing through! 💪
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