Can substitute teachers qualify for TWC unemployment in Texas during summer breaks?

Yes, substitute teachers CAN qualify for unemployment in Texas during summer breaks, but there are specific conditions. The key factor is whether you have "reasonable assurance" of returning to work when school resumes. If your district didn't give you any written guarantee of employment for the next school year (just a verbal "hope"), that typically means you DON'T have reasonable assurance, which actually works in your favor for unemployment purposes. You should be eligible to apply. When you file, be prepared to provide: 1. Documentation showing your work history (pay stubs, assignment records) 2. Any communication from the district about future employment (or lack thereof) 3. Information about your typical weekly hours and pay rate Be very careful how you answer the "reasonable assurance" question when filing. If you indicate you have assurance of returning, you'll likely be denied.

I was a sub for 3 years and applied EVERY summer! Got benefits each time. Just make sure u say NO to the reasonable assurance question. The schools try to be sneaky by saying they "hope" to use you again but that's NOT a guarantee!!!

This is actually a complicated area of unemployment law that causes a lot of confusion. Here's what TWC considers: 1. Substitute teachers typically DON'T have reasonable assurance if they're only called as needed with no guaranteed hours 2. The "reasonable assurance" standard requires a WRITTEN guarantee of similar employment in the following academic year 3. Being in a substitute pool is NOT enough to constitute reasonable assurance 4. You need to have earned enough in your base period to qualify (at least $2,600 in a quarter) If you've been working 3-4 days weekly, you should have sufficient earnings. Document everything about your work schedule and any communications about future work. When you apply, be precise about your employment status - you're not seasonal, you're a temporary employee without guaranteed future work.

my sister tried to get unemployment as a sub last summer and TWC denied her said she was "between terms" or something??? she appealed but gave up cuz it was taking too long. good luck dealing with them!

I tried calling TWC last summer for the exact same situation and spent WEEKS trying to get through. Busy signals, disconnects, got put on hold for 2 hours then cut off. Honestly I almost gave up but then someone told me about this service called Claimyr that gets you through to TWC really quickly. Totally worked! Got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes who helped me sort out my sub teacher claim. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo video https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh The TWC agent I spoke with confirmed that without written reasonable assurance, I qualified for benefits during summer break. Worth calling to discuss your specific situation!

i was a sub for 5 years and NEVER got unemployment even tho i applied every summer. its all about how the school district reports your status to TWC. my district always told TWC I had "reasonable asurance" even tho i didnt have any guarantee in writing. kept getting denied!!!

I've been a substitute for 4 years and let me tell you the TRUTH about this whole process. The schools will tell you that you're not eligible to discourage you from filing! They do this EVERY YEAR to save money!!! But TWC actually has specific rules for substitute teachers that PROTECT US. Here's what happened to me: I applied, district contested saying I was "seasonally employed" with "reasonable assurance" - I appealed and WON because they couldn't provide any WRITTEN guarantee of my employment for fall. The hearing officer even said the district pulls this every year with subs! BUT - be prepared for a FIGHT. The districts almost always contest sub claims. And reaching TWC is a NIGHTMARE - busy signals for DAYS!!

Just to add some important information: when you file, TWC will notify your school district, who may respond that you have reasonable assurance even if you don't. If this happens and you receive a denial, you have 14 days to appeal the determination. During an appeal, the burden of proof is on the district to show you have WRITTEN reasonable assurance. A verbal statement or being in a "substitute pool" doesn't qualify as reasonable assurance under TWC rules. Also, be aware that if approved, you must complete the required work searches (typically 3 per week in most Texas counties) and be available for full-time work during the summer. You can't indicate you're only available for temporary work until school starts again - that would make you ineligible.