Can 10 month employees collect Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

This is a common question for school employees! In Washington state, you generally CAN collect unemployment benefits during your off-season if you meet the base period earnings requirements. The key is that you need to have worked enough quarters and earned enough wages during your base period to qualify. Your 10-month employment should count toward those requirements.

I tried filing for unemployment last summer as a teacher's aide and got denied initially. Washington ESD said something about 'reasonable assurance' of returning to work. It was so frustrating trying to get through to anyone to explain my situation!

I had a similar issue trying to reach Washington ESD about my school employment situation last year. After weeks of busy signals and dropped calls, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person. They have this demo video that shows how it works - https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. It was a game changer for getting my questions answered about seasonal employment eligibility.

ugh the whole school employee unemployment thing is such a mess. I've been a substitute teacher for 2 years and every summer I have to fight with Washington ESD about whether I qualify or not. They act like we're trying to game the system when we're just trying to survive the summer without income.

From what I understand, the main factors Washington ESD looks at for school employees are: 1) Do you have reasonable assurance of returning? 2) Will you be performing the same or similar services? 3) Will your pay be at least 90% of what you earned before? If any of these are uncertain, you might qualify for benefits.

Just want to add that even if you get initially denied, you can appeal the decision. That's what I ended up doing and eventually got approved for benefits. The appeal process is a pain but it's worth it if you need the money.

One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to be actively looking for work during the summer months if you collect unemployment. Washington ESD requires job search activities even for seasonal workers. Keep track of your job applications and be prepared to show you're available for work.

I'm a bus driver and I collect unemployment every summer. The key is how you fill out your initial application. Be honest about your situation but make sure you explain any uncertainty about returning to work.

This whole thread is making me realize I should have filed for unemployment last summer. I just assumed I wasn't eligible because I knew I was going back to my teaching job in the fall. Cost me probably $3000 in benefits I could have received.

For anyone struggling to get through to Washington ESD about school employee eligibility, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I know it sounds too good to be true, but when you're dealing with potential loss of benefits, it's worth trying different options.

just a heads up that if you do qualify for benefits, make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time. I missed a week once and it was a nightmare trying to get it sorted out later.

Does anyone know if summer school work affects your unemployment benefits? I might have the opportunity to teach a few summer classes but I'm worried it'll mess up my claim.

I work in the school cafeteria and have collected unemployment for the past 3 summers. Never had any issues once I got my initial claim approved. The extra income really helps during those lean months.

Important reminder: when you file your claim, you'll need your employment history and wage information. Make sure you have pay stubs or W-2s from your school employment. Washington ESD will verify your earnings to determine your benefit amount.

My sister works as a paraprofessional and she's been collecting unemployment every summer for years. She says the trick is to emphasize that there's no guarantee of work continuation due to budget issues or enrollment changes.

One more thing - if you get denied initially, don't give up! I know I mentioned my appeal earlier, but I really want to stress that many school employees get approved on appeal even if they're denied at first. The initial reviewers sometimes don't fully understand the seasonal nature of school employment.

For what it's worth, I tried that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked. I was skeptical at first but when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD after two weeks of trying, I figured I had nothing to lose. Got connected to an agent the same day.

Bottom line: yes, 10-month employees CAN collect unemployment in Washington state. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You paid into the system through your payroll taxes just like everyone else. File your claim and fight for your benefits if necessary!

Just want to echo what others have said - document everything and keep good records. If you do face any challenges with your claim, having detailed documentation of your employment situation will help your case significantly.

My experience as a school secretary: filed every summer for 4 years, approved every time once I learned how to present my situation correctly. The key is understanding that even with a contract, there are always variables that could affect your return to work.