Can I attend school while receiving ESD unemployment benefits? Career change question

Yes, you can potentially attend school while on unemployment, but you need to apply for the Training Benefits Program through ESD. It's called Commissioner Approved Training (CAT). If approved, you'll be able to attend school full-time without having to look for work during that period. Your current unemployment benefits will continue, plus you might get up to 26 additional weeks of extended benefits specifically for training. You'll need to fill out the Training Benefits application on the ESD website and get your training program pre-approved. IT certification programs are usually eligible since they lead directly to employment. Make sure to apply BEFORE your program starts or they may deny your application.

i was on unemployment last year n started taking online classes nobody told me anything just kept filing my weekly claims and answering the questions honestly never had an issue

I tried to do EXACTLY what you're asking about in 2023 and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! Applied for the training program thing and it took ESD SEVEN WEEKS to review my application. Meanwhile I had to keep doing job searches even though I was already in classes!!! Then they DENIED me because they said my chosen career wasn't "in demand" enough even though there were TONS of job postings!!! The whole system is DESIGNED to prevent people from improving themselves. Just be prepared for a fight if you go this route.

Have you tried calling ESD directly to ask about this? I know their phone lines are usually jammed, but I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual ESD agent when I had questions about my standby status. It cost a bit but saved me days of frustration. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 or visit claimyr.com - I was connected within 2 hours after trying for days on my own. The agent I spoke with was able to explain exactly what I needed to do for my situation.

Here's what you need to know about Training Benefits (TB) and Commissioner Approved Training (CAT): 1. The application is on the ESD website under "Training Benefits" 2. You must show that your training is in an "in-demand" occupation - IT certainly qualifies in 2025 3. If approved, you're excused from job search requirements while in training 4. You can get up to 26 additional weeks of benefits beyond your regular UI claim 5. You must apply BEFORE your training begins or within the first week 6. Full-time training is allowed and preferred for approval The key is showing that your current skills aren't in demand but your new field (IT) has significant employment opportunities. Include labor market information in your application showing job openings in the IT field. ESD has a list of pre-approved training programs - check if your specific IT certification is on that list as it streamlines approval.

my cousin did this for nursing school back in like december i think??? she said the key thing was that you gotta prove that you cant find a job with your current skills. she had to show she applied to like 20 places before they approved her. after that she got to focus on school full time and still got her benefits. good luck man

To answer your follow-up question - yes, once approved, the Commissioner Approved Training status typically covers your entire training program as long as it's within the timeframe you specified in your application (in your case, 9 months). You'll need to regularly verify your continued enrollment and satisfactory progress in your program by uploading documentation to your eServices account. Usually this means providing grade reports or attendance records each quarter or semester. One important thing I forgot to mention: even with approved training, your regular UI benefits still expire after their normal timeframe (usually 26 weeks). The additional 26 weeks of training benefits ONLY kick in if your regular benefits run out while you're still in approved training. So if you're near the end of your regular claim, getting approved for training becomes even more valuable.

Just want to add that I did something similar in 2024 and my experience was actually pretty smooth. I think it depends a lot on which field you're going into and whether ESD considers it "in demand." I got approved for retraining in healthcare IT after about 4 weeks. Make sure ALL your documentation is perfect - I included labor market info from WorkSource showing the job growth in my new field compared to my old one. Also found it helpful to meet with a WorkSource counselor first who helped me prepare my application. They know exactly what ESD is looking for!