Can I pause Training Benefits for summer quarter and restart in fall with ESD?

Yes, you can pause your Training Benefits during summer and resume in fall. This is actually fairly common since many programs don't offer full course loads in summer. You should notify ESD through your eServices account that you're temporarily pausing your training program. Just make sure you don't file weekly claims during that period since you wouldn't meet the 'in approved training' requirement. When fall quarter starts, you can resume filing your weekly claims and indicate you're back in your approved training program.

ya i did this exact thing last year my program didnt have the classes i needed in summer so i just didnt claim for those weeks. when fall started i just started claiming again and it was fine. just dont forget to start claiming again when ur back in school!

BE CAREFUL!!! When I tried to do this they CANCELLED my whole training program and I had to reapply!!! You NEED to talk to someone at ESD directly before you just stop claiming or you could lose EVERYTHING. The rules changed after COVID and now they're super strict about continuity!!

To clarify what others have said, here's the official process for temporarily pausing Training Benefits: 1. Submit a message through your eServices account explaining your situation (classes not available + health reasons) 2. Specifically state your intent to resume in fall quarter with the exact date 3. Stop filing weekly claims during the pause period 4. Before fall quarter starts, submit another message confirming your return 5. Resume filing weekly claims once you're back in training As long as you remain within your approved training period (the 2 years you mentioned), this is allowed. Make sure to keep documentation of all communication with ESD in case there are any questions later.

I had a similar situation last year and was so frustrated trying to reach ESD to get clear answers about pausing my training benefits. After getting hung up on multiple times, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent who confirmed exactly what to do. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent told me I needed to formally request a "training interruption" and document my reason. In my case it was for medical reasons, but unavailable classes is also valid. The key is getting clear instructions from an actual ESD specialist rather than risking your benefits on assumptions.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you pause your training benefits you might need to do job searches again during that period if you want to claim regular unemployment during the summer. When you're not in approved training, you revert to standard UI requirements including the 3 job search activities per week. Just something to consider if you were planning to claim during summer.

My sister-in-law works for WorkSource and she said people take breaks from Training Benefits all the time. Just make sure you document everything! Take screenshots of your eServices messages and record the date/time of any phone calls with ESD. The system works fine when you do things right but can be a nightmare if there are misunderstandings.

Anyone else notice how the ESD website gives ZERO clear information about this specific situation?? It's like they deliberately make everything confusing so they can deny claims later! I spent HOURS searching for an official policy about pausing training and found NOTHING!

I went through something very similar last year with my training benefits! I had to pause for a quarter due to a family emergency and was terrified they'd cancel everything. Here's what worked for me: 1. I called ESD directly (took forever to get through) and spoke with a training specialist who walked me through the "training interruption" process 2. They had me submit a formal request through eServices explaining my situation and expected return date 3. I provided documentation from my school showing my planned course sequence 4. They put a note in my file that I was on an approved temporary interruption The key thing the specialist told me was that as long as you're still within your overall training timeframe (sounds like you have plenty of time left in your 2-year period) and you have valid reasons, they'd rather work with you than have you drop out completely. I'd definitely recommend calling rather than just sending a message - the phone agents seemed more knowledgeable about the training interruption process than whoever handles the eServices messages. Good luck with your mental health journey too - taking care of yourself is the most important thing!