Can school cafeteria workers collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Yes, school cafeteria workers can usually collect unemployment in Washington! The key is whether your position is considered 'between terms' employment. If you have reasonable assurance of returning to work in the fall, Washington ESD might deny your claim. But if there's no guarantee you'll be rehired, you should be eligible.

I'm in the same boat! Been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to get clarification on this exact situation. Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected.

I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach them myself. They have this automated calling system that keeps trying until someone picks up. Check out claimyr.com - there's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

WAIT A MINUTE - I thought ALL school employees were automatically disqualified from unemployment during breaks? My sister works for a different district and she was told she couldn't file at all!

This is all so confusing. I really wish I could just talk to someone at Washington ESD to get a straight answer about my specific situation.

Here's what I know from experience: Food service workers are often classified differently than teachers or other school staff. You might have better luck than you think, especially if your hours vary or if there's any uncertainty about next year's staffing.

ugh why is this so complicated? I just want to know if I can pay my rent this summer!

Let me clarify the actual Washington state rules: School employees can collect unemployment IF they don't have reasonable assurance of returning AND if they're available for other work. The 'between terms' denial only applies if you have a contract or clear expectation of returning.

I work at a high school cafeteria and filed last summer - got denied because of the 'reasonable assurance' thing. Even though I technically had a contract, my hours weren't guaranteed to be the same.

Has anyone actually used that Claimyr thing mentioned earlier? I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my school job situation too.

My mom worked school food service for 15 years and never got unemployment during summers. She always said it was just part of the job - you budget for those months without pay.

I work for a charter school and our situation might be different than regular public schools. Anyone know if the same rules apply?

The whole school employee unemployment thing is such a mess. I know bus drivers who get it and cafeteria workers who don't, all in the same district!

I successfully got unemployment as a school custodian last summer. The key was proving my hours weren't guaranteed to be the same when school started back up.

Word of advice - if you do apply and get denied, definitely appeal! I know someone who won their appeal for a school food service job.

This thread is so helpful! I had no idea school employees could potentially get unemployment. Definitely going to look into this for my situation.

Just wanted to add that if you do get approved for unemployment as a school worker, you still have to do the job search requirements unless you qualify for standby status.

The bottom line is this: school cafeteria workers CAN potentially get unemployment in Washington, but it depends on your specific contract terms and job security. File if you think you qualify!

One more tip - keep detailed records of your employment terms and any communications with your school district. You might need them if you have to appeal a denial.

This whole discussion shows how complicated unemployment can be for school employees. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

I'm a cafeteria worker too and just went through this exact situation last month! I ended up calling Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it really does work. The agent told me that even with a contract, if your hours can change significantly or if there's any uncertainty about your actual position (like budget cuts, enrollment changes, etc.), you might still qualify. She said the "reasonable assurance" rule isn't as black and white as it seems. Definitely worth applying even if you think you might get denied initially. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised! Also keep all your employment paperwork - contract, job description, anything showing how your hours might vary.