Can teachers file for unemployment in Washington - confused about summer break eligibility

Teachers in Washington can file for unemployment, but there are specific rules. Regular full-time teachers with contracts typically can't collect during summer break because they have reasonable assurance of returning. Substitute teachers are different though - if you don't have a contract guaranteeing work next year, you should be able to file.

i think it depends on your school district too. some districts give teachers contracts that cover summer, others dont. you might want to check with your HR department first

The Washington ESD website has a section specifically about school employees. From what I remember, substitute teachers are treated differently than regular teachers because you don't have reasonable assurance of employment. You should definitely file - worst case they deny it and you can appeal.

I had the same question last year! I'm also a sub and I was able to collect unemployment during summer break. The key thing is that as a substitute, you don't have a contract or reasonable assurance of work. I had to prove I was actively looking for work though - couldn't just sit around waiting for school to start again.

This is SO frustrating! I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask this exact question. Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. How is anyone supposed to get answers about their specific situation?

Wait, I thought ALL school employees were ineligible for unemployment during summer break? This is news to me. I'm a paraprofessional and I've never even tried to file because I assumed I couldn't.

The reasonable assurance thing is key. If your school district or the schools you sub for haven't given you any written assurance that you'll have work next year, you should be eligible. I filed last summer as a sub and had no problems.

This whole system is confusing. Why can't Washington ESD just have clear guidelines posted somewhere? I'm in the same boat - substitute teacher with no guaranteed work for next year but afraid to file because I don't want to get in trouble.

I'm a full-time teacher with a contract and I definitely can't collect during summer break. But substitutes are in a totally different category. You guys don't have contracts or guaranteed hours, so you should be able to file just like any other worker who's between jobs.

File the claim! The worst they can say is no, and then you can appeal if you disagree. But based on what everyone here is saying, substitutes without contracts should be eligible. Don't let fear of the unknown keep you from potentially getting benefits you're entitled to.

Make sure you file right away if you're going to do it. There's usually a waiting period, and summer break isn't that long. The sooner you file, the sooner you might start receiving benefits if you're approved.

I used Claimyr last month when I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my claim. Super easy to use and I got through to an agent the same day. Might be worth it if you need to ask specific questions about your teaching situation.

Just wanted to add - don't forget about the job search requirements if you do file. You'll need to log your job search activities and be genuinely looking for work. Can't just file and wait for school to start again.

The job search thing is important but don't stress too much about it. As long as you're actually looking for work and can document it, you should be fine. I kept a simple log of where I applied and when.

Good luck with your claim! It sounds like you have a solid case as a substitute without a contract. Hope it works out for you.

One more tip - when you file, be very clear about your status as a substitute teacher without guaranteed work. Don't just say 'teacher' because that might trigger the automatic exclusion for contracted teachers.

This thread has been really helpful. I'm in a similar situation and was also confused about the rules. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

For what it's worth, I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times about teacher eligibility and finally got through using that Claimyr service. The agent confirmed that substitutes without contracts can file during summer break. Definitely worth the investment to get a clear answer.

Just remember that every situation is different. What worked for one substitute might not work for another depending on your specific employment history and circumstances. But it's definitely worth trying if you think you qualify.

I'm a substitute teacher too and went through this exact same confusion last summer! Based on my experience and what I learned from Washington ESD, you should definitely be eligible to file. The key difference is that as a substitute, you don't have a contract or "reasonable assurance" of employment for the next school year. I successfully collected benefits during summer break and it really helped bridge the gap until school started again. Just make sure you're actively job searching and documenting your efforts - that's a requirement for all claimants. Don't let the general "teachers can't collect" advice discourage you because substitutes are in a completely different category. Go ahead and file your claim!

I'm also a substitute teacher and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was in the exact same boat - getting mixed messages about whether subs could file for unemployment during summer break. After reading everyone's experiences here, I decided to go ahead and file my claim last week. I just heard back and was approved! The key things that seemed to matter were: 1) Being clear that I'm a substitute without any contract or guarantee of work, 2) Having documentation of my substitute work throughout the school year, and 3) being able to show I'm actively looking for summer employment. For anyone still on the fence about filing - definitely do it! The worst they can say is no, but based on what I'm seeing here and my own experience, substitutes without contracts should qualify. Don't let the fear of the unknown keep you from benefits you might be entitled to.

I'm so grateful for this entire discussion thread! I was in exactly the same position - a substitute teacher wondering if I could file for unemployment benefits during summer break. The conflicting information online was really confusing, but reading all of your real experiences has made things so much clearer. It sounds like the key is that as substitutes, we don't have contracts or reasonable assurance of employment, which puts us in a different category than regular contracted teachers. I'm definitely going to file my claim now - hearing about actual successful cases like Malia's really gives me confidence. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. This community has been incredibly helpful for navigating Washington ESD's confusing system!

This entire conversation has been so eye-opening! I'm a substitute teacher who's been putting off filing for unemployment all summer because I was terrified I'd get in trouble or be denied. Reading about everyone's actual experiences - especially hearing that Malia got approved - has completely changed my perspective. I had no idea that the "reasonable assurance" rule was what made the difference between regular teachers and substitutes. I've been substitute teaching for three years and every summer I just struggle financially instead of filing because I thought all school employees were automatically excluded. I'm kicking myself for not knowing this sooner! Better late than never though - I'm filing my claim first thing Monday morning. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences. This thread should be pinned somewhere because I bet there are tons of other substitute teachers who are just as confused as we all were!