Can public school teachers collect unemployment?

[daughtersrus]

Can teachers that were RIFed collect unemployment? If so, do they file in June or do they have to wait until Aug when the new school year would start?

 

[castleview]

No teachers I know collect unemployment over the summer including DH. I don't think it's an option.

 

[golfgal]

Can teachers that were RIFed collect unemployment? If so, do they file in June or do they have to wait until Aug when the new school year would start?

Why wouldn't they?? I would guess they can file at any time but they won't get their benefits until their pay stops--some teachers elect to take smaller paychecks during the year so they have a continuous paycheck year round. If you don't do that your pay check usually stops coming when school is out in the spring.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

RIFed it a term that means fired/let go. (Reduction In Force) Teachers under contract for next year cannot collect unemployment. Teachers who have been RIFed can. Here our school year ends June 30 so July 1 that teacher can collect unemployment but different areas vary so you'll have to ask there.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I'm not sure what RIF means, but aren't you considered to be under contract throughout the summer? I wouldn't think that someone who had a contract would be able to collect unemployment.

Ahhh, we were posting at the same time, LuLu.

 

[Robinrs]

http://www.scead303.com/files/RIF.pdf

This is for Illinois, hopefully it's up to date. See pages 3 and 14.

 

[RadioNate]

Ahhh, I knew you were from Chicago.

Yes, if you are RIFed you can file for unemployment after your last paycheck. If you are picked up again, the unemployment would end as soon as that contract begins.

The PPs aren't understanding what being RIFed means. It basically means laid off. It is just a term used among Illinois teachers. Non-tenured teachers can be RIFed at the end of the school year. Some may be brought back in Aug if they need them for unexpected enrollment. During those months you are NOT employed.

It isn't like a normal teacher getting the summer off because the school isn't in session.

 

[DawnCt1]

One of my DSs was a regular substitute teacher for every school day last year. He is prohibited from collecting unemployment.

 

[golfgal]

One of my DSs was a regular substitute teacher for every school day last year. He is prohibited from collecting unemployment.

That is because he isn't considered a full time employee, he was a contract employee.

 

[DawnCt1]

That is because he isn't considered a full time employee, he was a contract employee.

That is correct.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Here in Kentucky, teachers and paras can collect unemployment only if their contract was not renewed and if they were pink slipped in the spring. I'm not sure if the public school system would contest it if they were pink slipped for reasons other than lack of work, though. Oh, and they must file right after school ends. If they wait, they risk not getting unemployment, or getting less unemployment.

 

[MM27]

My contract runs from September 1st thru June 30th. The teachers in my school that were RIFed were told that they could file as of July 1st.

 

[daughtersrus]

Thanks for the info.
A few of DD's friends that had teaching jobs last school are having a hard time with unemployment. Most of the districts pay year round but the contracts run Aug-June. They're saying something about not qualifying because they were drawing a salary over the summer. I guess that just doesn't seem right. The pay that they got over summer was for work that they did before they were RIFed (laid off~ pink slipped)

 

[golfgal]

Thanks for the info.
A few of DD's friends that had teaching jobs last school are having a hard time with unemployment. Most of the districts pay year round but the contracts run Aug-June. They're saying something about not qualifying because they were drawing a salary over the summer. I guess that just doesn't seem right. The pay that they got over summer was for work that they did before they were RIFed (laid off~ pink slipped)

Doesn't matter if the pay was from the school year and they opted to get paid through the summer, they are still receiving a paycheck and until that stops they can't collect unemployment. Same would go for severance pay, can't collect until that stops. Just a note because someone will jump in and start going off on how teachers are paid when they don't work-the districts do NOT PAY year round, the teachers have an option of taking a smaller pay check through the year so they have money coming in over the summer.

 

[MrsPete]

the teachers have an option of taking a smaller pay check through the year so they have money coming in over the summer.

Actually, we don't have that option any more.

It was a good deal for us: Do you want your yearly pay cut into 10 slices or 12? Most teachers chose 12, but a couple years ago someone just couldn't be satisfied with the situation and worked hard enough to take that choice away from us! Now we're all forced to take the 10 checks.

Some people just can't be made happy.

 

[teacherforhi]

Actually, we don't have that option any more.

It was a good deal for us: Do you want your yearly pay cut into 10 slices or 12? Most teachers chose 12, but a couple years ago someone just couldn't be satisfied with the situation and worked hard enough to take that choice away from us! Now we're all forced to take the 10 checks.

Some people just can't be made happy.

That has something to do with the IRS, at least it did in NC. I don't understand the ins and outs of it, but there was some issue with the summer pay being held from checks in one tax year, but not being distributed until the following tax year and therefore, being filed a year late--per the IRS.

There was about a 3 year gap and then the state worked out some deal so that we could receive 12 checks again, although not every district offers it anymore.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

RIF=Reduction in Force.

 

[daughtersrus]

Doesn't matter if the pay was from the school year and they opted to get paid through the summer, they are still receiving a paycheck and until that stops they can't collect unemployment. Same would go for severance pay, can't collect until that stops. Just a note because someone will jump in and start going off on how teachers are paid when they don't work-the districts do NOT PAY year round, the teachers have an option of taking a smaller pay check through the year so they have money coming in over the summer.

In many of the districts here, there is no option. Everyone gets paid on the 15th and 30th of every month.

 

[MM27]

In many of the districts here, there is no option. Everyone gets paid on the 15th and 30th of every month.

That's how it is in my district. We don't have the 12 month option. I would take it if we did because right about now I'm looking forward to that September 15th paycheck. It can't come soon enough

 

[vsimeone]

Why wouldn't they?? I would guess they can file at any time but they won't get their benefits until their pay stops--some teachers elect to take smaller paychecks during the year so they have a continuous paycheck year round. If you don't do that your pay check usually stops coming when school is out in the spring.

This is not true in Ohio. I was laid off from a public school district in May 2008. My last day of work was 6/6 and I started collecting unemployment the following week. I was still collecting paychecks for my job with the school but that was for time already worked. They just spread the pay out over 12 months instead of 9 months. It does not impact your unemployment benefits.