Pennsylvania unemployment law states that teachers and professors will not be paid unemployment benefits between two successive academic years provided that there’s “reasonable assurance” given that they will perform services in a second academic year. Although this law is very clear for teachers and professors who are full-time employees and simply on a summer break, this can created problems for substitute teachers who perform services for a school on an “as-needed ” basis or in situations where a teachers’ employment status has been downgraded from full-time to part-time.
Section 402.1(1) is the section of the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law that applies to teachers not being able to collect unemployment benefits between academic years as long as they are given “reasonable assurance” of returning for the next academic year. A contract of employment will certainly considered “reasonable assurance” of returning work the following academic year. A bona fide offer of employment will also be considered “reasonable assurance.” A bona fide offer is one in which the terms for the second academic year are not substantially less than that of the first academic year.
If you are a teacher whose employment status has changed and have been denied UC benefits under Section 402.1(1), please contact me. You may have received a Notice of Determination denying your unemployment benefits, but you have 15 days to file an appeal to request a UC referee hearing on the denial. If you can establish that the school did not give you “reasonable assurance” of continuing employment or that the school’s offer was not bona fide because, for example, your work schedule or compensation has been dramatically reduced, you could be entitled to unemployment benefits.
I am an unemployment compensation attorney located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and would be happy to discuss your case with you. Please feel free to call me at (484) 362-9286.
