Can a prn employee collect unemployment?

Greetings, everyone!

I am contracted out from my local hospital to work at my local school as the nurse, and am considered prn. When the school closes for the winter holidays(4 weeks), am I eligible to file unemployment?

Thanks for your time and answers
I don't think so but check on your state unemplyment web site

I also don't think so, like teachers. I seem to remember seeing that teachers don't draw benefits for regularly scheduled breaks.

The thing is, I am employed by the hospital. The hospital signs my checks, not the school. Wouldn't it be irrelevant that the lack of hours were from a school break, if I'm not employed by the school?

I agree with the other responses, that its the scheduled break that would prevent you from collecting unemployment, rather than your PRN status ... And that the best place to check would be the website for your state. In my state, per diem employees can collect unemployment during seasonal lows, provided they meet all other requirements. This does not apply to anticipated gaps in employment hours (like school breaks for teachers).

I know for a fact that the cafeteria workers at this school collect unemployment over the holidays. It is a scheduled break for them too. Why then, would they be eligible and not me?

Talk to the employment department. They will be glad to help you.

I think that unemployment is for people who work a set hours a week for a set length of time i.e. 35 hours a week for at least 90 days. It is not so much about the word part time, full time, per diem. When the state gets your employment records all they see is how many hours you have been working, how much you get paid and in what period of time. When in doubt you can apply and let them make the decision.

Ok, thanks for your answers

Quote from littlebit3I know for a fact that the cafeteria workers at this school collect unemployment over the holidays. It is a scheduled break for them too. Why then, would they be eligible and not me?

Quote from littlebit3I know for a fact that the cafeteria workers at this school collect unemployment over the holidays. It is a scheduled break for them too. Why then, would they be eligible and not me?

It really depends on your state. I would look into that. I am almost positive that in my state for instance, that teachers can collect benefits during school breaks. I also know (since I am on unemployment now) that if you are receiving unemployment but still working part time or PRN or whatever, as long as you aren't making more than what your weekly benefit is, you can still collect. Your benefit will of course be prorated according to whatever income you had for that week.

In my state (and it could have changed since I last knew) but you had two options as a TEACHER. Compensation could be monthly and spread out - ie- when it was winter/summer breaks you got the same amount of pay as other pay periods. You also have the option of getting paid for the time worked (salary-wise) and when school was not in session, you would not get a pay check. AFAIK benefits were still collected in either case as it looks poorly upon a person with insurance if you are on-again off-again with your coverage, so that would rarely happen and would just come out of the paychecks in one way or the other.This paired with the fact that you're PRN, and the fact that you have no finite income, necessarily, I would venture to say that you would NOT be able to collect, but only HR/your state would be able to direct you further as this is something that can vary.