Can you get cash aid and unemployment benefits at the same time in NYS?

Yes, you can receive both but there are some important things to know. Cash assistance through the state doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment, but you need to report ALL income sources to NYS Department of Labor when you file your weekly claims. The cash aid amount might reduce your UI benefits though depending on how much you receive.

i think ur confusing different programs here... if ur unemployment ran out then u cant file weekly claims anymore so what does it matter?? unless ur talking about extending benefits somehow

I was in a similar bind last year when my UI benefits were delayed due to some adjudication mess. Couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to resolve it. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach unemployment agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Ended up being super helpful for getting my claim sorted out so I didn't need to apply for cash aid after all.

The whole system is so confusing! I tried applying for emergency assistance while waiting for my unemployment appeal and got different answers from every office I called. Some said it would mess up my UI claim, others said it was fine. NOBODY at NYS Department of Labor could give me a straight answer when I finally got through.

To clarify the rules: you CAN receive both cash assistance and unemployment benefits, but you must report the cash aid as income when filing your weekly unemployment claims. This might reduce your UI payment dollar-for-dollar depending on the amount. Also, some cash assistance programs have work search requirements that overlap with UI requirements, so make sure you're meeting both sets of rules.

Just wanted to add my experience - I received both cash assistance and unemployment for about 3 months last year. The key thing is being completely transparent with both agencies. When I applied for emergency cash aid through my local social services office, I told them upfront about my UI claim. They adjusted my cash assistance amount accordingly, but I was still able to get some help with rent and utilities. The paperwork was a hassle keeping both agencies updated, but it definitely helped me get through a really rough patch. Make sure to keep detailed records of everything you report to both programs!

I'm currently going through this exact situation and can confirm what others have said - you absolutely can receive both, but transparency is crucial. I applied for temporary assistance (TA) through my county DSS office while still collecting UI. The caseworker walked me through how to report my unemployment income on their forms, and I make sure to report any cash assistance I receive when I certify for unemployment each week. One thing I learned is that different types of cash aid might be treated differently - emergency assistance vs ongoing TA vs SNAP benefits all have different reporting rules. My advice is to contact your local Department of Social Services office directly and ask to speak with an eligibility worker who can review your specific situation. They'll tell you exactly what you're eligible for and how it interacts with your UI benefits. Don't let the bureaucracy scare you away from getting help you might need!

I went through something similar earlier this year and wanted to share what I learned. You can definitely receive both, but timing matters a lot. When I applied for emergency cash assistance, the DSS worker told me that as long as I was honest about all my income sources (including any remaining UI benefits), they could work with me. The tricky part is that some cash aid programs require you to be "available for work" which aligns with UI requirements, but others might have different expectations. Also, if you're between benefit years or waiting on an appeal, that changes things too. My suggestion would be to call your local DSS office first and explain your exact situation - they can tell you what programs you might qualify for and how to properly report everything. Don't let the fear of "messing something up" prevent you from getting help when you need it. Both agencies deal with people in overlapping situations all the time.

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you do receive both benefits, make sure to keep copies of ALL your correspondence and documentation from both agencies. I learned this the hard way when there was a discrepancy between what I reported to DSS versus what showed up in the unemployment system. Having paper trails saved me from potential overpayment issues. Also, some counties have special liaisons who work specifically with people navigating multiple benefit programs - it's worth asking your DSS office if they have someone like that who can help coordinate everything. The system is designed to help people in tough situations, so don't feel bad about using the resources that are available to you!

I'm going through this right now and can add some recent insight. Just got approved for both emergency assistance and am still collecting UI benefits. The key thing I learned is that you need to report your gross unemployment amount to DSS, not just what you actually receive after taxes. This caught me off guard initially. Also, if you're getting the maximum UI benefit, you might not qualify for much cash assistance, but you could still be eligible for other help like SNAP or utility assistance. The eligibility worker at my local DSS office was actually really helpful in explaining how everything works together. One tip - bring your most recent unemployment determination letter and benefit statements when you apply, it makes the process much smoother. Don't let pride or fear stop you from applying if you need help - that's literally what these programs are for!

I've been following this thread and really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! I'm in a similar situation where my UI benefits are running low and I'm worried about what happens next. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the most important thing is being completely transparent with both agencies and keeping detailed records of everything. The tip about bringing your unemployment determination letter when applying for cash assistance is really practical - I wouldn't have thought of that. It's honestly a relief to see that so many people have successfully navigated receiving both types of benefits without major issues. Sometimes the system feels so intimidating that you don't even try to get help, but these real experiences are showing me that it's definitely worth reaching out to DSS to see what I might qualify for. Thanks everyone for making this feel less scary!

I'm new to this community but really grateful I found this discussion! I've been stressing about this exact situation for weeks. My UI benefits are set to expire next month and I was afraid to apply for any other assistance because I didn't want to accidentally mess up my unemployment status or get in trouble for "double dipping" or something. Reading all these real experiences from people who have actually navigated both systems successfully is such a huge relief. The advice about being completely transparent with both agencies, keeping detailed records, and bringing your unemployment paperwork when applying for cash assistance is incredibly practical. It's also reassuring to know that DSS eligibility workers are used to dealing with these overlapping situations. I think I was letting anxiety and pride get in the way of potentially getting help I really need. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories - you've given me the confidence to actually pick up the phone and call my local DSS office instead of just worrying about it!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm currently on UI benefits but worried about what happens when they run out in a couple months. Reading everyone's real experiences has been so much more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing information online. The consistent message seems to be: be transparent with both agencies, keep detailed records, and don't let fear prevent you from getting help you need. I especially appreciate the practical tips like bringing your unemployment determination letter to DSS and reporting gross (not net) UI amounts. One question I have - for those who have done this successfully, how far in advance did you apply for cash assistance before your UI benefits expired? I want to get ahead of the process but don't want to apply too early if that creates complications. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive discussion!

I just want to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed and supportive discussion! I've been lurking in this community for a while but finally created an account because this thread answered so many questions I've had. I'm currently receiving UI benefits but they're set to run out in about 6 weeks, and I was honestly terrified about applying for any other assistance. The fear of accidentally doing something wrong or "double dipping" had me paralyzed, but reading all these real experiences has shown me that people successfully navigate both systems all the time. The practical advice here is gold - especially about being transparent with both agencies, keeping detailed documentation, bringing unemployment paperwork to DSS appointments, and reporting gross (not net) amounts. I'm going to call my local DSS office next week to start exploring my options before I'm in crisis mode. It's amazing how much less scary this feels when you have actual information from people who've been through it rather than just confusing government websites. Thanks for creating such a helpful and non-judgmental space to discuss these challenges!

I'm new to this community but so grateful I found this discussion! I've been in a similar situation - my UI benefits ended about two weeks ago and I was terrified to apply for any other assistance because of all the horror stories you hear about benefit fraud investigations. Reading everyone's real experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. The consistent message about transparency and documentation really stands out. I actually took the advice from this thread and called my local DSS office yesterday. The eligibility worker was surprisingly helpful and patient - she explained that they work with people transitioning between UI and cash assistance regularly, and that as long as I'm honest about my situation and report everything correctly, there shouldn't be any issues. She scheduled me for an appointment next week and told me exactly which documents to bring. I'm still nervous, but having this roadmap from all of you has made the process feel much less overwhelming. Thank you for creating such a supportive space where people can share practical advice without judgment!