Can you get cash aid and unemployment benefits at the same time in NYS?
Hey everyone, I'm in a really tough spot financially and wondering if anyone knows whether you can receive both cash assistance and unemployment benefits simultaneously in New York? My unemployment ran out last month but I'm still looking for work and heard about cash aid programs. Don't want to mess up anything with NYS Department of Labor if I apply for other assistance. Has anyone been in this situation before?
11 comments
Join the conversation
Paolo Romano
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.
0 coins
Keisha Jackson
•Thanks! Do you know if I need to report the cash aid application to unemployment even before I get approved for it?
0 coins
Amina Diop
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
0 coins
Paolo Romano
•They might be eligible to reopen their claim if they had earnings after their benefit year ended, or could be asking about future situations. Better to get the rules straight either way.
0 coins
Oliver Schmidt
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.
0 coins
Natasha Volkov
•How much does that cost though? Seems like another thing to pay for when you're already broke
0 coins
Oliver Schmidt
•I was worried about that too but honestly it was worth it to get my benefits flowing again instead of waiting weeks more. Much cheaper than being without income.
0 coins
Javier Torres
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.
0 coins
Emma Wilson
•ugh same experience here, its like they dont even know their own rules
0 coins
Paolo Romano
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.
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
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!
0 coins