Do I qualify for food stamps if I get NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?

Thank you so much! I had no idea the income limit was that high. Do I need to report my unemployment when I apply for SNAP?

Did they make you do the ABAWD work requirements even though you were already doing job search for unemployment?

No, if you're actively looking for work and reporting it to NYS Department of Labor for your weekly claims, that usually satisfies the SNAP work requirements too.

It depends on how much unemployment they were getting and their household size. Someone getting the maximum UI benefit might be over the income limits, especially if they have other income sources.

For quick SNAP questions, try calling early morning right when they open. For NYS Department of Labor issues though, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling when I needed to check my claim status.

Interesting, never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it one of those scam things?

It's legit - they basically handle the waiting on hold part for you and then connect you when an agent picks up. Much better than sitting on hold for 2+ hours like I was doing.

@Liam O'Sullivan That's really helpful about having the determination letter ready! I didn't even think about that. Do you know if they need the original letter or if a screenshot/photo would work? And thanks for mentioning the rental assistance - I had no idea there were still COVID funds available. Do you remember which program you used or where to find info about that?

@Liam O'Sullivan This is super encouraging to hear! I was worried I'd be wasting time applying but it sounds like it's definitely worth it. Quick question - when you applied, did they ask for proof of your job search activities or was the unemployment claim enough to show you're meeting work requirements? I've been keeping track of where I apply but wasn't sure if SNAP needed that documentation too.

@Liam O'Sullivan Thanks for the detailed info! I'm actually the original poster and this gives me a lot of confidence to move forward with the application. Quick question - when you mentioned having the unemployment determination letter ready, did you upload it during the initial online application or did they request it later in the process? I want to make sure I have everything prepared beforehand. And yes, definitely interested in learning more about those rental assistance programs you mentioned!

@Liam O'Sullivan This is really helpful! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - getting about $285/week in unemployment and struggling with groceries. When you applied for SNAP, did you have to wait until a certain point in your unemployment claim or could you apply right away? Also, do you remember roughly how much you got approved for in SNAP benefits? Trying to figure out if it would make a meaningful difference in my budget. The rental assistance info is great too - I'll definitely look into that!

@Liam O'Sullivan This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been so stressed about whether to even bother applying. When you mention the determination letter, is that the same document that shows your weekly benefit amount that you get when your claim is first approved? I think I have that saved somewhere. Also really curious about the rental assistance - with rent being such a huge chunk of my budget, any extra help there would be a lifesaver. Did you apply for that through the same myBenefits portal or is it a separate application process?

@Liam O'Sullivan This is super helpful information! I'm in a pretty similar boat - getting unemployment and really struggling to make ends meet with grocery costs. One question I had is about timing - did you apply for SNAP right after you started getting unemployment benefits, or did you wait a few weeks to see how things went? Also, when you mention the determination letter, I want to make sure I'm looking for the right document - is that the letter that comes from NYS DOL when your claim gets approved that shows your weekly benefit amount? Thanks for sharing your experience, it's really encouraging to know this actually worked for someone in a similar situation!

@Liam O'Sullivan This is really reassuring! I'm the original poster and was honestly expecting more complications. When you mention having the determination letter ready - do you know if they needed any other unemployment documentation, like the weekly claim confirmations or just that initial letter? Also, I'm really interested in those rental assistance programs you mentioned. With my rent being $900 and only getting $320/week, every bit of help would make a huge difference. Did you find those through your county website or is there a state portal for those programs?

@Liam O'Sullivan Thanks for all that helpful info! I'm actually in a pretty similar spot - getting $310/week unemployment and really struggling with food costs lately. When you applied for SNAP, did they ask for recent bank statements or just the unemployment docs? Also wondering if the approval amount was decent enough to actually help with groceries or if it was just like $20/month or something. And definitely interested in hearing more about those rental assistance programs - my rent is eating up most of my unemployment check so any relief there would be amazing!

@Liam O'Sullivan This is so helpful, thank you! I'm actually in a very similar situation - getting about $300/week in unemployment and really struggling to afford groceries. When you applied for SNAP, did the process go smoothly or were there any hiccups I should be prepared for? Also, do you remember approximately how much you were approved for in monthly benefits? I'm trying to figure out if it would make a real difference in my food budget. The rental assistance tip is gold too - I had no idea those programs were still around. Did you apply for that separately or through the same system?

@Liam O'Sullivan This is really encouraging to hear from someone who's been through the same situation! I'm currently getting $295/week in unemployment and have been putting off applying for SNAP because I wasn't sure it was worth the hassle. A few questions if you don't mind - did you need to provide any proof of your housing costs (like a lease) when you applied, or just the unemployment documentation? Also, how long did it take from application to actually getting the benefits card? I'm hoping to get this sorted out soon since grocery prices just keep going up. Thanks for mentioning the rental assistance too - definitely going to look into that since housing is my biggest expense right now!

@Lily Young This is exactly what I needed to hear! I m'new to navigating all these benefit systems and honestly felt pretty overwhelmed about applying for SNAP on top of dealing with unemployment. Your experience gives me hope that it s'actually manageable. $194/month would be a game changer for my grocery budget right now. Quick question - when you mention the determination letter, is that the same document that shows your weekly benefit amount that you got when your unemployment claim was first approved? I want to make sure I m'looking for the right paperwork before I start the application. Thanks for the tip about calling early too - I ve'learned the hard way that timing makes a huge difference with these government phone lines!

@Ava Martinez This is so reassuring to hear! I m'actually pretty new to all of this - just started getting unemployment a few weeks ago and honestly had no idea you could even apply for SNAP while receiving UI benefits. Your experience sounds really similar to what I m'dealing with - the income amounts and everything. When you mention having unemployment paperwork ready, do you mean just the determination letter or did they ask for other documents too? Also, really good point about reporting changes when unemployment ends - I hadn t'even thought about that part yet but it s'good to know they work with you on adjustments. Thanks for sharing your experience, it definitely makes me feel more confident about applying!

@Evelyn Rivera Good question about roommates! For SNAP purposes, they only count people in your household "-" which means family members or people you buy and prepare food with regularly. If you and your roommate just occasionally share groceries but mostly shop/cook separately, you can apply as a household of one and only report your income. But if you actually pool money together for groceries and eat meals together regularly, they might consider you one household. The key is how you actually function - separate food budgets usually means separate households even if you live together. When in doubt, you can always call and ask before applying, or just be honest on the application about your living situation and let them determine it.

@Grace Johnson This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing such detailed info about your recent experience! I m'really encouraged that you got approved so quickly and for such a meaningful amount. $201/month would absolutely make a huge difference in my situation. I m'definitely going to follow your advice about having the determination letter ready as a PDF. Quick question - when you uploaded the unemployment documentation, did they ask for anything else like recent pay stubs from before you became unemployed, or was the determination letter sufficient? Also, did you have any issues during the application process or did it go pretty smoothly? I ve'heard mixed things about the myBenefits website being glitchy sometimes. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your timeline too - knowing it only took 18 days from application to getting the card is super reassuring!