Does NYS Department of Labor unemployment count as income for SNAP benefits?
I just started receiving unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor after losing my job last month and I'm wondering if this will affect my SNAP eligibility. I'm currently getting $340 per week in UI benefits and I'm worried this might be too much income to qualify for food stamps. Does anyone know if unemployment payments count as income when they determine SNAP benefits? I really need both right now to get by.
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Natasha Volkova
Yes, unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor do count as income for SNAP purposes. However, the good news is that you may still qualify depending on your household size and total monthly income. SNAP has fairly generous income limits, especially if you're a household of one or two people. You should definitely apply - the worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Thanks for the info! I'm a single person household so hopefully that helps. Do you know roughly what the income limit is for one person?
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Javier Torres
yeah it counts but like the other person said you can probably still get some benefits. when i was on unemployment i still got like $180 a month in food stamps which helped a lot
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Emma Davis
You need to report your unemployment income when you apply for SNAP, but don't let that discourage you from applying. The income limits for SNAP are 130% of the federal poverty level for gross income. For a single person in 2025, that's around $1,580 per month gross income. Your $340 weekly unemployment ($1,360 monthly) would likely still qualify you for some SNAP benefits.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•That's really helpful, thank you! I had no idea the income limits were that reasonable. I'll definitely apply then.
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CosmicCaptain
Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor about your unemployment claim status or have questions about your benefits, I used this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call on my own.
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Malik Johnson
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be expensive when you're already struggling financially.
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CosmicCaptain
•It's actually pretty reasonable considering how much time it saves you from calling over and over. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor on your own.
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Isabella Ferreira
The system is so messed up - you lose your job, then they count the measly unemployment against you for other benefits. It's like they want to keep people struggling. At least SNAP income limits aren't completely unreasonable like some other programs.
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Ravi Sharma
definitely apply for SNAP! i was getting unemployment and food stamps at the same time and it made such a difference. the application process isn't too bad and they can tell you right away if you qualify
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Clarissa Flair
I went through the exact same situation last year when I lost my job. Yes, unemployment benefits do count as income for SNAP, but don't worry - you'll likely still qualify for benefits! I was getting about the same amount as you in weekly UI payments and I still received around $150/month in SNAP benefits. The key thing is to apply as soon as possible since it can take a few weeks to process. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready - they'll want to see your unemployment award letter and any other income sources. The caseworkers are usually pretty understanding about people who are between jobs and need temporary help.
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Miguel Ortiz
•This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing! $150/month would definitely help a lot right now. Do you remember how long the whole application process took from start to finish? I'm hoping to get everything submitted this week.
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