Does unemployment affect medicaid eligibility in New York?
I just started collecting unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor after getting laid off from my job last month. My weekly benefit amount is around $350. I'm currently on Medicaid and really worried about losing my health coverage. Does anyone know if unemployment benefits count as income for Medicaid eligibility? I can't afford to lose my health insurance right now especially with some medical issues I'm dealing with.
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Jamal Carter
Unemployment benefits do count as income for Medicaid purposes in New York, but the good news is that the income limits for Medicaid are pretty high. For a single person in 2025, you can make up to about $2,200 per month and still qualify. Your $350 weekly unemployment ($1,400 monthly) should keep you well under the limit. You should report the unemployment income to your local Department of Social Services though.
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Zoe Papadakis
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. I was panicking thinking I'd lose coverage immediately. Do I need to report this right away or can I wait until my next renewal?
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AstroAdventurer
You're supposed to report income changes within 10 days to your local DSS office. I made the mistake of not reporting my unemployment right away and they made me pay back some benefits later. Better to be safe and report it now even if you're still under the income limit.
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Mei Liu
•same thing happened to me, had to pay back like $800 because I didn't report fast enough
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Liam O'Sullivan
Wait I'm confused - I thought if you get ANY income while on Medicaid you lose it? My caseworker told me I couldn't work at all. This doesn't make sense.
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Jamal Carter
•Your caseworker was wrong or you misunderstood. Medicaid has income limits, not a zero income requirement. You might be thinking of some other program. Definitely call your local DSS office to clarify.
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Amara Chukwu
I've been trying to get through to my local Department of Social Services for weeks to report my unemployment but their phone lines are always busy. It's so frustrating! Has anyone found a better way to reach them?
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AstroAdventurer
•I had the same problem reaching DSS. For NYS Department of Labor stuff I actually found this service called claimyr.com that helps you get through to government agencies by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you're having trouble getting through to report your income changes.
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Giovanni Conti
ugh the whole system is such a mess. why do we have to jump through all these hoops just to keep basic health coverage? it's ridiculous that people have to worry about losing medicaid just because they're getting unemployment benefits they're entitled to
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Mei Liu
•totally agree, the bureaucracy is insane
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
Just want to add that if your unemployment runs out and you're still looking for work, you should definitely reapply for Medicaid if your income drops below the threshold again. Don't assume you're automatically covered.
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Sasha Ivanov
Just went through this exact situation myself. You can also report your unemployment income online through the NY State of Health website or the myBenefits app if you have access to those. Sometimes it's faster than trying to get through on the phone. Also keep documentation of when you reported it in case there are any issues later - screenshot confirmations, save emails, etc. The system can be glitchy so having proof you reported on time is really helpful.
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