Is unemployment considered a public benefit for NYS Department of Labor purposes?
I'm filling out some paperwork for housing assistance and they're asking about all public benefits I receive. I've been getting unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor for about 2 months now. Do I need to list my UI payments as a public benefit? I'm worried this might affect my other applications or cause issues with my weekly claims. Has anyone dealt with this before?
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Skylar Neal
Yes, unemployment insurance is technically classified as a public benefit since it's administered by NYS Department of Labor and funded through employer taxes. You should definitely list it on your housing paperwork. However, unemployment benefits are typically viewed differently than means-tested benefits like SNAP or Medicaid since you earned the right to receive them through your work history.
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Brady Clean
•Thank you! That makes sense. I was getting confused because I worked for years before losing my job, so it didn't feel like welfare or anything.
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Vincent Bimbach
I had this same question when applying for energy assistance last year. The caseworker told me that UI benefits count as income but they understand it's temporary. Most housing programs won't penalize you for receiving unemployment since it shows you're actively looking for work and following job search requirements.
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Kelsey Chin
•This is reassuring to hear. I've been stressed about how my unemployment might look on applications.
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Norah Quay
wait i thought public benefits meant like food stamps and medicaid?? unemployment is different because we paid into it through our jobs right??
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Skylar Neal
•You're thinking of the difference between earned benefits and means-tested benefits. Unemployment is an earned benefit, but it's still considered public because it's government-administered. Both types fall under the broader category of public benefits for reporting purposes.
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Leo McDonald
Just be honest on all your applications. I tried to avoid mentioning my unemployment once and it caused more problems when they found out later. NYS Department of Labor keeps records of all payments anyway, so it's better to be upfront about receiving UI benefits.
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Jessica Nolan
I was having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to get documentation of my benefits for a similar application. Kept getting busy signals and automated hangups for weeks. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a real person at unemployment offices. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Got my benefit verification letter the same day I was able to speak to an agent.
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Brady Clean
•That sounds helpful! I might need official documentation too. Did they charge a lot for that service?
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Jessica Nolan
•They focus more on getting you connected than on cost. For me it was worth it to avoid weeks of failed phone calls. The website has all the details.
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Angelina Farar
ugh the whole system is so confusing... why can't they just make it clear what counts as what?? i'm dealing with three different agencies right now and they all want different information about my unemployment benefits
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Mei Lin
•I totally feel your frustration! Each agency has their own forms and definitions. What helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet with my monthly UI amounts and dates - then I could just reference it for any application. Also, most agencies have a "benefits verification" section on their websites where you can print official statements if needed.
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Ingrid Larsson
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago when applying for rental assistance. Yes, you absolutely need to report your unemployment benefits as they are considered public benefits for reporting purposes. I was initially hesitant too, but my caseworker explained that being transparent is always the best approach. The good news is that most housing assistance programs understand that unemployment is temporary and shows you're actively seeking work. They typically look more favorably on UI recipients compared to other benefit programs since it demonstrates recent work history. Don't stress too much about it affecting your other applications - being honest upfront will save you headaches later if they discover the income through their verification processes anyway.
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