Is unemployment considered public assistance for other benefit programs?

Generally speaking, unemployment insurance is NOT considered public assistance in New York. UI benefits are earned through your previous work history and employer contributions. Public assistance usually refers to programs like SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid. However, the specific program you're applying for might have different definitions, so you should check their guidelines or ask them directly.

i think it depends what ur applying for?? like for food stamps unemployment definitely counts as income but idk about if its 'public assistance' technically

You're right to be careful about this. Unemployment benefits are classified as temporary income replacement, not welfare or public assistance. They're funded through employer payroll taxes, not general tax revenue. When I was on unemployment last year, I had to clarify this for several applications. Most programs will specify exactly what they mean by 'public assistance' in their definitions section.

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about benefit classifications, I had success using Claimyr to reach NYS Department of Labor directly when I had questions about how my unemployment would affect other applications. They have a service at claimyr.com that helps you get through to actual agents who can give you official answers. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Sometimes getting official confirmation is worth it for peace of mind.

Just went through this same thing with a rental assistance program. They specifically told me unemployment doesn't count as public assistance but it DOES count as income that they need to verify. So make sure you have your benefit determination letter ready.

I just want to add that if you're applying for federal programs, they often have very specific definitions. For example, HUD housing programs typically don't consider unemployment as "public assistance" but they do count it as income. State programs can vary though. I'd recommend looking for the program's definition section in their application materials - they usually spell out exactly what they consider public assistance. Good luck with your applications!