Is unemployment public assistance when applying for housing in NY?

Unemployment insurance is NOT considered public assistance in New York. It's an earned benefit that you paid into through payroll taxes when you were working. Public assistance refers to programs like SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid. You should list your unemployment benefits as income, but not as public assistance.

yeah i had the same question last year when i was apartment hunting. landlord told me unemployment doesnt count as public assistance but some of them still dont like it as your only income source

Legally speaking, unemployment insurance is considered earned income, not public assistance. However, you might want to be prepared to show documentation of your job search efforts and any potential job prospects, as some landlords are hesitant about tenants whose only income is temporary benefits. Keep your NYS Department of Labor job search log updated in case they ask for it.

I went through this exact situation last fall when my lease was up and I was still on unemployment. Had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to get an official letter about my benefits. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent who helped me get the documentation I needed. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

DEFINITELY not public assistance!! I get so frustrated when people confuse this. You EARNED those benefits by working and paying taxes. It's insurance, not welfare. Put it down as temporary income and make sure you have your monetary determination letter from NYS Department of Labor to show the amount.

Just to add - if you're also receiving any actual public assistance like food stamps or emergency rental assistance, those would need to be disclosed separately. But regular UI benefits from NYS Department of Labor are definitely earned income, not public assistance.

I was in a similar situation a few months ago and can confirm what others have said - unemployment is definitely NOT public assistance in NY. It's earned income that you're entitled to because you worked and paid into the system. When I filled out rental applications, I listed it under "temporary income" and included my benefit determination letter from NYS DOL. Most landlords understood once they saw the official documentation. Just be upfront about it being temporary and maybe mention any job interviews or prospects you have lined up. Good luck with your apartment search!

I can confirm what everyone else is saying - unemployment benefits are definitely earned income, not public assistance. I went through this exact same confusion when I was apartment hunting last year while on unemployment. The key distinction is that you paid into the unemployment insurance system through your previous job, so these are benefits you earned. Public assistance refers to need-based programs like SNAP or TANF that don't require prior contributions. I'd recommend getting a copy of your monetary determination letter from NYS Department of Labor to include with your application - it shows the official benefit amount and helps legitimize it as income in landlords' eyes. Most reasonable landlords understand unemployment is temporary and that you're actively job searching.

I'm a housing counselor and deal with this question frequently. Unemployment insurance is absolutely NOT public assistance in NY - it's earned income that you contributed to while working. When filling out rental applications, list it under income but not under public assistance. Pro tip: many landlords prefer seeing a co-signer or guarantor when unemployment is your primary income source, not because it's inadequate income, but because they know it's temporary. Also keep copies of your weekly certification emails from NYS Department of Labor as additional proof of ongoing benefits. Don't let this discourage you from applying - you have legitimate income and rights as a tenant!