Can I get food stamps while receiving Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can absolutely get SNAP while on unemployment! Your UI benefits count as income for SNAP purposes, but that doesn't automatically disqualify you. The SNAP income limits are actually pretty reasonable - for a single person household in Washington, you can make up to around $1,580 gross monthly and still qualify. Since unemployment benefits are usually less than your regular wages, you'll probably still be under the limit.

I'm on unemployment too and got approved for SNAP last month. The key thing is being honest about your UI income when you apply. They'll ask for documentation, so have your Washington ESD benefit letters ready. Also, you have to report if your unemployment situation changes - like if you get a job or if your weekly benefit amount changes.

Just want to add that if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about your unemployment claim status or have questions about how changes might affect your benefits, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach ESD agents by phone. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Super helpful when you can't get through the regular way.

wait, so unemployment doesnt disqualify you from food stamps? i thought if you were getting any government benefits you couldnt get others

I've been on both for about 6 months now. One thing to keep in mind is that if you start working part-time while on unemployment (which is allowed in Washington as long as you report it), that additional income will also count toward your SNAP calculation. Just make sure you report everything to both agencies to avoid any issues later.

Does anyone know if the job search requirements for unemployment affect SNAP eligibility at all? Like, do they coordinate between the programs to make sure you're looking for work?

The whole system is so confusing!! I've been putting off applying for food stamps because I wasn't sure if it would mess up my unemployment claim somehow. This thread is really helpful.

Quick question - if my unemployment runs out (I'm getting close to the end of my 26 weeks), will that help my SNAP eligibility since my income will drop to zero?

I'm a single mom and getting both unemployment and SNAP right now. It's been a lifesaver honestly. My SNAP benefits went up a bit when I reported that my unemployment was my only income source. Don't be embarrassed about needing help - that's what these programs are for!

just applied for both last week. unemployment was way easier to navigate than the SNAP application tbh. the food stamps application asks for SO much documentation

Pro tip: if you qualify for SNAP, you might also be eligible for other programs like reduced-rate phone service or utility assistance. Washington has a lot of programs that use SNAP eligibility as a qualifying factor for other benefits.

My cousin is on both programs and she said the hardest part is just keeping track of all the reporting requirements. You have to report changes to Washington ESD for unemployment and to DSHS for SNAP, and sometimes the timing doesn't line up perfectly.

Does unemployment count differently than regular wages for SNAP purposes? Like, is there a different calculation or anything?

I was worried about this too but my caseworker at DSHS explained that lots of people receive both benefits, especially during economic downturns. It's actually pretty common and the systems are designed to work together.

If anyone is having trouble reaching Washington ESD to get questions answered about how employment changes might affect their benefits, I had success using Claimyr recently. It's at claimyr.com and really helped me get through to an actual agent when I couldn't get past the phone system normally.

quick update for anyone reading this later - i got approved for both! took about 2 weeks for unemployment and 3 weeks for SNAP. really glad i found this thread because i was so confused about whether i could apply for both

This is such helpful information! I've been struggling to make my unemployment benefits stretch to cover groceries and didn't realize I might qualify for additional assistance. Definitely going to look into applying for SNAP this week.

One last thing to mention - if you're approved for SNAP, you'll get an EBT card that works like a debit card for buying food. You can use it at most grocery stores and even some farmers markets. Just wanted to add that for anyone who's never used SNAP benefits before.

Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. Going through unemployment is stressful enough without having to worry about basic necessities like food. It's good to know there are options and that the systems can work together to help people get back on their feet.

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I applied for SNAP while on Washington ESD unemployment about 3 months ago and it's been a huge help. My weekly UI benefit is $380 and I was approved for $194/month in SNAP benefits as a single person household. The application process was straightforward once I had all my documents ready (unemployment determination letter, bank statements, lease agreement). The phone interview was actually pretty quick - maybe 15 minutes. One tip: make sure to keep copies of everything you submit because they might ask for the same documents again later if anything changes with your case. Don't let pride get in the way of getting help you're entitled to!