Can you get unemployment and food stamps at the same time in Washington?

That's a relief! Do you know what the income limits are for a household of 3? My UI benefits will probably be around $600 per week.

For a household of 3 in 2025, the gross monthly income limit for SNAP is around $2,694. Your weekly UI of $600 would be about $2,400 monthly, so you'd likely qualify.

That's a relief! Do you know if I need to report my SNAP application to Washington ESD or vice versa?

No need to report SNAP to Washington ESD, but you will need to include your UI income on your SNAP application. Just be honest about all income sources.

How much did you end up getting in SNAP benefits if you don't mind me asking? Just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

I get about $125/month in SNAP with my UI income. It varies based on household size and other factors but every bit helps with groceries.

That's actually pretty good! I didn't realize you could get that much even with unemployment income.

Good to know about reporting changes. Do I apply for SNAP through a different website than Washington ESD?

Yes, SNAP is through Washington Connection at washingtonconnection.org, not through the ESD website. Completely different systems.

Thanks! I haven't had to call Washington ESD yet but I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues.

How much does that service cost? I've been trying to reach ESD for weeks about my adjudication status.

It's worth checking out their site for current info. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

That's not correct. Unemployment insurance isn't the same as welfare programs. UI is an earned benefit based on your work history and payroll taxes.

Oh okay, I didn't realize there was a difference. Thanks for clarifying!

This is important advice. I've heard horror stories about people having to pay back SNAP benefits because they didn't report income changes properly.

Exactly. It's much easier to report changes as they happen than to deal with overpayment notices later. DSHS is pretty reasonable if you're proactive about reporting.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that service. Did you use it for DSHS or Washington ESD?

I used it mainly for Washington ESD when my claim got stuck in adjudication, but they work with various agencies. Really helpful when you can't get through on your own.

That's encouraging! How long did the SNAP application process take?

took about 2 weeks from application to approval. had to do a phone interview but it was pretty easy

That makes sense. I'm hoping to find something part-time while job searching anyway to make ends meet.

Just remember to report any work to Washington ESD on your weekly claims. They're pretty strict about that.

What kind of documents do they need? I want to gather everything before I start the application.

bank statements, pay stubs from your last job, id, social security cards for the kids, rent receipts, utility bills. probably more but thats what i remember

You'll also need your Washington ESD monetary determination letter once you get it, and any UI payment history they can print for you.

Good point. It's nice that the system is set up to help people during transitions like this.

Wish more people knew about this. I struggled for months before realizing I could get both types of assistance.

That's a good detail to know. I'll keep that in mind if my claim situation changes.

Yeah, it's not a big deal but worth being aware of. The DSHS workers are usually pretty good about explaining these things during your interview.

Good advice, I'll apply for SNAP as soon as I file my unemployment claim this week.

Smart move. And if you get approved for expedited SNAP benefits, you might get your EBT card within a few days.

That's a great tip! I didn't know the programs could complement each other like that.

Yeah, it's not widely advertised but the WorkSource activities sometimes overlap with SNAP E&T programs. Worth exploring.

Good luck with your application! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any questions during the process.

you'll do great! having both benefits really helped me get through the tough months

SNAP doesn't have job search requirements in Washington for people receiving unemployment benefits. The assumption is that you're already meeting work search requirements through Washington ESD.

That's one less thing to worry about then. The Washington ESD job search log is enough work tracking for me!

Ugh, that sounds stressful on top of job hunting. Did she use any apps or calendars to stay organized?

She just used her phone calendar with reminders. Set alerts for weekly claim filing and SNAP reporting dates.

It's much more common than people realize. There's no shame in using the safety net programs - that's what they're there for.

Absolutely. These programs exist to help people during difficult times. Thanks for normalizing it.

I might look into that. I've been trying to reach DSHS for a week about a question on my case.

Yeah, that's exactly the kind of situation where it's helpful. Much better than spending hours on hold or getting hung up on.

Yikes, that's exactly what I want to avoid. How quickly did you have to report the change?

I think you're supposed to report within 10 days of any income change. Don't mess around with it, they WILL find out eventually.

Good advice! I'll make sure to gather everything before I start the application.

Yeah, it saves a lot of back and forth if they don't have to keep asking for additional documents.

Thank you for saying that. I do feel a little weird about needing help but you're right, I did work and pay taxes.

Exactly! These programs exist for situations like this. Use them until you get back on your feet.

I've been trying to reach ESD for days about my adjudication. Might have to try that service you mentioned.

Check out the demo video I linked earlier - it shows exactly how it works. Way less frustrating than the regular phone line.

No, WIC benefits don't count as income for SNAP eligibility. They're separate nutrition programs and WIC won't affect your food stamp application.

Perfect, thanks! One less thing to worry about in this whole process.

I totally agree. It's stressful enough being unemployed without having to navigate all these different applications and requirements.

It really is overwhelming at first, but once you get both programs set up it gets easier to manage.

That's reassuring! I was worried they'd be as hard to reach as Washington ESD sometimes is.

The local DSHS office was much easier to deal with than calling the state unemployment line, that's for sure.

Yes, SNAP interviews can usually be done by phone in Washington state, especially if transportation is an issue. Just mention that when you apply.

Great, that'll make things much easier. Thanks!

How much were you getting for SNAP with unemployment income, if you don't mind me asking?

For me and one kid, I get about $80 per month in SNAP. Not a lot but it covers basics like milk, bread, eggs.

Good point. Hopefully I'll find a job before my UI runs out, but it's good to know my SNAP benefits could increase if needed.

Exactly. The system is designed to adjust as your situation changes, which is actually pretty helpful.

You're welcome! Good luck with both applications. Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues.

Hope everything works out for you and your kids. These programs really do help bridge the gap while you're job searching.

And remember that Claimyr option if you need to reach Washington ESD for any questions that come up during the process.

That's unfortunately really common. A lot of people don't realize they qualify for multiple programs simultaneously.

Exactly. I thought you could only get one type of assistance at a time. Glad threads like this exist to educate people.

Yes, expedited SNAP is still available for qualifying households. If you have less than $150 monthly income and less than $100 in resources, you might qualify for emergency processing.

That's exactly what I needed to know. Thank you!

Definitely will keep good records. Thanks again for all the help everyone!

This has been a really informative thread. Nice to see people helping each other navigate these systems.

good for you! you deserve all the help available to you during this time

thanks for the encouragement. it really does help to hear from others who've been through this

Good to hear another positive experience. The government phone systems can be so frustrating to navigate.

Exactly. I spent days trying to get through on my own before I found that service. Wish I had known about it earlier.

That's exactly how they're designed to work. The goal is to help people get back on their feet, not to create barriers.

Agreed! This community has been incredibly helpful. Thank you all again.

That's such a great program! I didn't know about the Fresh Bucks until someone at the farmers market told me about it.

Yeah, it's an awesome way to get fresh, healthy food while making your benefits go further. More people should know about it.

That's what these forums are for - helping each other through tough times with real information and support.

absolutely. when people share their experiences it helps everyone learn and feel less alone in dealing with these systems

Glad this thread helped you feel more confident about applying! $350/week is definitely within the range where SNAP can provide meaningful assistance. Just make sure to gather all your documents beforehand - your layoff paperwork, bank statements, ID, etc. - to make the application process smoother. And don't forget to report your UI income accurately on the SNAP application. You should be able to get both programs working together to help you through this transition period. Best of luck with your applications!

You're absolutely right to apply for both! I went through the same thing last year and having both programs really made a difference. At $350/week, you'll likely qualify for a decent amount of SNAP benefits. One thing I'd suggest is applying for SNAP as soon as possible since it can take 2-3 weeks to process, while your UI benefits will probably start sooner. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - it makes reporting changes later much easier. The whole process is less scary than it seems once you get started!

That's really helpful to know about the $140/month you received - it gives me a realistic expectation of what to expect! I'm curious, did you have to do a phone interview for your SNAP application, and if so, how long did that take? Also, when you say to save copies of the ESD payment notices, do you mean the weekly claim confirmations or something else? I want to make sure I have all the right documentation ready when I apply.

Yes, I had to do a phone interview which took about 20 minutes. The caseworker was really nice and just went through my application to verify the information. For the ESD payment notices, I'm talking about both the monetary determination letter (shows your benefit amount) and the actual payment history you can print from your eSD account showing what you've received. The weekly claim confirmations are good to have too, but the payment history is what they really want to see your actual income. The whole process was much easier than I expected - just be honest about everything and you'll be fine!