Does unemployment affect SNAP benefits in Washington state?

Yes, unemployment benefits do count as income for SNAP calculations. However, you might still qualify depending on your total household income and size. The good news is that unemployment income is generally lower than regular wages, so you may still be eligible for some SNAP benefits even if the amount gets reduced.

I had this exact situation last year! My SNAP benefits did get reduced when I started getting unemployment, but I didn't lose them completely. They recalculated based on my new income level.

The SNAP program looks at all sources of income including unemployment benefits. But there are deductions they consider too - like housing costs and utilities. If you're having trouble getting through to DSHS to report your unemployment, there's actually a service called Claimyr that helps people reach state agencies by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

wait so if i start getting unemployment i might lose my food stamps completely?? this is so confusing

This whole system is so backwards! You lose your job and need help, but then getting unemployment help affects your food help. Makes no sense.

Important clarification: unemployment benefits are counted as unearned income for SNAP purposes, not earned income. This distinction can affect how deductions are calculated. Also, if you're receiving unemployment, you're likely exempt from SNAP work requirements during that time.

One thing to remember is that you need to report income changes within 10 days to DSHS. I learned this the hard way when I got an overpayment notice months later.

The income limits for SNAP are pretty reasonable though. For a single person household, you can make up to about $1,400 gross monthly and still qualify for some benefits. Your $380 weekly unemployment would be about $1,520 monthly so you might be close to the limit.

If you're having trouble reaching DSHS to report your unemployment income change, I mentioned Claimyr earlier but wanted to add that they've really helped me get through to various state agencies when I couldn't get past the busy signals. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

Pro tip: when you report your unemployment to DSHS, make sure you have all your documentation ready - your monetary determination letter from Washington ESD, any pay stubs from your last job, rent/mortgage info, utility bills, etc. It speeds up the process.

does anyone know if the extra unemployment money from covid affected snap too? i never reported it because i didnt know

The interaction between unemployment and SNAP can be tricky but generally both programs recognize that people need support during job transitions. The key is communication with both agencies about your situation.

I think there's also something about being able to get emergency SNAP if your income drops suddenly, like when you first become unemployed. Might be worth asking about.

just want to say this thread has been super helpful! i was in the same boat and had no idea unemployment counted as income for snap

One more thing - if your SNAP benefits do get reduced because of unemployment income, remember that unemployment is temporary. Once you find a job, you can report that change too and your SNAP benefits might go back up if your new wages are lower than your unemployment was.

Has anyone dealt with the interview requirement when you report income changes to SNAP? Do they always make you do a phone interview?

The timing of when you report matters too. If you report right away, any changes to your SNAP benefits will start the next month. If you wait, they might make changes retroactively which can cause overpayments.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr suggestion from earlier - if anyone is struggling to reach DSHS or Washington ESD about coordinating these benefits, I've had good luck with their service. Sometimes you really need to talk to a human to sort out complex situations like how unemployment affects other benefits.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This thread really clarified things for me. Going to call DSHS today to report my unemployment income and see how it affects my SNAP benefits.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I started getting UI benefits. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - when I first received unemployment, when I reported it to DSHS, and all the documentation they requested. My SNAP benefits did get reduced from $280 to about $160 per month, but having everything organized made the process much smoother. Also, don't forget that you can often report income changes online through the Washington Connection website if you can't get through by phone. It's usually faster than waiting on hold for hours!