Can You Get Unemployment & Food Stamps at the Same Time in Nevada?

Unemployed individuals may not be able to afford food.

When you lose your job in Nevada, you may have trouble paying your bills and other expenses. To help make ends meet, you may apply for unemployment insurance compensation while you look for a new job. However, receiving unemployment benefits could affect your ability to receive government assistance, such as food stamps.

Nevada Unemployment

To qualify for unemployment insurance compensation in Nevada, you must show that you didn't cause yourself to become unemployed. You must also have earned a minimum amount of money during your base period, and you must be looking for work while you receive benefits. To continue receiving benefits, you can't refuse suitable employment. If you work during a week that you collect benefits, you must report the wages you earn to the unemployment office, and it may reduce or suspend your benefits for that week.

Nevada Food Stamps

To qualify for food stamps, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Needy Families, in Nevada, your income must not exceed the published limit for your family size. At the time of publication, your monthly net income can't exceed the poverty level, and your monthly gross income can't exceed 130 percent of the poverty level. You must also have limited assets. In most cases, your available resources can't exceed $2,000. However, if a member of your household is over age 60 or disabled, your available resources can't exceed $3,000.

Implications

The Nevada Employment Security Division typically reduces your unemployment benefits only if you receive earned income or pension benefits. Because food stamps aren't earned income, receiving them won't typically prevent you from collecting unemployment insurance compensation. However, receiving unemployment insurance may prevent your ability to collect food stamps. Nevada considers unemployment compensation to be income, so if you receive more than the monthly limit, you won't qualify for food stamps.

Considerations

If you are receiving unemployment insurance compensation that doesn't exceed the limit for food stamps, you can still collect them. However, receiving any income may reduce the amount of food stamps you receive each month. Nevada won't count up to $197 of your gross income each month, depending on your family size. It will also exclude up to $446 in shelter costs from your income when determining your eligibility.

References

• Nevada Department of Health and Human Services: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Frequently Asked Questions
• Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation: Unemployment Eligibility