Conditional resident and unemployment

[MaryQ 1]

Any of you know if it's lawful for my husband (a conditional permanent resident) to receive unemployment benefits? He has been searching for a job for a year now and we really need the financial help. Thanks for any answers.

[angus28 7]

I believe he can depending on your state labor department, he might have to provide his status and taxes. However, I am not sure how this will affect his naturalization.

Please, double check your state labor department website and read how a lawful resident can apply for unemployment benefits as it may vary in every state.

And again, I am not sure how it will affect his citizenship application.

[belinda63 3,038]

He can if he qualifies. Unemployment is an insurance fund that is paid into by each employer thus it is not considered a means tested benefit but rather something that is earned, sort of (please no annoying opinions on this). The problem will be his qualifying since he is a conditional resident (less than two years here) and has been unemployed for a year this means he has worked very little.

[MaryQ 1]

Thank you both for replying. I hadn't thought of that it might affect a citizenship application--I will check further into that. As for how long he's worked, he's been here and working for many years; he was here on a student visa before we met and was allowed to work.

[deidre 13]

Thank you both for replying. I hadn't thought of that it might affect a citizenship application--I will check further into that. As for how long he's worked, he's been here and working for many years; he was here on a student visa before we met and was allowed to work.

Hey MaryQ, im not too sure if he is allowed to get any assistance from the government...thats why the Affidavit of Support was so stringen during the AOS process, as they had to make sure that the USC can support the CPR - once your hubby becomes a USC then he can get assistance. Before this time i think it is highly unlikely. Maybe you could contact your local Unemployment Office and seek further advice....

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Unemployment is not a means tested benefit. It is some form of an insurance paid for with hard earned cash by the now unemployed ex-employee. Collecting it is perfectly fine and does not have any effect on the naturalization process.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

That being said, if he's been umemployed for a year he likely in not eligible. You generally, need to have had an income in the previous quarter to the current one...thats how they determine the amount.

Has he held a job in the US yet?

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

If he had just recently lost his job, I would say of course he could as long as he had been working long enough to have become eligible. BUT, if he lost his job over a year ago and never filed...then I don't know, I think there is a time limit in applying. It would have no affect on his applying for citizenship....he lost his job, it happens. Call your local unemployment office or go in and visit....good luck.