S Folinsky

Not now.

S Folinsky

When you phrase it that way, no.

Rete

Apply for the benefit. Your permanent residency was not one that required a financial sponsor so the issue of not using means tested benefits does not apply to you. However, most unemployment benefits, while not federal, are not a means tested benefit and will not negatively affect yourN-400 application.

RICH

Thank you. that reflects my experience of one application, against your no doubt hundreds of cases. Useful data, but not advice for OP and others I hope!

tht

Per previous post I doubt it is even a public benefit, but if it were:

“Will Receiving Public Benefits Hurt Your Chances of U.S. Citizenship?

As long as you received public benefits lawfully (without using fraud, for example), and were not asked to repay them, it should not hurt or affect your eligibility for naturalization.”

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...tizenship.html

Giantaxe

I applied for and received, in California, unemployment benefit on two separate occasions when I had a Green Card. The second occasion must have been less than a year before I applied for citizenship. It had no impact on my citizenship application.

SanDiegogirl

Yeah..... a definitive answer......

DallasMama

Back in 2002 I got laid off in the Bay Area. As a Greencard holder I was entitled to unemployment benefits. Your former employer has paid into the system and as long as you were employed for a minimum of I believe three (?) months you’ll be entitled to compensation. It’s not a federal benefit such as food stamps and won’t effect future applications for citizenship.
I applied and received citizenship in 2005. Good luck with the job search.