Sajamitra, I also have the same thinking like u you until I talk to my lawyer who is filing my wife green card , my wife job lost as hotel attnednt, she was earning good , I researched in internet to file unemployment benefit , the internet source pretty much say u can file for benefit , but I was a bit scared so I consulted my lawyer , he is a good and helpful immigration lawyer who is has success filing gc he asked me not to file for benefit as he says he has cases when gc is denied solely based on public charge , this public charge is new thing and many people have confusion , as he said wh we n you file a unemployment in state u also get federal be benefit which shows you are dependent on government .it ultimately put yo our application in risk .he showed me number if cases that was rejected because of public charge rule .that is where I got scared and back off .I dnt want my wife in trouble for some money .otherwise my financial situation is so bad that I want unemployment benefit . If your lawyer said different thing please share so that I can take advantage of your opinion