Bankruptcy Filing Tips

What To Do When Unemployment Runs Out

With the jobless rate nearing 10% many people are wondering what to do when unemployment runs out. Tawana Wood, Chief Resume Writer and Founder of New York based resume writing company, CountrysBestResumes.com offers many tips for those whose unemployment has run out. “Many of my clients are facing the expiration of their unemployment benefits and are scared” says Ms. Wood. “These are not people who have been slackers all of their lives, they are hard working and high achieving professionals who never thought this would happen to them.”

Ms. Wood offers this advice…

First, check with your local unemployment office to find out if your benefits have been extended. Extended Benefits are available to workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment. The basic Extended Benefits program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when a State is experiencing high unemployment. Some States have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (20 weeks maximum) of Extended Benefits during periods of extremely high unemployment. When a State begins an Extended Benefit period, it notifies those who have received all of their regular benefits that they may be eligible for Extended Benefits. You may contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency to ask whether Extended Benefits are available.

Learn About Services Available
Check with your local State sponsored employment office or your local One-Stop Career Center. The centers often have information on local resources such as community organizations that may be able to offer support with housing, utility bills, food costs, as well as job training, temp work or permanent job placement.

Help Someone

Sometimes you have to put good things out in the universe to receive good things back. Share the knowledge you have gained with others in your situation may prove to be the missing link. If you have a friend, family member, neighbor, former colleague who is out of work, share tips you might have gained along the way. Offer to do a mock interview with them, watch their kids, write a reference, etc. You never know, these good gestures might come back your way. People usually remember the people who helped them out when they needed it.

Use Your Resources
There are several benefits offered to people as a temporary relief. Many of these benefits you have already paid for through taxes from your paychecks. Contact your state’s Social Services department to learn more about what you qualify for. Community organizations often have resources to help the unemployed with food baskets, donations, and babysitting assistance. If you can get assistance from family or friends, don’t hesitate to ask.

• HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) is a federally funded program that helps to offset the costs of heating for eligible low-income earners. A one-time direct payment is made to a utility company for heating. Usually, within 3 months from the time you apply you will receive assistance.

• The Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program offers discounted oil to eligible people residing in certain states with a response wait that is usually shorter.

• Partnership For Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need for free or nearly free. http://www.pparx.org/

Temping
Many people are turning to temp agencies to find jobs. This is a great way to supplement your income while you find a permanent job. Be mindful that agencies are sifting through hundreds of resumes, so make sure yours stand out.

Apply. Apply. Apply
Apply for every job you might remotely qualify for. Tell everyone in your network you are looking for a job. Nowadays many companies prefer to go with candidates who were referred by a trustworthy employee. The fact is with so many applications being submitted, many companies are swamped.

Volunteer Your Time
Volunteering is a wonderful way to gain insight into an industry, make new friends and keep yourself busy. Many nonprofit organizations are supported by Fortune 500 companies. The greater your network is the more you increase your chances of being at the right place at the right time. The nonprofit sector offers a wonderful career opportunity. You might want to consider working for a nonprofit organization.

Start Your Own Business
This might be a good time to start your own business or go back to school there are plenty of tax benefits offered to business owners, especially during their first year of business, where it is not uncommon to report a loss in revenues. We all have talents, find your niche, offer your severs for free to gain experience and confidence. Many businesses were born out of job loss. This might be your time.

Some states offer Self-Employment Assistance for dislocated workers and offers the opportunity for early re-employment. The program is designed to encourage and enable unemployed workers to create their own jobs by starting their own small businesses. Under these programs, States may pay a self-employed allowance, instead of regular unemployment insurance benefits, to help unemployed workers while they are establishing businesses and becoming self-employed. Participants receive weekly allowances while they are getting their businesses off the ground.

Cash Flow
Now that you have found yourself in the middle of a layoff, it can go without saying, you should take a conservative approach to your cash flow situation. Pool your resources, you have more money than you think. Here are some conservative avenues to take into consideration: 1) Consolidating Credit Card Debt, 2) Defer Student Loan payments – Ask for a forbearance, 3) 401k rollover to a IRA or ROTH IRA (consult a financial advisor), 4) Refinance Your home, 5) Consult your tax preparer about certain options 6) Utilize your tax refund, have your accountant review previous returns for possible additional returns 7) Re-assess your household spending Contact your creditors regarding reducing your interest rates.

Stay Focused. Stay Positive
Join a job clubs / meet-ups. These forums offer you an opportunity to network, get out of the house and share your experiences. Also, during these meetings many may share job leads and direct employers may be present. You must keep your spirits high! You must remain focused and continue to seek and create opportunities. They are out there waiting to be found by you.

About the Author

Tawana Wood is a leading resume writer and owner of CountrysBestResumes.com. She has been featured on television, in national magazines and local papers. Ms. Wood has written more than 7,000 resumes for America’s top executives

Thomas A. Corletta Attorney at Law

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