Where To Get Financial Help When You’re Unemployed
What can you do if you’ve run out of unemployment benefits, are about to lose them, or if your benefits aren’t enough to pay the bills? It’s scary to have little or no income, but you may be eligible for financial assistance to help you through this difficult time.
Before you panic, check with your state unemployment office to ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to. The duration of unemployment benefits varies by state and ranges from 12 weeks (Florida) to 28 weeks (Montana–and only Montana). Here’s a chart of weeks of unemployment listed by state from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Ask for Assistance
You've probably already tried many of the financial strategies you can use when you're out of work, but if you haven't, it's worth speaking to your creditors to see if they can waive payments and fees.
Talk to your mortgage holder or landlord, cell phone provider, internet and utility providers, credit card companies, car loan company, and other creditors.
Some may offer grace periods or payment or finance plans to enable you to continue business as usual, at least for a while.
A personal loan may be an option as well.
It’s always embarrassing to ask for help, but your family, friends, and others won’t know you need assistance unless you ask. Whether it’s giving you a loan, buying groceries, or providing childcare while you job search, here are some ways that your friends, family, and connections can assist with your job search.
Where To Get Help
It’s also important to tap federal, state, local, and community resources available to help unemployed workers. Here are some options for assistance:
CareerOneStop Center
One of the best ways to find assistance is to use the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website. In addition to a wealth of job search and career resources, you can get help at an American Job Center (AJC). Search by zip code to find local assistance.
American Job Centers have information on local support resources, such as funding for utility bills, food costs, childcare, emergency funds, and other necessary expenses. Career OneStop also has a directory of job listings and offers job and skill training assistance.
Federal and State Assistance Programs
The following federal and state programs are available for low-income workers:
Benefits.gov has a directory of benefits and assistance programs. Fill out a brief questionnaire to learn about and apply for the benefits you may be eligible to receive.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program can help with food and financial assistance, training, as well as job searching.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income families and individuals buy groceries.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental food and nutritional assistance to low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5.
Nonprofit Agencies
Nonprofit and community agencies can help you locate food, housing, clothing, and emergency resources. Here’s how to connect with nonprofit organizations near you:
2-1-1 Call Center. Call 211 or search online to get local help with training, employment, food, housing, and support groups.
Churches and Community Organizations. Check with local churches and community organizations. Many offer a variety of resources for those in need, including food, clothes, household supplies, and other necessities.
Food Banks. If you need food assistance, here’s a directory of food banks from Feed America. Also, search Google for “food pantry” or “food bank” to get a list of providers near you.
Homeless Shelters. Here’s a list of homeless shelters throughout the United States from the National Coalition for the Homeless. If you’re about to be homeless, here’s a guide for what to do now.
Phone Service. Reduced-cost phone service is through the Lifeline program for qualifying low-income people.
Pets. Contact your local animal shelter and veterinarian to see whether they can help you or refer you to resources for pet food and care. Also, some food pantries may have dog food and pet supplies.
Free Resources and Services
It can be really hard to focus on job searching when you’re unemployed and stressed about losing your home, your vehicle, your phone, and your life as it used to be. But there are no-cost and low-cost ways to keep moving forward.
Use the Library
One of the best free resources you can use is your local public library. You’ll be able to access free Wi-Fi, computers, printers, workshops, and training classes.
Some libraries lend Chromebooks and internet hot spots, and you may be able to get free access to LinkedIn Learning to upgrade your skills.
Use Google
You can use free Google tools for every component of your job search: gain skills, write resumes and cover letters, save documents and files, send professional email messages, find job listings, apply for jobs, track your applications, and get ready to interview.
If you don’t have access to a computer, you can use Google Drive to store your job search materials and access via the library’s or a family member’s or friend’s computer.
Get Free Rides
If you don’t have access to transportation, Lyft’s free rides program offers transportation to job interviews, training, or work.
Supplement Your Earnings
If you need to make money fast, there are apps you can use to find gigs where you can apply, get hired, and get paid quickly. Here are free apps you can use to find shopping, delivery, driving, caregiving, building, repairing, tutoring, freelance, and professional gigs.
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Your State Job Bank: Every state has a job bank where job seekers can post their resumes and search for jobs. Employers can post jobs for free, so you may find jobs that aren't posted elsewhere. Here's a directory of state job banks so you can quickly access resources for job seekers in your location.
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