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Unemployment: Now what?

Now that unemployment benefits have changed yet again, how do you move forward? Life vs.
By MSA Staff

Now that unemployment benefits have changed yet again, how do you move forward?

Life vs. Livelihood
These issues are complex.  Most of us have never been in a situation in which we have to decide whether the risk of exposure to illness outweighs the potential economic damage.  None of us wants to see the economy suffer, and we want to get back to work, but we also don’t want to see people suffer.  Unemployment benefits can give unemployed or furloughed workers great leverage.

Many states are pushing for workers to get back to work too.  All states had eased their rules around job-hunting during unemployment; however, some states are reinstating “work search” requirements as a condition of receiving unemployment benefits.  Unemployed or furloughed workers who don’t comply with this may risk losing their benefits, and may even have to pay back some of their benefits they have already received.

Stress Not
Most rules that will prove you are searching for a job are not that troublesome.  You need, in most cases, to show that you have been looking for employment, like completing three job searches.  You don’t have to succeed in getting a new job.  You can go to your state’s job website; attend online job fairs; complete some online applications; some states even count social networking or emailing employers as “job-hunting”.  If you have been furloughed, find out whether you have specific requirements by going to your state’s unemployment website.

Your To-Do List

  1. If you have been furloughed, check with your HR department to see the status of when you will likely be called back to work and no longer be eligible to collect unemployment benefits.
  2. Check with your State Unemployment Office to see if you have to prove you are looking for a job in order to receive continuing benefits.
  3. If the answer is yes, then ask what is required and how to prove that you have fulfilled the requirement(s).
  4. Talk to a non-judgmental and unbiased Money Coach about how to prepare for potential changes in cash flow.

Whether you’re dealing with unemployment or not, a Money Coach can help you determine next steps for handling finances in uncertain times.  Call 888-724-2326 today to get started.

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