Sunday, September 20, 2009

Health care: stand up now!

For anyone who's been laid off or had their benefits slashed in the last year, one of the biggest concerns is where health insurance or health care will come from. When I was laid off, health insurance was my first worry of many. Where will I get it? But worse than that, how much will it cost?

For many who have pre-existing conditions that may result in coverage denials, COBRA becomes the only, usually more expensive, option. Even with government subsidies to decrease the cost of COBRA, I would have had to shell out 3-4 times more under COBRA, even with the reduction in cost. Not ideal. But, those with pre-existing conditions are forced to cling to COBRA at a higher cost to avoid the risk of coverage denial.

Right now, we have the opportunity to discuss health care coverage for those who are unemployed or who can't afford coverage. There are many options being discussed right now by your representatives. It doesn't matter where you stand on the issue; stand up and be heard! Take two minutes of your time and call your senators and Congressional representatives and let them know how having health care or not has impacted your life.

See below for contact information:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Back to work; for how long?

It's been awhile since I've written. I got a job! The summer has been a fairly steady blur of work, which has been great.

Heading back to work after such a long break left me with all sorts of questions: whether I would adjust to working again being primary among them. Well, I did. It was actually really great to remember that my work ethic, though it had been sidelined for several months, was actually not impacted by the break in the least. In fact, I found myself more focused, determined, and sharp after some time to regroup. I can breathe a sigh of relief on that one. In conversations with friends who are similarly situated, this seems to be a shared concern.

But, like many people now, my job is contingent upon various projects, so there are breaks in between work. The flexibility is really great, and as I am currently on a break, I'm finding time to take care of all of the projects, hobbies, and volunteer activities that I cultivated when initially unemployed.

It seems that the face of employment has already shifted dramatically, which leaves me wondering how our attitudes towards employment will continue to evolve. I know that my has shifted drastically, from being willing to offer up my sense of individuality and freedom in exchange for the illusion of certainty that I'd have a job to not being willing to trade so much of myself for just money. It's a balance, for sure, but as I see people around me choosing to spend more time doing what they love and spending time with their loved ones, it gives me hope that, collectively, we can shift the emphasis from money as a means of self-definition to money as a necessary tool to live. Then we can get on with what really matters!

Until next time...

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Emergency Unemployment Compensation

For anyone who's run out of regular unemployment, the federal government offers up to 33 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation (thank goodness!).

How do you obtain this? Ideally, your state unemployment agency will send you an application for emergency unemployment compensation approximately two weeks before your regular unemployment runs out. However, I've been told that these forms can sometimes be sent out a few weeks after your regular unemployment runs out. Yikes! My advice: go to your local unemployment office and collect the form on the off-chance that you're one of the ones who falls through the cracks and has a few week gap in your unemployment benefits!

If your application is accepted, you can keep claiming unemployment benefits as you were before. The same number of employer contacts and job log recording is required. Reporting can usually be done online or via phone, depending upon your state.

It's great to have the additional $25 per week from the feds also; thankfully, many states, such as Washington, have increased the weekly benefit as well. How long will it take for this extra money to give our economy a small push in the right direction? Hopefully, this will allow more individuals and families to hold out just a bit longer until employment is found again.

Until next time, hang in there!

HD

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Persisting in the Face of Rejection

If you're unemployed (like I still am) and applying for jobs, you've likely come face to face with a fair number of rejections at this point. They come in all forms, whether they're written, electronic, or the classic money-saving complete and utter lack of response. Let's face it: it's never fun to be rejected, even if you were actually thinking that, after the interview, maybe that wasn't the job for you.

With so many people unemployed, the amazing qualifications of the applicant pool against which we're all competing make it somewhat easier not to take all of these rejections too personally. But, today, I felt more than upset and frustrated, I felt let down by our great capitalistic society. I've been working hard at being unemployed--networking, informational interviews, cover letters, resumes, reading career and life direction books, you name it, I've done it. And, I've been trained that hard work usually results in success. Well, I've hit the same wall that so many have encountered. Hard work in this economy may not mean immediate success, or even any success at all. And sure, I've used this time to redefine what success means to me and all of that. But, honestly, it's exhausting, it's a long road, and feeling like there's no end in sight leads to a feeling of desperation that I'd rather avoid.

So, how do we go on in light of all of the chaos around us? As someone who freaks out when I have to have answers about the future and don't, I simply have to focus on what's immediately in front of me, which is usually sending the next e-mail or working on the next cover letter or shutting down my computer to go for a run. What do you do? Please share your thoughts!

Good luck out there!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Scenic, quick, cheap getaway!

If you're still searching for that perfect job, or just any job for that matter, consider a quick trip to clear your head and bask in the brilliant spring of Portland, Oregon. Though the unemployment rate is high, so is the morale. For some reason, the many months of rain make optimists of nearly everyone when the sun comes out! Residents subsist on bargains and discovering diamonds in the rough is still possible in many of Portlands southeast neighborhoods. A quick jaunt may bring that much needed perspective without a hit to the wallet...

Check out this NY Times article for some great specifics: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/travel/10Portland.html?em

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thought for the Day: Unemployment #101

This may be the first day that you're unemployed or the three hundred and fifteenth. Either way, you may have more choice with how you spend your time than ever before. Today, do one thing that you deem totally frivolous and non-productive. Take a walk on the beach (or lake if you're inland). Get an ice cream cone and sit outside while eating it. Skips stones. Stop and talk to someone in a coffee shop for awhile (careful not to freak out strangers).

No matter when you get a job, you won't get this day back. You only pass this way once. Make it count.

The Job Search: Handling Rejection

Let's face it. No one likes rejection. It's not fun when trying to make friends on the playground in elementary school, and it's certainly not enjoyable when unemployed and searching for that next job. But, instead of crying to a teacher after recess, being an adult means (hopefully!) taking valuable lessons from the process and forging ahead with the quest for a job.

While some employers still send formal rejection letters ("after careful consideration, your qualifications do not match our needs, blah, blah, blah"), others resort to e-mail acknowledgment of applications with the notice that you'll only be notified if selected for interview. Apparently, it's a money-saving technique, but rejection e-mails would cost no more and be much more personal.

No matter the form of the rejection, what we take from it going forward may shape the future success of our job searches. If you have a contact within the HR department who seems particularly helpful, it wouldn't hurt to review with that individual the reasons that your application did not move forward. You can incorporate this information into your job search process moving forward. If you don't have a handy HR contact, I recommend taking some time to reflect on the jobs demands and your qualifications. Is there anything that you overlooked or could have changed? Debrief your application yourself, and check in with a trusted friend or family member for a reality check. Ultimately, it may be that your application was very strong, but they had someone who was over-qualified who took the position. Often, in recessions, the employment market is quite tight due to an overabundance of extremely qualified workers who spill over into positions for which they are over-qualified (read: it may have nothing to do with you).

Most importantly, no matter who rejects you and as tough as it may be, get up and dust yourself off. The perfect job may be waiting for you right around the corner!

Monday, March 23, 2009

AIG Bonuses Returned

If you're barely getting by right now paying for health insurance, your mortgage, and other bills with your weekly unemployment insurance, the prospect of AIG execs pocketing $165 million of our money in bonuses probably doesn't sit so well. And it shouldn't. If you're like many, you've probably selected to have 10% of your unemployment insurance withheld for federal taxes, taxes that will help pay for the economic bailout of companies like AIG.

In a time when individuals and multinational corporations alike must scale back expenses, reconsider their bottom lines, and reassess spending habits, bonuses of this nature seem beyond indulgent or excessive, they seem almost criminal. Of course, AIG is contractually bound to fulfill certain obligations to its employees, but in a time where they received an almost unprecedented government bailout, AIG could have done much more to massage its public relations by requesting employees to forego bonuses in light of the current economic conditions. So far, AIG employees have given back at least $50 million. It's a start, but I'm still wondering why AIG didn't address this issue before bonuses were paid and had to be returned.

On the other hand, AIG employees who were entitled to these bonuses have been let down by their company and could have had legal action against AIG had the bonuses not been paid. Instead, AIG paid the bonuses and forced their employees into the awkward position of voluntarily returning them or looking like prize idiots. Highly unfair and also potentially depriving their employees of any legal action against the company.

All in all, the situation has been handled rather poorly, demonstrating AIG's use in quite poor taste of public funds and inability to come through on its obligations to its employees.

More information available at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/business/24bonus.html?_r=1&hp

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Pursuing Employment in These Tough Times: Instinct vs. Fear

Many sentences these days are preceded by "in these tough times," making each situation and seem that much more dramatic, that much more pressing. In reality, there are people who've been having tough financial times throughout the course of history, though those experiencing troubles are usually categorized as "lower class," which some have used to explain away the financial challenges of the lower class.

Now, foreclosure and bankruptcy are becoming common household words in homes of all income levels. Families in traditionally upper class homes are being forced to sell their homes out of necessity, not choice. All of a sudden, more individuals in each class are subject to the troubles previously only experienced on a widespread scale by those in the lower economic class.

Follow your bliss? Financial ruin and fear seem to be everywhere; they're spilling over into small, daily decisions, such as what brand of milk to buy, whether or not to have that latte, and which employment to pursue. Formerly, we were encouraged to "follow our bliss," but with the economic collapse surrounding us, following our bliss all of a sudden feels rather stressful. Following a passion does not often seem practical when bringing home money will save us from financial insecurity, we hope.

The job that doesn't feel right. Almost everyone has had a job situation in which they were not entirely certain, they had a bad feeling about a job opening, or they just plain didn't want to do it for some strange reason that they couldn't quite pinpoint. Before the economic collapse, some may have pursued these opportunities regardless. But many looked past them to new opportunities that made their hearts leap with excitement. Now, the fear that seeps into our common culture through media has ignited an almost fury of fear in which people are accepting a job, any job, just to have a job. Overriding your instincts on the basis of fear is not a new behavior; as children, we're taught to socialize and adapt to our surroundings, which often involves ignoring our feelings and instincts to fit in. However, instinct is a powerful force and one that, if ignored, can land us in a variety of precarious situations that do not fit us. In some cases, as I found myself in not so long ago, I found myself knee-deep in the quest for someone else's greatness. I tried it, it doesn't work.

Fear-based decision-making. So you've accepted a job that you know doesn't suit you, but you know will pay the bills for as long as it lasts. When acting out of fear, the world of possibilities shrinks away. Instead of expanding our individual and collective options, they decrease quickly. Decisions made out of fear hold us captive for as long as we let them. Until we decide to be through with this pattern and way of thinking, it will dominate our future decisions and transactions.

Changing the pattern. If, as individuals, we take responsibility for making informed decisions from an instinctive place, rather than one that is fear-filled, the direction of our society will change immeasurably. If we honor that feeling inside that this opportunity doesn't look quite right and trust that another one will unveil itself as we forge ahead on our own paths, it will appear. It sounds preposterous, but living with the trust that the next indicated step will reveal itself alleviates some of the pressure that we put on ourselves about getting a job, any job, just something that pays me some money so I can continue living. This type of thinking is pretty strongly ingrained in many of us, so overriding it can be quite challenging. First and foremost, the important thing is to stop, assess what you're feeling about a situation, and listen to the cues that you're kicking up about going forward. It may not be pretty and it may not seem rational, but listening to yourself is essential to re-focusing your life and reconnecting with your instintive nature. Above all, learning to trust yourself will serve you well in the long-run.

Do what you love! This is the best way to get in touch with your instincts. Go spend a morning doing what you love to do, whether its running, writing, reading, gardening. Do somethign purely for fun and look at the value of that activitiy. Observe how you feel when you do it. What kernels of wisdom can you pull out of this experience? See if any of this might translate into an occupation or activity that you can get paid for. It just might. Even if it doesn't, you'll have a better sense of how to tap those instincts. Doing this over time helps you tap in when you're in an emergency and really need to rely on them.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Follow Your Dreams (if only for an hour a day)

If you're unemployed, you may have a good deal of "free" time now. Unfortunately, if you're anything like me, you may have managed to fill this time with periodic episodes of panic and anxiety about the future. But, this fear doesn't have to paralyze you indefinitely.

Going back to the list of everything I'd ever wanted to do but hadn't yet, I realized that many of things I'd longed to do for ages had been left untouched. Shockingly, it was everything from learning how to make really good fudge to running the marathon on the Great Wall of China to writing a novel. There was nothing too small to be included on this list, which was the reason that I decided to show it to no one.

For too long, I'd run my dreams and passions past my social circles and society in general to get an approval that seemed rather hollow. If anything was too out of line, I felt guilty and as though I was wasting my time. If it wasn't achievement-oriented, what was the point?

Well, now we as a society are witnessing what happens when a collective of people push for more, more, more external gratification without much regard for what's happening internally. But, the turn of events in the global economy have forced many of us to look inward for gratification without spending a cent.

So, if you have free time right now, even only a few hours, spend some time day dreaming. Make a list of all of things that come to mind. Figure out what you love most, or maybe even several things that you simply would love to try, and do them!

You don't have to run the marathon tomorrow, but you can strap on the shoes and put in a few miles. Making a concerted effort to put a bit of time every day towards your goal. Taking action will help keep the fear-based thoughts at bay.

And perhaps, if we all started doing more of what we loved or had always dreamed of doing, we can help turn around the collective consciousness. Even if we don't, you'll have used some of your precious time towards one of your passions.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Volunteer for an hour...or a lifetime.

Suddenly being laid off can result in all sorts of unpleasant feelings, resentment chief among them. With much more time to search for a new job and life direction, I also found more time to dwell on the furor going on around me with the economic markets and individuals who were ensconced in the drama of our economic collapse. Don't get me wrong, I felt like panicking about our demise on the best of days. Inaction made things worse. So, I decided to give back and spend some of my newly found free time doing it.

Develop community. In President Obama's campaign, inauguration, and time in office thus far, I heard a call to community service that inspired me to do more than just search for new employment. While searching, I decided to volunteer, sometimes many hours per week and sometimes fewer, depending upon what my job search could accomodate. The important thing was to give something back, to help build community within smaller organizations in hopes that it would spread out to the community at large. While there are record numbers of people who are unemployed, there are also record numbers of people who can direct some of their time to community service. When you decide where to volunteer, enlist a friend or family member to help out as well!

Volunteer organizations. If you are already engaged in volunteering, that's excellent! See if you can put in an extra hour or two. For those of you who need some suggestions as to where to volunteer, consult http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/. This site provides an interactive feature in which you can enter your location and interests, and the site generates a list of volunteer opportunities. Read up on the organization you choose to volunteer with. Be certain that your efforts are truly going to a cause that you can stand behind.

Select a volunteer site compatible with your career interests. This will assist you in not only giving back to the community, but also in possibly making some connections for your next job. You may also use this as an opportunity to try out a career field you've always considered, but have never had the time to try.

Discuss your experience. Share your volunteering experience with others and encourage them to do the same thing. Even if you're currently employed, now is a perfect time to show up and pitch in. We're not in this alone!

Fending Off Financial Fears

With unemployment comes a whole host of other fears, including extreme financial ones. While I was figuring out what was next, how would I pay the bills? Of course, my mind jumped immediately to the worst case scenario in the financial world: bankruptcy, losing my place to live, losing my car, and on and on. Once my mind hopped on this train, it was hard to stop it. Occasionally, I still hop back on it. It's never fun. You may be familiar with this feeling; I know that there are many American families struggling with it right now.

To combat my fear of financial insecurity, I jotted down a quick plan. My first numbers just wouldn't work, so I had to cut back more. With Obama's stimulus plan, things looked slightly less bleak, at least for awhile. Once I had a plan for several months, I started to future-trip. What about six months from now? What about next year? How would I pay for anything? Freak-out #573.

My spending habits changed drastically, along with millions of other Americans who are now similarly situated. I ate out less and cooked at home more. It made a small difference. I'd lived outside of my means before, and this habit could catch up with me quickly, if I didn't intentionally proceed with care.

The bottom line was this: I could remain as I was and freak out, or I could change. I opted for the latter and made a plan that would allow me to get through six or so months. I mapped out my prior spending habits and cut them in half, budgeting for necessities and cutting out the excess (of which there was not much, but certainly some). I made some small adjustments that ultimately added up, like cutting cable altogether and relying on the library for all of my books, rather than purchasing new, or even used ones. I paid one bill at a time.

I made a list of everything that I HAD, not a list of everything that I didn't (which I used to). In fact, I make a list every morning, which reminds me of how many wonderful aspects there are to life. When I was working, I often overlooked these, too busy to take the time to mark them down or remember, always aiming for more, more, more.

As I scaled back, I began to see a path through my financial fears. It started with becoming even more educated about my current financial status and the state of our economy (with the help of resources from the likes of Suze Orman). Continuing on this quest, taking action to become educated and put my financial plan into action have cut down on the fear that may crop up.

Part of the economic downturn seems to be a collective call to us all to reassess our relationships with money and spending. For me, I often don't pay attention and change until I am forced to. Despite the panic, this is an opportunity to reassess and reshape financial goals and patterns, alongside our government and corporations.

With a slightly different mindset, I was ready to take on different issues, such as what to do with my life next!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Considering new directions

Before diving into my next career direction, the time I took to list all of the aspects of my prior job and career that I enjoyed and those that detracted from my overall well-being was well spent. It was easy to move away from my prior career; however, moving in a new positive direction was what I struggled with most. The entire world seemed to be in an upheaval, uncertain of what our collective direction would be.

At first, I made a list of characteristics that I wanted in my career (intellectual challenge, changing circumstances, entreprenurial development, to name a few). Keeping it general, I then listed everything that sounded fun and interesting that I'd ever wanted to do. It included things that I told no one about as they might deem them insignificant; however, to me, ignoring these small things was what led me to what I was doing before. Then, I began some informational interviews to glean information from professionals in the areas that looked interesting.

Being laid off was an opportunity to change my perspective and how that perspective manifested itself on a daily basis. It's taken shape slowly and is still expanding.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

More on health insurance

In addition to the health insurance considerations mentioned in my posting on February 26, 2009, the stimulus package offers considerable relief to those pursuing coverage under COBRA by reimbursing a percentage of premiums paid under COBRA for a set time period. The New York Times offers an excellent run down of these options, including a discussion of how health savings accounts can be used to your advantage if you opt for a plan with a high deductible. The article is available here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/health/policy/28patient.html?_r=5&8dpc

Friday, February 27, 2009

Before the job search...

When I was first laid off, I wanted to throw my resume at every company, firm, and organization that I thought might hire me. I was seriously worried about whether or not I would be able to find work. For a few days, at least. Then, I began to think about how much volatility there was in the market and that, with the economic downturn and Obama only newly in office, that there might be a great deal more fluctuation, rendering any job that I took just as "safe" as the last.

Many people who have been laid off were working in their profession of choice, had found their calling, and to them, this likely does not apply. However, I thought that perhaps it was time to find something that I was a little more firmly rooted in, a career and profession that really spoke to me, rather than one I'd landed in without more recent serious consideration.

So, I did the counter-intuitive: I did nothing for a few days. I didn't apply for anything or make any sudden changes. I just sat with the change that was going on around me. Now, this was a true luxury, and I understand that many laid off Americans do not have the luxury of of time to consider the next career move or job. A paycheck is a paycheck and, without one, family members may not get fed and the house foreclosure may go through. If this is where you are, then these things are top priority and, of course, not to be discounted. However, even with a job search ongoing, it's important to ask ourselves why we are where we are as a society, as individuals, and more importantly, what we can do about it.

Take some time, whether it's five minutes, five days, five weeks, or five months, to reflect on what you want from this life, what you can offer those around you, and what you can do about it right now and in the near future. Reserving just that small amount of space and room in your life can change the direction you end up heading drastically.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

What about health insurance?

As the reality of being laid off set in, I realized that this meant not only no source of income, but no health insurance or retirement benefits. Having had a period with no health insurance coverage for several brief stints before college, I was not ready to go through this again. However, without comprehensive health care coverage coming up immediately, I was not sure how to finance health insurance coverage for myself with only unemployment insurance payments coming in.

For many Americans who are not fortunate enough to be receiving unemployment insurance, health insurance coverage does not make the cut in the list of top payment priorities as food, housing, and transport are often atop the list.

COBRA:
You may be able to seek coverage through your prior employer under COBRA, although you are responsible for paying your entire premium. Typically, because you are part of a group through your employer, this will usually be a larger amount than if you seek out an individual health insurance coverage plan. However, if you have pre-existing conditions or are required to maintain your existing coverage for other reasons, it may be worth paying the additional monthly premium. Note that some smaller employers are COBRA exempt and may not be required to offer you coverage under COBRA. In some instances, smaller employers may still be able to offer coverage by agreement with your health insurance provider; however, it depends upon the provider and the employer. It's best to have this conversation with your employer immediately, if possible. Some smaller employers do not understand the nuances of this area of law, so it may be up to you to learn the pros and cons and educate your former employer about them, though ideally you will not need to do this (though it never hurts to be educated about your rights and opportunities!).

Need-based health insurance:
Many states, such as Washington and Massachusetts, offer basic health insurance coverage for those who meet income and eligibility requirements. Often, and especially recently, there are waiting periods for coverage under these plans. Apply immediately after losing your job to get in line.

Additionally, some hospitals and medical centers offer financial assistance to those recently unemployed and/or below a certain income level. Inquire as soon as possible with your local hospital or medical center. Applications typically take several weeks to process and likely require a disclosure of your financial situation, including assets and liabilities, as well as proof of unemployment. Typically, this can lead to full payment of your medical expenses for a set period of time (usually three to six months, although it varies by institution).

Individual health insurance coverage:
Many online companies, such as eHealthInsurance (www.ehealthinsurance.com) offer great comparison packages between plans with varying coverage levels and deductibles. Ideally, you should apply and obtain a policy for which you have the entire deductible saved so that you can pay it in the event of a medical emergency. Apply immediately for coverage to avoid any gaps in coverage.


Catastrophic health insurance: worth the risk?
Catastrophic health insurance can be a good back-up, but this offers only minimal insurance for extreme cases of hospitalization, etc. and means that most of your healthcare expenses are out-of-pocket. It's a bit of a gamble because if you or a family member encounters a medical emergency demanding immediate attention, this can often be more expensive than if you paid a higher monthly insurance premium.

Watch out for pre-existing condition clauses:
Freeze-out periods for pre-existing conditions can be quite frustrating, often resulting in nine-month or more waiting periods for those who are not eligible for a waiver of these waiting periods. If you have continuous prior coverage, this may be waived. But, be proactive about requesting that your new provider waive the pre-existing condition clause.

Action plan:
1. Discuss COBRA eligibility and cost of coverage with former employer;
2. Determine health insurance needs, deductible you can pay, and possible monthly premium;
3. Apply for low-cost state health insurance;
4. Apply for individual health insurance plan, checking to be certain that you are not subject to a pre-existing condition clause and getting credit for prior coverage;
5. Follow up with insurance agent and insurance provider to be certain that application is received and approved in time for continuous coverage to occur.

Unemployment

First, I filed for unemployment immediately, even though I had several more days of work left. I wanted to make sure that my application got in as soon as possible and this ended up working well because there was a waiting week before any unemployment compensation could be received.



I struggled to find the right resources on what to do when laid off. Here's a list of state unemployment resources, listed alphabetically by state:


Alabama, joblink.alabama.gov/
Alaska, labor.state.ak.us/
Arizona, www.azdes.gov/esa/uibenefits/uibhome.asp
Arkansas, www.state.ar.us/esd/WorkersUnempBenefits/ADWS_Workerunempben.htm
California, www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/
Colorado, www.coworkforce.com/
Connecticut, www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/unemplt/unemployment.htm
Delaware, www.delawareworks.com/Unemployment/services/services.shtml
District of Columbia, does.dcnetworks.org/claimantservices/
Florida, www.floridajobs.org/Unemployment/index.html
Georgia, www.dol.state.ga.us/
Hawaii, hawaii.gov/labor/ui
Idaho, labor.idaho.gov
Illinois, www.ides.state.il.us
Indiana, www.in.gov/dwd/
Iowa, www.iowaworkforce.org/ui/
Kansas, www.uibenefits.dol.ks.gov/
Kentucky, oet.ky.gov/des/ui/ui.asp
Louisiana, www.laworks.net
Maine, www.maine.gov/labor/unemployment/benefits.html
Maryland, www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/unemployment.shtml
Massachusetts, mass.gov/eolwd
Michigan, www.michigan.gov/uia
Minnesota, www.uimn.org
Mississippi, mdes.ms.gov/
Missouri, www.ui.dolir.mo.gov/
Montana, uid.dli.mt.gov/
Nebraska, uiconnect.ne.gov/uiconnect/center.cfm
Nevada, detr.state.nv.us/uiben/uiben_uiben.htm
New Hampshire, claims.nhes.state.nh.us/weblogic/ready.jsp
New Jersey, www.njuifile.net/
New Mexico, www.uiclaims.state.nm.us/
New York, www.ui.labor.state.ny.us/
North Carolina, www.ncesc.com/
North Dakota, www.jobsnd.com/insurance/workers_apply.html
Ohio, unemployment.ohio.gov/unemployed_workers.html
Oklahoma, www.unemployment.state.ok.us/
Oregon, www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml
Pennsylvania, www.paclaims.state.pa.us/UCEN/Login.asp
Rhode Island, www.dlt.state.ri.us/
South Carolina, www.sc.gov/Portal/Category/EMPLOYMENT
South Dakota, dol.sd.gov/ui/uibenefits.aspx
Tennessee, www.tennesseeanytime.org/labor/
Texas, www.twc.state.tx.us/customers/jsemp/jsempsub22.html
Utah, jobs.utah.gov/ui/WebInitialClaims/Welcome.asp
Vermont, www.labor.vermont.gov/Unemployed/tabid/109/Default.aspx
Virginia, www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/unins/insunemp.cfm
Washington, www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/index.php
West Virginia, www.wvbep.org/bep/uc/
Wisconsin, www.ucclaim-wi.org/
Wyoming, wyui.doe.state.wy.us/

Consult with your state agency to determine the most efficient means for application. Usually, this can be done online. Due to the large number of unemployment claims currently being filed, phone lines are often, unfortunately, blocked to a frustrating degree.

The Lay Off

Like many Americans, I was laid off from my job in late 2008. At first, it seemed shocking that it would actually happen to me, though it was happening to people all around me. I hadn't planned on it, but who ever really does? After becoming completely enraged and then terrified about what would happen to me financially with the economy in shambles and more people losing their jobs by the day, I decided to take some action.