What Do I Do When Unemployment Runs Out

Get Help Looking For A Job

It is easy to become discouraged in a difficult job market. One way to shorten your search time is to broaden your horizons. Consider expanding the field you are looking in, as well as the geographic location. You may be able to find a great job in a different state or city.

If you’re a college graduate, check with your career services office. Many schools provide career counseling and job-search assistance to alumni.

If you are getting to the interview stage, but you are not receiving any offers, you need to get help with your interviewing techniques. Look for help with this through your local unemployment office. It can still help with looking for a job even if you do not qualify for weekly benefits. It is important to continue to be proactive until you find a job.

What Happened In States That Cut Off Enhanced Unemployment Benefits Early

Governors in roughly two dozen states ended federal aid early over the summer, claiming that the extra unemployment benefits were disincentivizing people from finding work and led to labor shortages. Around that time, the economy and the job market were beginning to show solid signs of growth. Jobs were added to the economy overall, although many retail and dining businesses struggled to hire employees and continue to struggle.

Several studies over the last year have disputed claims that jobless benefits deter people from returning to work. Labor Department data released in August shows people living in states that cut off benefits early havent rushed back to work. Job growth in states that cut enhanced jobless benefits has been parallel to states that kept the benefits.

In a Arindrajit Dube, a University of Massachusetts economist, found in states that ended federal programs early, adults receiving extra unemployment benefits fell by 2.2%, but employment didnt increase. At the same time, employment rose by 0.2% in states that didnt end extended unemployment insurance prematurely.

Because COVID-19 cases have started to rise again due to the Delta variant, theres a newfound uncertainty around the economy and job market.

Create An Action Plan

If you are close to losing your unemployment benefits, you need to create an action plan to fall back on.

The best time to trim expenses and find resources is while you still qualify for unemployment. Make a plan now, and you can save yourself additional stress later.

The longer youre unemployed, the more challenging it can be to get your finances in order and find work, but there are resources available to help long-term unemployed workers.

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Check On Extended Unemployment Benefits

First, check with your state unemployment office to ensure you are receiving all the benefits you qualify for. During periods of high unemployment, the federal government may provide funds allowing the states to expand unemployment benefits.

The U.S. Department of Labor provides a website to help you locate your state’s unemployment insurance office.

Types Of Disability Policies

There are two types of disability policies.

• Short-term policies may pay for up to two years. Most last for a few months to a year.

• Long-term policies may pay benefits for a few years or until the disability ends.

Employers who offer coverage may provide short-term coverage, long-term coverage, or both.

If you plan to buy your own policy, shop around and ask:

• How is disability defined?

• How long do benefits last?

• How much money will the policy pay?

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Common Questions About Unemployment Benefits

Experiencing a job loss is challenging no matter what. Keep in mind that youre not alone, and remember that unemployment benefits were created to help you.

While theyre designed to provide financial relief, unemployment benefits are not always easy to navigate. Heres what you need to know to understand how unemployment benefits work:

In What States Are Unemployment Benefits Still Available

These are the states where UI benefits are available: Alabama, Arizona, California , Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

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Calculating The Base Year

In Washington state, as in nearly all states, you count back five complete calendar quarters to establish the beginning of your base period, and then from that quarter you count forward four quarters. These four quarters comprise your one-year base period.

Here’s an example. You file your claim in March 2017. It doesn’t matter which day in March you file, because March, being an incomplete month, doesn’t figure into the calculation. Similarly, March and the previous two months, January and February, comprising an incomplete quarter, are not counted either. Instead, you start counting back five complete quarters beginning with December 2016, the beginning of the first complete quarter. This takes you to October 2015. That’s the beginning of your base year, which ends on the last day of September 2016.

This base year isn’t fixed. It’s always a one-year window that keeps moving forward. This means that waiting to “refile” for additional benefits is a bad idea. Not only are you not getting benefits when you need them, you’re taking a chance on losing your eligibility because you’ve now spent too much of this forward-moving base year unemployed.

Where To Find Free Financial Assistance And Support

Try these steps to boost your job search and find financial assistance during unemployment.

• Secure a free email account: Job seekers can create a professional email, separate from their personal email, to use just for job searching.
• Check with your internet and cell service provider: You may be able to hold off on all or some of your payments while you’re unemployed.
• Ask your church and local community organizations for support: If you are a member of a church, ask whether any help is available. Community organizations often have resources to help the unemployed with food baskets, donations, job help, and babysitting assistance.
• Seek help from your network: If you can get support from family or friends, don’t hesitate to ask.
• Obtain free job search help: Identify and find free, or inexpensive, job search and career resources in your geographic area.
• Use your local CareerOneStop Center: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop Centers have information on local support resources. These include help with utility bills, food costs, and other necessary expenses. Career OneStop might also have information on temporary positions, permanent or long-term job listings, and assistance with job or skill training to increase your marketability.
• Review job search tips for unemployed job seekers: It’s difficult to be upbeat and confident when you’re in a desperate financial situation, but it’s important for an unemployed job seeker to remain positive.

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How To Get Help When You’re Out Of Unemployment

• Frequently Asked Questions

What can you do if your unemployment benefits run out, or you’re about to lose them and you still don’t have a job? Try not to panic, as there are resources available to help.

Unemployment benefits are intended as a temporary measure to help you financially when you are between jobs. Generally, unemployment benefits last up to a maximum of 26 weeks. However, the duration of benefits can vary, depending on your state.

In times of high unemployment, the federal and state governments may extend unemployment benefits. However, there are limits to how many weeks are available. That means there’s a chance your benefits might run out before you secure new employment.

What should you do if you are worried about your unemployment benefits running out? There are steps you can take to protect your finances, even when you are unemployed.

Ask About The Extended Benefits Program In Your State

Can unemployment benefits be extended beyond that? In periods of high unemployment, you may qualify for a second extension, depending on your state.

After those 13 weeks, many states have added a new program called Extended Benefits that can provide another 13 to 20 weeks of unemployment when a state is experiencing high unemployment, Simon-Mishel adds. This means you may be able to receive a total of up to 59 weeks of unemployment benefits, including extensions. The total number of weeks of unemployment you may receive varies based on your state and the economic climate.

Its hard enough keeping up with everything as you prepare for the end of unemployment benefits, so dont worry if you dont have your states benefits program memorized. Visit your states unemployment insurance program page to learn more about what benefits are available to you.

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Federal And State Extended Benefits

Federal benefits created during the pandemic including PUA, PEUC, and FPUC ended September 4. Any funds remaining in your unemployment account related to these federal programs will not be available for certification or payment for weeks of unemployment ending after September 4, 2021, per federal law.

Please note that you will be able to receive benefits for weeks of unemployment ending prior to September 4, per your weekly certification answers. If you are currently in an appeal or adjudication process, or have an appointment scheduled after September 4, please continue to certify weekly, follow instructions and monitor your email.

To learn more about available extensions of or additions to unemployment benefits, see the information below.

How many weeks of unemployment benefits can I currently receive?

Those who meet the requirements for traditional unemployment insurance may receive benefits for up to 26 weeks during a one-year period.

Additionally, from July 1, 2020 through April 9, 2022, New Jerseys high unemployment rate triggered state extended benefits for NJ workers who have exhausted unemployment benefits, if, among other requirements, they meet the minimum earnings requirement and the date of their initial UI claim is May 12, 2019 or later.

Per federal regulations, on April 17, 2021, NJ state extended unemployment benefits were reduced from up to 20 weeks to up to 13 weeks because New Jerseys unemployment rate went down.

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Check With Nonprofit Organizations

There are many resources available at a local, state or federal level to help people who lose their jobs. For example, there are local agencies you can contact to help you with training, employment and affordable housing. Every state also has temporary assistance available for families with children. Those programs can help families by providing financial assistance and job training and searching.

If you’re a member of a local church or other community organization, ask if there are any programs available to offer help. Many community organizations can provide resources like babysitting assistance, donations or food baskets. They may also be able to check with other members to see if anyone knows of jobs that are available on a part or full-time basis.

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Extended State Ui Benefits

The Texas Extended Benefits Program is only available during periods of high rates of Texas unemployment or national unemployment. This program becomes available when the 12-week Insured Unemployment Rate is 5 percent or more, as determined by the federal Department of Labor. This occurred as of May 31, 2020, when the Texas unemployment rate was 12.8 percent, exceeding the threshold to trigger the extension. The federal Department of Labor notified the TWC of this in early June, 2020.

Extended state UI benefits are payable for up to 13 additional weeks, and the cost of these additional benefits are split between the federal government and the state government equally. To qualify for extended benefits, the claimant must have exhausted their regular claim for UI benefits in Texas and also exhausted the federal PEUC pandemic benefits. In addition, the individual’s total base period wages of the original UI claim must be at least 40 times the weekly benefit amount or else equal to or greater than 1.5 times the highest quarters earnings.

Can I Still Apply For Unemployment Insurance

Each state handles and regulates its unemployment benefits differently, so whether or not you qualify for unemployment will depend on a variety of factors in your state. According to the Department of Labor, there are three general criteria to be eligible for unemployment benefits:

• Youre unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states, this means you can only receive unemployment benefits if theres a lack of available work not if you voluntarily quit or are fired from your job.
• You have to meet hour and/or wage requirements. Each state has its own guidelines for the amount wages earned or hours worked before you can qualify for unemployment.
• You meet any additional requirements in your state. Additional unemployment requirements can vary significantly depending on where you live.

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Take On Debt If You Need To

If youve exhausted all other options, its OK to take on some debt to help make ends meet.

No one wants to take on more debt than they normally would, but there are some ways that you may be able to do so in a financially wise way, Quittner said. If you need to temporarily keep a balance on your card because of COVID-19, youll want to get a card with a low APR. You can even find credit cards with APRs as low as 0%. As with all credit cards, read the fine print and ask about any hidden fees before you sign up.

You should also make a plan now to pay off your debt when your financial situation improves.

For example, include debt repayment in your budget and prioritize paying off that extra debt as soon as possible, Quittner said. If you feel overwhelmed by your debt, consider using the avalanche method or the snowball method to attack it.

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Whats Not Being Extended

Even if the bill passes, it wont extend two other benefits set to expire on March 31: A key relief program for small businesses and the federal eviction moratorium.

The Paycheck Protection Program that provides forgivable loans to struggling small businesses is set to close on March 31. The bill would not extend the end date, but would add $7 billion to the program if its passed before the end of the month. It would also provide $15 billion to the Emergency Injury Disaster Loan program, which provides long-term, low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration as well as $25 billion for a new grant program specifically for bars and restaurants.

The federal eviction moratorium that protects struggling renters will expire on March 31, but an extension isnt allowable in the reconciliation bill. Instead, the extension must be made through an executive action. The Biden administration previously extended the protection from January 31 to March 31 though the constitutionality of the moratorium is being challenged in court.

But the bill would send roughly $19.1 billion to state and local governments to help low-income households cover back rent, rent assistance and utility bills. About $10 billion would be authorized to help struggling homeowners pay their mortgages, utilities and property taxes. It would provide another $5 billion to help states and localities assist those at risk of experiencing homelessness.

This story has been updated with Senate passage.

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Financial Aid: Grants Scholarships Loans

If youre currently unemployed, this also may be an ideal time to explore your options for going back to school and potentially making a career change. Many federal financial aid programs are in place to help you do just that. Financial aid options include grants and scholarships, along with government-backed federal loans. While these loans will need to be paid back over time, government-backed loans typically feature more attractive payment options than loans issued by private lenders.

Talk To Service Providers

Reaching out to your utility service providers like your gas, electric or water company is one of the first steps John Schmoll, creator of personal finance blog Frugal Rules, suggests taking if youre preparing for the end of unemployment benefits.

A lot of times, either out of shame or just not knowing, people dont contact service providers and let them know what their situation is, Schmoll says. see what programs they have in place to help you reduce your spending, and basically save as much of that as possible to help stretch your budget even further.

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Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, which you also may see referred to as Section 8, assists low income families, elderly individuals, and those with disabilities to access appropriate, safe and affordable housing within their communities. Eligible individuals and households receive housing vouchers that can be used to rent any housing that meets program requirements.

Currently, more than 2.1 million households in the U.S. receive housing assistance through this program. Eligibility for the Section 8 program is determined by local public housing agencies and is largely determined by total annual gross income and family size. In general, a households income may not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live in order to remain eligible.

If youre interested in applying for Section 8 benefits, youll need to determine the local PHA for your area and apply through that agency.

Earnings And Work Requirements

Most states require one or both of two requirements for eligibility:

• A work requirement. In Alabama, for example, as in many states, you must have worked in at least two quarters of the base year. Other states, however, have slightly different rules. In Washington, you can work in only one quarter as long as over the base year you’ve worked at least 680 hours.
• An earnings requirement. Some states have a minimum total wage amount earned during the base year eligibility period others have a “highest quarter wages” requirement. In Texas, you must have earned your weekly benefit amount times 37.

The Texas earnings requirement calculation is complicated. First, you determine your weekly benefit amount, which is what you earned in your highest-paid quarter divided by 25. The benefit is capped at $454 per week. $454 times 37 gives you $16,798, the minimum amount you must have earned to be eligible for benefits at the maximum benefits cap.

If you’re applying for extended benefits in Texas, your total wages during the base year must be at least 40 times your weekly benefit amount. You must have also used all your regular benefits from previous claims and must be ineligible for unemployment benefits in another state.

Qualifying for benefits in Wyoming involves two separate base-year earnings calculations. You must earn a minimum of 8 percent of the average wage in Wyoming for the base year and have total earnings of at least 1.4 times your earnings in your highest-paid quarter.

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