6 Critical Steps for the Unemployed ppt

Laid Off Now What?!?™
16 Critical Steps for the Unemployed
‘What do I do now?’ Quick Start Guide for those in-between adventures.
By Laura Dawn Lewis
Copyright © 2003-2010 Laura Dawn Lewis
Published by Couples Company
All Rights Reserved
Laid Off Now What?!?
16 Critical Steps for the Unemployed
Smashwords Edition
ISBN: 978-1-4581-0898-2
Laid Off Now What: Thriving Financially through Unemployment
EAN-139781451548808, Paperback Edition
First Publishing July 21, 2003, ISBN 0-9671042-3-8
Re-released October 6, 2009
This publication is designed to provide competent and reliable information regarding the subject
matter covered. However, it is offered with the understanding that the author and publisher are
not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or other professional advice. Laws and practices vary
from state to state and if legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a
professional should be sought. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any liability that is
incurred from the use or application of the contents of this book. Although based upon true
stories, certain events in the book have been fictionalized for educational content and impact.
Cover Design by Laura Dawn Lewis
www.LaidOffNowWhat.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Quick Start Guide : Outline of the 16 Steps
CHAPTER 1:
CHAPTER 2:
CHAPTER 3:

CHAPTER 4:
Contacting Unemployment Offices
Under-employment
Self-employment Assistance Programs
Maximum Unemployment by State
Additional Resources for Unemployed
CHAPTER 5:
CHAPTER 6:
CHAPTER 7:
CHAPTER 8:
CHAPTER 9:
Options when losing your home
CHAPTER 10:
Social Networking Sites Directory
Do’s & Don’ts of Social Media
CHAPTER 11:
CHAPTER 12:
CHAPTER 13:
CHAPTER 14:
CHAPTER 15:
CHAPTER 16:
About the Author
_______
INTRODUCTION
Welcome and congratulations. You’re being proactive. This means you’ll make it through this
transition in your life quickly and confidentially.
What you’re reading is a free quick start guide that includes a summary of the critical steps you
need to take when you lose your job. I know not everyone can afford to spend $9.95 on a book so
I wanted to make sure this information is available to anyone who needs it. The faster we as a
nation get people back to work, the quicker we all benefit.

This ebook is compiled from the first chapter of the book Laid Off Now What?!? The Great
Recession Edition, Thriving Financially through Unemployment. The book goes into minute detail
about everything summarized herein and is designed to be used as a reference manual on how
to save money, make money, deal with creditors, find a job and bypass the gatekeepers
preventing you from achieving your next position whilst unemployed or under-employed. You can
acquire the full book where you got this download or in paperback through several booksellers. If
you have questions, contact me through LaidOffNowWhat.com or subscribe to my twitter feed
@laidoffnowwhat.
Let’s get started
You may have expected to lose your job, or it may have come from out of the blue. Regardless,
when it comes, it seems you are never really prepared for it. You’re laid off—now what? This
book is all about the ‘what’.
As you begin to take stock of your situation, it may seem insurmountable. That’s normal and it’s
normal to have anxiety, doubts and fears. True, you may be carrying high credit card debt and
other loans averaging 21% or more. Your savings may be depleted or are less than the debts you
owe. The value of your home may be less than you owe. Over the past year you’ve watched your
stocks and retirement savings lose nearly thirty-percent of their value. The cost of COBRA
(Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) consumes a significant portion of
unemployment benefits leaving little else for food, shelter and transportation. These are a few of
the annoying little realities for the newly unemployed or what is facetiously referred to as the pink-
slip party.
The timing couldn’t be worse, right? Honestly, is there ever a good time to lose your job? Of
course not, especially if the only safety net you had, a steady paycheck is gone. Now what do you
do?
First and foremost, don’t dwell on what is wrong, why it happened or the obstacles before you.
Let’s get that out of the way now. These challenges will be addressed and you will find tasks,
tactics and actions you can take to mitigate their negative effect on you and your family in this
series. Worry never produces results. It only produces anxiety and doubt, neither of which
supports success. So why worry?
THE GOOD NEWS?

This is temporary and you will survive, thrive and get through it.
THE BAD NEWS?
Nearly 20-million Americans and hundreds of millions of people world wide currently share your
situation, which means you’ve got lots of company. Henry David Thoreau wrote: “If misery loves
company, misery has company enough.”
Vow now to leave the keeping of company with misery to others. This little eBook is about getting
you to a less crowded and far more productive place. A place misery is not welcomed and where
hope leads the way. It’s part of the Laid Off Now What series, a series of manuals for the
unemployed dealing with the financial, psychological and job seeking strategies necessary to
thrive through unemployment and get you back to work (and your life) quickly.
This is an abridged version in a quick-start format designed to help you avoid the most common
mistakes the newly unemployed and those seeking employment make. These mistakes cost
people hundreds of dollars a month in lost savings and months of unproductive time. I created
this free book to highlight the critical steps each person needs to take the minute they know they
are going to lose their job or on the day they do.
I’ve written this book in a familiar rather than technical or textbook style. Each section is self-
contained, meaning the information you need to deal with a specific challenge presented in whole
without requiring the context of the previous or proximate section. You do not need to read the
steps in order or even the entire book to benefit. Take what you need. Don’t waste your time on
what you don’t. Each person is unique and arrives at this point in their life with different needs,
experiences and skill sets.
With that said, let’s get started. Welcome to your next adventure!
Laura Dawn Lewis,
Author, LAID OFF, Now What?!? Series
________________
THE 16 CRITICAL STEPS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR FIRST WEEK
A Quick Start Guide
You’ve got a lot to do this week and most of this will be preparation, which if done well, will save
you a substantial amount of time, grief, stress, and energy in the weeks ahead. Begin working on

these tasks the day you’re given a lay off notice, or the day you realize it’s time to start looking for
a new job.
THE PRIMARY TASKS YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH DURING WEEK ONE ARE:
CHAPTER 1: Schedule all doctor appointments
CHAPTER 2: Submit your expense report
CHAPTER 3: Check out your health care spending account
CHAPTER 4: Call your state’s unemployment office—or—visit their website
CHAPTER 5: Sign up for Sxipper, RobboForm, or another form-filling software
CHAPTER 6: Make a target list of the companies you want to work for
CHAPTER 7: Make a list of your assets and liabilities
CHAPTER 8: Prepay as much as possible
CHAPTER 9: Hope for the best but plan for the worst
CHAPTER 10: Update your resume and cover letter
CHAPTER 11: Create your online networking profiles
CHAPTER 12: Begin collecting samples and testimonials for your Webfolio* (Professional-level
careers and above)
CHAPTER 13: Cancel ALL Automatic Payments
CHAPTER 14: Get your oil changed in your car. Deal with any basic maintenance, registration
and smog test issues now.
CHAPTER 15: Get a general e-mail address (yahoo, hotmail, gmail) to use for your job search
CHAPTER 16: Update your address book. Send an e-mail out to everyone in your network.
It may seem like a lot to do, but you can get it all done. If you’re married, have teenage or older
children at home, or are living with another adult, many of these tasks should be done together.
The loss of your job affects everyone in the household and if your children are old enough to
understand this, going through this process with them will be invaluable to their future. It will also
teach them essential skills they will not learn in college while impressing upon them the
importance of economizing and being careful with any and all assets you have. This includes
unplugging appliances not in use and turning lights off when leaving the room to save on
electricity, (which is something you can start now).
With that said, let’s get to work.

CHAPTER 1: SCHEDULE ALL DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS
(Annual physicals, eye exams, and dental cleanings) before your benefits expire.
Do this immediately and do not wait. Ask your employer exactly when your coverage ends. Then
verify it with the insurance company. Some insurance policies end the day you leave; others go
through the end of the month. You'll want to use the next week if your insurance is in place to get
your annual physical, dental cleanings, and eye exams. Schedule all appointments for your
children as well. If your children are in the middle of orthodontic care such as braces, ask your
doctor how this treatment is handled if you no longer have insurance.
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) such as Kaiser or Pacificare can make this step
difficult. They tend to set routine appointments months in advance. Do not take no for an answer
and do not let them put you off. If you have to, bypass the appointment setters and speak directly
to your doctor. Insist on the next available opening and make sure he/she understands you
cannot wait six-to-eight weeks because you will not have insurance then. It could be a year or
longer before you have insurance again. Most companies have a 90-day waiting period before
benefits go into effect once you are hired. Do what you can now to get as much as you can from
the coverage you have.
During your final check-up, ask for copies of your family’s medical records. Keep these in a
protected place such as a relative’s home, safe or safety deposit box, or scan them into a
portable hard drive. Several people we’ve interviewed have had a doctor disappear for various
reasons, some legal and some not. As the economy continues to crumble, even doctors are
getting caught in the vise and with them, their medical records. This is one problem you don’t
need now. Having a copy of your records prevents it. You have a right to them. Do not let the
HMO or doctor tell you differently.
CHAPTER 2: SUBMIT YOUR EXPENSE REPORT
Make sure you get in writing that your former employer will compensate you for any company
expenses that have not been submitted and any promises they have made to you before leaving.
Most employers will require you tender your last expense report within five working days of your
leaving. This can include any approved expenses such as mileage, coffee, and sandwiches for
meetings, parking fees, travel expenses, office supplies, pre-paid magazine or association dues,
cell phone bills, and other miscellaneous expenses. To be reimbursed you need receipts and

itemized bills for phone or other reoccurring expenses. If in doubt, submit it. The worst that can
happen is they’ll say no. Make copies of everything before you submit it.
You may also get paid for any unused vacation time and/or sick time. If you are in sales, you can
generally negotiate two to four weeks out on collected revenues.
CHAPTER 3: HEALTH CARE SPENDING ACCOUNT
You may have several thousand dollars more than you thought if you took out a tax-free medical-
spending account. Typically you elect to have a certain sum pulled out of your paycheck every
month to pay medical expenses. This full amount is usually available to you by January 30th of
each year, even though it will take you a full year to of contributions to fulfill the total. Most plans
provide a credit card for you to use. Here’s how it works.
This is an actual example: Let’s say in October when you completed your benefits elections you
designated the maximum amount of $4,000 to be set aside. Perhaps you have kids who need
braces or you are anticipating surgery or some other medical procedure. Commencing January
1st, $153.00 is deducted from your paycheck every two weeks before taxes. Suddenly in March,
you find out your department has been laid off. At this point you’ve contributed less than $1,000
but you can use the full $4,000. Check your contract immediately. Most do not require that you
pay back what you haven’t contributed, which means you have an extra $3,000 to spend on
medical bills, you didn’t know you had. And since these are medical expenses, you may not have
to pay taxes on that extra $3,000 either.
What can you spend it on? Any medically approved expense: Lasik surgery, dental work, medical
weight-loss programs including purchasing the food, drugs, surgery for deviated septum, and
other health expenditures. The bottom line is, if you don’t spend it you lose it.
In the following case, a person used $3,500 for Lasik surgery and the remaining $500 for a weight
loss program through a company called Lindora®. At tax time in 2009, he reported it on his taxes
but did not have to pay taxes on the sum. Nor did he have to pay back the $3,000 he hadn’t
contributed. How can the medical benefits programs afford to do this? Because the terms require
you spend the money on approved medical care and many people don’t use up their full amount
because they don’t look in to all of the different things they can use it for. If they don’t use it, the
company keeps the money. This offsets the small percentage of people who take out the full
benefit amount early in the year and then lose or quit their jobs before the end of the year. Yes,

even if you quit your job, this is one benefit you take with you.
How long this advantage will stay in effect is yet to be seen. If you have the funds, use them
immediately. There is always a chance the loophole will close. You might as well get the benefits
while you can. It may be possible to use these funds to pay for medical insurance as well which
could allow your family to maintain coverage, even if you’re unemployed. Check the terms of your
contract. Every company and state is different. The example above was in California during 2008.
CHILD OR DEPENDENT CARE AND OTHER PRE-TAX DEDUCTIONS:
A similar scenario may be available for deductions you’ve elected for child care and other
services. Read the contract to see if you’ve got money you didn’t know you had.
CHAPTER 4: CALL YOUR STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE
or visit their site online. Contact information for all 50 states is included further on in this chapter.
Don't feel guilty about this. You and your employers have been paying into this fund your entire
working life. You've earned the money you are going to receive through your hard work. File the
day you are terminated, unless it is in December or June. The reason you may want to wait
during these months has to do with fiscal years. That is covered below. Call your state's
unemployment office or visit their website. Most states begin the benefit period from the day you
call or file, not the day you were let go. You will not get paid for the first week of unemployment in
most states (although in some they count the day you call as the first week, i.e., let go Friday,
call, become eligible the following Monday). It will take three-to-four weeks to get your first check,
longer if you were fired because they must do an investigation. In most cases you will still receive
compensation even if you were fired. The exceptions are termination for misconduct (lying,
cheating, abusive language, etc.) or criminal acts.
CONTACTING YOUR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE:
Some states are easy to work with. Others are nearly impossible and make the process a
dehumanizing experience. First try to do everything online. Links to each state’s unemployment
division are provided for you in this chapter. You can also choose to call, but this is not
recommended. The links later in this chapter will take you to your state’s phone numbers as well.
When calling your state’s unemployment department, set aside four to five hours one day to just
continually redial the number until you get through. Use a speakerphone if possible.
You’ll need to listen to the five-minute instruction each time to see if you are lucky enough to

actually be allowed to hold or you get the “I’m sorry but the maximum number of callers on hold
has been reached. Please call again later.”
On the website for this book, LaidOffNowWhat.com, we’ve assembled copies of the
Unemployment manual for each state if available.
HINT: MAXIMIZING YOUR BENEFIT.
Most states’ fiscal years end June 30th. If there is to be a boost in benefit payment amounts,
generally these occur only for claims filed AFTER the start of the state’s new fiscal year.
Occasionally states will raise benefits January 1st instead. If you become unemployed close to
June 30th or December 31st, find out if the benefits will rise in the next quarter BEFORE
filing. Claims filed before stay on the old rate. Waiting up to a month, if you are coming up on
your state’s end of fiscal year, could mean hundreds of extra dollars per month for you. It is in
your best interests to determine if a rate increase will occur in the new fiscal year and if delaying
your filing will benefit you financially.
ABOUT EMERGENCY EXTENSIONS
Occasionally the federal government will extend unemployment benefits up to 26-weeks.
During the spring and summer of 2008, most states received additional funds from the federal
government to extend unemployment benefits. Each state’s rules vary. Some will allow you to
apply funds retroactively. Others require you open a new claim and others have various different
methods of disqualifying people. You’ll need to check out your state’s policies. Even if you are
disqualified, challenge it. The worst that can happen is the state will say no.
If the money is there and you’re eligible, get it. Don’t let pride get in your way. You have earned
this money and it is part of the cost employers carry when hiring staff. But be aware, unlike the
initial benefits, which are guaranteed by state law, extensions can disappear without warning.
A similar downturn in the economy from 2001 through 2002 prompted the federal government to
extend unemployment benefits due to the fallout from September 11th. California finally put this
into effect in April 2002. The extension was pulled in July 2002 without warning. Many who were
unemployed and living on the extension expected up to 26 additional weeks. To their horror, they
discovered the checks instead stopped at the end of the 11-to-13 week extension period, leaving
thousands jobless and without any income.
The reasoning for this in states like California was that a maximum amount is set aside per

claimant. This amount is the same for a minimum wage-earner or a corporate executive.
Therefore, the higher your benefits and previous income, the quicker the extension ran out. The
irony of this system? The more money you make, the longer it takes to find a new job. A person
making at or near minimum wage can usually find employment, even in a down economy, within
two months. An executive or skilled professional often requires 12-to-24 months.
UNDEREMPLOYMENT, THE NEW REALITY
Once upon a time completing a college degree provided security and the knowledge that once
you paid your dues, you’d never have to endure another commodity job as long as you lived.
Once upon a time.
The reality today is that many of the people serving you at retailers, restaurants, and in low-skill
jobs, the kind generally held by persons with a high school diploma or less, have undergraduate
degrees, MBAs and even PhDs. Why would a highly skilled and highly educated person take
such a job? Many of these people have tens of thousands of dollars in student loans to pay off,
are still single and because of this debt coupled with a single income household, they haven’t
been able to accumulate a nest egg. Enter a job loss. Without a paycheck they can’t afford food,
housing or their car unless they act quickly. Unemployment compensation is normally less than
30% of the normal take-home salary for union or degreed professionals. If you took a 70% cut in
pay, could you survive? Most people cannot.
The second reason many degreed people take jobs below their skills and pay grade addresses
professional growth and career management. To work in your field of expertise at a substandard
salary creates a salary history that limits advancement in the future. For many it is also a matter
of principle. Professionals will work pro-bono before they’ll work for substandard pay. Pro-bono is
seen as an asset on a resume. Earning $20 an hour for a position that usually pays $75 is seen
as desperate and unprofessional.
One of the top advertising people in Los Angeles with a PhD in Marketing and 25-years
experience was out of work for two years between 2001 and 2003. She explained why she turned
down many offers of employment, “To offer me $70,000 a year for my knowledge, contacts, and
expertise is an insult. I am not going to give any company seven months of my time for free. If I
take that salary, that is what I’m doing. I’d rather work for $8.00 an hour at a Starbucks and
freelance on the side at my usual rate. Otherwise I prostitute myself to a company that doesn’t

value me enough to pay me what I’m worth.”
Practical reasons also necessitate not working for less than you’re worth in your area of
expertise. Companies will do salary checks and if they show you’re willing to work beneath your
level or take a salary below the going rate, you’ve just lost an important edge in salary
negotiations. Likewise, if you take a position lower than your skill level in your industry. On paper
it appears you’re going backwards in your career, not forward. This tells employers you may not
be privy to the latest trends or technology, an opportunity-killer in a competitive market. The
tighter the job market, the more important it is you look like a winner on paper. By the way, you do
not have to list every job you’ve had and you do not have to list current employers on your
resume. Leave off fill-in and under-employment jobs on professional resumes, unless the
experience serves you. If you normally work in technology but take a lower paying job in health
care to make ends meet, you can position this on your resume as learning a new industry. Should
an employer comment about holes on your resume, you can always state you are consulting or
freelancing. Bottom line, only place jobs on your resume that are relevant to the position applied
for and serve to propel you forward in your career.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (SEA) PROGRAM
Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania offer Self-
Employment Assistance to qualified unemployed individuals seeking to becoming self-employed
or starting a business in their state. Once an individual is approved for the program, the benefits
of the SEA program include:
Weekly SEA compensation in place of unemployment benefits
A waiver of the work search requirement while actively engaged in the self-employment activities,
such as attending a mandatory 60-hour business course over a four-to-six week period and
devoting time to starting the business
Counseling and technical assistance in developing a business plan
To qualify for a SEA programs you must:
Be eligible for unemployment benefits
Be a dislocated worker and unlikely to return to your previous employment
Have been profiled by the state as likely to exhaust unemployment benefits
Have a viable business idea

Be willing to work full-time in developing the business
Have or be able to obtain the financial backing needed to start and sustain the business until it
becomes self-supporting
Currently the seven states listed are the only states offering such programs. Your state may have
grants and other options available. To find out, contact your state’s employment office or its
Economic Development Authority, the Small Business Administration or SCORE.
If you’re looking for loans or grants to start a new business or keep your current small business
alive, Business.gov provides links to the most common programs available to help you determine
what you need. />The following pages contain the contact information and the maximum unemployment
compensation available in each state as of this writing.
STATE EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Amounts are based upon data available in January 2009. Minimum compensation can range from
$5 to $60, depending upon the state.
This graph with active links is available on LaidOFFNowWHAT.com at:
/>ALABAMA
Dept. of Industrial Relations
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $255
ALASKA
Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $370
ARKANSAS
Department of Workforce Services
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $395
ARIZONA
Department of Economic Security
/> Maximum Weekly Benefit: $240
CALIFORNIA
Employment Development Dept.

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $450
COLORADO
Dept. of Labor and Employment

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $431
CONNECTICUT
Dept. of Labor

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $519
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Dept. of Employment Services
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $359
DELAWARE
Delaware Dept. of Labor
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $205-330*
*Maximum payment depends on the balance within the state’s trust fund.
FLORIDA
Agency for Workforce Innovation

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $275
GEORGIA
Georgia Dept. of Labor

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $330
HAWAII
Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $510
IDAHO
Idaho Dept. of Labor

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $364
ILLINOIS
Dept. of Employment Security

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $385-$534*
*Depends on whether single, married or with children
INDIANA
Dept. of Workforce Development
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $390
IOWA
Iowa Workforce Development

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $361-$443*
*Depends on whether single, married or with children
KANSAS
Kansas Department of Labor
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $407
KENTUCKY
Office of Employment and Training
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $415
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Dept. of Labor

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $258
MAINE
Maine Dept. of Labor
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit:
$344 + $10/dependent per week
MARYLAND
Division of Labor, Licensing & Regulation

/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $380
MASSACHUSETTS
Labor and Workforce Development
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $628
MICHIGAN
Michigan Career Portal
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $362
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Workforce Center

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $566
MISSISSIPPI
Department of Employment Security
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $230
MISSOURI
Department of Labor & Industrial Relations
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $320
MONTANA
Dept. of Labor and Industry

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $407
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Dept. of Labor

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $308
NEVADA
Dept. of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $393
NEW HAMPSHIRE

Employment Security
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $427
NEW JERSEY (By Far the Best State Site)
Work Force New Jersey
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $584
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $326 – 386*
*Depends on whether single or with children
NEW YORK
New York Dept. of Labor

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $405
NORTH CAROLINA
N.C. Employment Security Commission

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $476
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota Job Service

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $406
OHIO
Dept. of Job and Family Services

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $372 – 503*
*Depends on whether single, married or with children
OKLAHOMA
Employment Security Commission

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $409
OREGON
Oregon Employment Dept.

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $482
PENNSYLVANIA
Penn. Dept. of Labor and Industry
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $558
RHODE ISLAND
RI Dept. of Labor and Training

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $528-578*
*Depends on whether single, married or with children
SOUTH CAROLINA
SC Employment Security Commission

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $326
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Dept. of Labor
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $298
TENNESSEE
Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $275
TEXAS
Texas Workforce Commission

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $392
UTAH
Dept. of Workforce Services
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $444

VERMONT
Dept. of Labor

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $425
VIRGINIA
Virginia Employment Commission
/>Maximum Weekly Benefit: $378
WASHINGTON
Employment Security Department

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $541
WEST VIRGINIA
Workforce West Virginia

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $424
WISCONSIN
Dept. of Workforce Development

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $363
WYOMING
Wyoming Dept. of Employment

Maximum Weekly Benefit: $415
UNEMPLOYMENT FACTS:
Figure 1-month for every $10,000 in salary you make to find a new position. The less money you
make, the easier it will be to find a job.
Unemployment compensation is TAXABLE by the federal government.
The maximum allowable unemployment in California is $1,800 per month. The average rent is
$1,400 per month and the average house costs $385,000 with house payments near $3,500 per
month. If you are unemployed in California and without savings, your chance of becoming

homeless within thirteen weeks is high. Other states go as high as $2,490 with rents averaging
$1,200.
Foreign residents with valid visas authorizing them to work in the United States can qualify for
jobless benefits if they meet the requirements of the state in which they file. These are the same
whether you are working with a green card, work visa, or are a U.S. citizen.
Most states allow claims to go for four to six months, maximum. Extensions can take these to 11-
months, but don’t count on it.
CAN YOU GO TO ANOTHER STATE where the cost of living is lower and the unemployment
compensation is higher? You can go and live anywhere you want, but your compensation will be
paid by the state in which you were laid off or fired. Because unemployment insurance is
collected and distributed by each state, only the state you worked in will pay your benefits. You
can move to a less expensive state and still receive benefits from your old state as long as you
can continue to prove you are actively looking for a job. Check with your state’s requirements first
and be sure to read the fine print. The last thing you need right now is a loophole preventing you
from receiving compensation
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Additional programs and options for the
unemployed seeking work and assistance continue to be offered. Many of these target specific at-
risk groups. The federal government, through a program called Career One Stop has developed a
searchable database for each of the 50 states. It includes each of these programs, where they
are, and how to work with them.
The locator is at this URL: />SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
INDIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM />officetype=8
Employment and training services specific to Native American communities, administered with
respect for the traditions, values, and cultural sensibilities of each tribe.
JOB CORPS CENTERS
/>The nation's largest residential and educational training program for economically challenged
youth, ages 16 through 24. Students receive academic, vocational, and life-skills training, as well
as apprenticeship experience.
NATIONAL FARM WORKER JOBS PROGRAM
/>These programs are specifically for migrant and other seasonally employed farm workers and

their families, which include development of economic self-sufficiency through job training and
other services.
OLDER WORKER PROGRAM - SCSEP />officetype=14
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) assists with subsidized part-time
employment and training in community service positions for eventual transition into private-sector
employment specifically designed for older workers, (55+).
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES />officetype=6
Designed for persons with mental or physical disabilities, these programs provide the career
coaching and training necessary to compete in the interview process, get a job, and keep a job.
WELFARE-TO-WORK OFFICES
/>For those who have had to survive on public assistance, Temporary Aid to Needy Families
(TANF), formerly Welfare-to-Work, places people in jobs that will help them attain economic self-
sufficiency.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
/>Community colleges function as trade schools, university primers, and community education
centers. People looking to save money on the cost of college often attend for the first two years,
then transfer to a four-year university. Once you graduate from the university, nobody needs to
know you went to a community college. Your diploma shows the four-year university only. This is
an integral part of the workforce development system, certifying people for specific trades.
Community colleges often provide excellent education in specific disciplines if the region is home
of a major employer or industry. For example, Boeing and Microsoft heavily fund the community-
college system in the Seattle area. This has created a far superior math and science curriculum
at the community-college level than at most four-year universities.
LITERACY PROGRAMS
/>These programs provide local assistance with reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOCAL OFFICES />officetype=93
RURAL DEVELOPMENT STATE OFFICES />officetype=92
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has local Rural Development Offices in

every state. These local offices offer grants, loans, and loan guarantees for people in rural
locations to start or maintain their own business.
MILITARY AND VETERANS OFFICES AND SERVICES
MILITARY RECRUITING OFFICES />officetype=89
Where to go if you are interested in working in the U.S. military services: Army, Air Force, Navy,
Marines, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
VA MEDICAL CENTERS
/>The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates the nation's largest integrated health care
system with more than 1,300 sites of care, including hospital, community clinics, nursing homes,
domiciliary, readjustment counseling centers, and various other facilities.
VA REGIONAL OFFICES
/>Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides benefits and services to the veteran population
through 58 VA regional offices. Some of the benefits and services provided by VBA to veterans
and their dependents include compensation and pension, education, loan guaranty, and
insurance.
VETERANS CENTERS

The Centers provide individual, group, and family counseling to all veterans who served in any
combat zone. Services are also available for their family members. Veterans have earned these
benefits through their combat service and all are provided at no cost to the veteran or his family.