In the current modern world, no soul can say that the number of jobs meets the number of job seekers. So, you are most probably not at fault when you can’t find a job.
This doesn’t imply that you aren’t capable enough to find a job if you haven’t got one already. Rather, it implies that you can’t find a job due to the total lack of opportunities.
Are you unemployed even after trying your utmost to find a job? Chances are, you are most likely supported by your unemployment benefits primarily. But what happens when you exhaust even your unemployment benefits?
Today, you will understand how to lead a life without unemployment benefits. More importantly, this article will help you understand what to do when unemployment benefits are exhausted.
1. What are Unemployment Benefits
In today’s world, the government pays unemployed individuals a form of payment called unemployment benefits. In most cases, the government provides this financial support to unemployed individuals and their families.
1.1. The Amount of Money Provided through Unemployment Benefits
The amount of money that you get widely varies from one unemployed individual to another. This mainly depends on the social status of the said individual. It also depends if the person was employed previously and the net income during the then time of employment.
Depending on these factors alone, the government may provide enough funds to the person to live a comfortable life. On the other hand, the government may provide another person with only enough funds to barely make ends meet.
So, before you start on an unemployment scheme, it’s always optimum to do your research about the money you’ll claim. Through this method, you’ll be able to know the exact amount of money you can claim if you wish to follow through.
2. Unemployment Benefits and Their History
The Liberal Party government of H. H. Asquith introduced the first modern plan regarding this issue. This took place in the UK through the National Insurance Act of 1911. This plan aimed to prevent poverty resulting from unemployment. It also served as a strategy to counter the growing influence of the Labour Party among the working-class population.
The Act established a contributory insurance system against illness and unemployment. But at the same time, it exclusively covered wage earners and their families.
As for the unwaged, they had to seek support from other sources, if available. English Administrators Robert Laurie Morant and William Braithwaite played crucial roles in implementing this Act.
In old Britain, these plans were called “Dole”. These schemes were funded by workers and taxpayers during those times. After the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1920, the process of dole gave payments even to unemployed people in Britain.
After the second world war, leaders introduced these unemployment plans in Germany in 1927. The then US government introduced this scheme in the liberated US in 1932 through the state of Wisconsin.
3. Unemployment Plans across the World
In most countries across the world, unemployment benefits are a very real thing. According to federal law, a person may apply for unemployment benefits because it is a part of the federal benefits. But you need to provide a solid reason with proof as the cause of your unemployment.
The procedure and system of regular unemployment benefits varies from country to country. But in most cases, the country provides the unemployment benefit as a percentage of the wages during the person’s employment.
3.1. Unemployment Schemes Rates in Different Countries
A regular unemployment benefits rate in a country is 50-65% of the person’s former wages. This section provides the net unemployment plan rates from countries across the world. These include countries with some of the highest and lowest unemployment assistance rates in the whole world.
- Portugal – 80%
- Switzerland – 87%
- Canada – 70%
- Denmark – 68%
- Norway – 67%
- US – 60%
- Japan – 55%
- UK – 51%
3.2. Eligibility and Applying for Unemployment Schemes
The process of applying for an unemployment scheme is no less than a complex one. Besides, just as the rates of unemployment assistance are different in different countries, so is the process of applying for them.
In every nation, individuals must first meet the criteria for receiving an unemployment allowance. Then they have to physically register at a government unemployment office using the relevant documents. There an individual has to list their qualifications. One must also detail their job experience in this case.
Additionally, unemployed workers must actively pursue job opportunities. But different countries enforce this ideology to different extents according to their laws.
3.3. Durations of Unemployment Schemes
Just like all other factors, this scheme’s maximum duration also varies from country to country.
- Some countries have limitless duration during these schemes. These include New Zealand, Australia, and Belgium.
- On the other hand, some countries have durations of 1 year for their schemes. Such are the cases of the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, and France.
- Again, we also see some cases where the country may have limits of only 6 months or less. Like the US or the UK.
- In some other countries, the government considers various factors while calculating the optimum duration. These may include age, gender, duration of employment, etc.
- One example of this case is the case of Germany. Here, the government provides unemployment allowance for anywhere between 6 to 24 depending on such factors. If the individual is an unemployed senior citizen, then he/she will get allowances for longer periods.
The decision of how many months or years a person may get an allowance lies solely with the government or the head of the nation itself.
4. Unemployment Schemes in the United States
Like in most other countries, these schemes provide you with money even if you are unemployed. To be eligible for unemployment schemes, you need to have to earn at least a certain amount of money. This needs to happen in the last 12 months to 24 months.
During these months, you have to have worked with consistency. If you lost your job during those months, you have to show some proof of it. This proof should also consist of the fact that you searched for another job during those months.
But in some cases, you can immediately apply to fulfill your basic rights. Such as in the case of health services, you can apply for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). This COBRA plan helps you to choose the group health benefits allowed by your group health plan. This applies even in the case of the involuntary unemployment of the breadwinner of the family.
4.1. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance during COVID-19 Pandemic in the US
Although most of these plans are no longer functional, the United States introduced several plans in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Some of these are the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, etc.
4.1.1. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
The US government introduced an emergency plan when COVID-19 harmfully affected millions of Americans. It was called the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.
In most states, the people were supported by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation to get unemployment insurance. The government decreased the amount of the FPUC from 600 USD to 300 USD during the latter parts of the pandemic.
4.1.2. Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)
The Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation is another fantastic program introduced in the US during the pandemic. This was also schemed as an unemployment plan.
Unlike other plans that were monthly, Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation was a weekly benefit scheme like the PEUC benefits in most states. According to this, people could claim an extra 100 USD as their weekly benefit amount. This extra applied on top of the weekly benefit amount that they claimed during the pandemic.
4.1.3. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was a law signed by Former President Donald J Trump. This CARES Act brought the existence of the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation i.e. PEUC benefits.
Through the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation i.e. PEUC benefits, a person can claim 13 additional weeks of benefits. This additional benefit is provided on top of the unemployment schemes that they receive weekly.
So, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation i.e. PEUC benefits is a way to go.
5. Impact of Unemployment Allowance on the Greater Public
Just like all other things, governments should consider the cons and pros of unemployment schemes.
5.1. Pros of Unemployment Allowance
Undoubtedly, having unemployment schemes is beneficial for the greater good of a country. As a result of such plans, a person and their family are promised a better life. If they have actively searched for employment opportunities and have failed, this allowance is a must for them.
Moreover, these plans help a country greatly reduce the poverty rate of a country. Furthermore, it also helps to dwarf the malnutrition rate too. A lot of people cannot afford food and other nutritional needs when they are unemployed. Therefore, these plans support families to buy the food that they need to survive.
Therefore, unemployment schemes support a country and its national issues.
5.2. Cons of Unemployment Allowance
Due to these benefits, a person may be less motivated in pursuing a career or a job opportunity in general. As a result, it greatly increases the unemployment rate of the country.
Moreover, these benefits create a sort of pressure on the tax funds and development of a country.
The government mainly uses tax money to pay an unemployed individual’s allowance. That is if the government uses more money to pay for these allowances, then they have to spend less for development and other national costs of the country.
Nonetheless, unemployment schemes are the inarguably same as most other national schemes. Just like other schemes, it affects the national matters of a country both positively and negatively.
6. What to Do When Unemployment Benefits are Exhausted
Up until now, we have been explaining what unemployment schemes are and how they support an unemployed citizen. We also explained how to make yourself eligible for one and how to apply for them.
But let’s assume you already know all these things and have almost finished your duration of unemployment allowance. What will you do then?
This section will help you understand and know what to do when unemployment benefits are exhausted.
6.1. Analyze the Financial Condition You’re Currently in
The first thing you should immediately do in case of allowance exhaustion is to analyze your current situation. Every person and their family have required weekly/ monthly/ quarterly/ yearly expenses which include various categories of expenses. These may include food, clothing, education, utilities, housing, and transportation.
Soon as you exhaust your benefits, you should make a detailed limit for expenses in each category. By doing this, you can keep track of what you should spend in each category and therefore not exceed the limit.
Thus, you can then keep track of your expenses in such hard times. Therefore, the first advice for such situations is to assess your current situation.
6.2. Check Out Alternative Sources for Assistance
If you do your research, you will find numerous other government-assisted programs. These programs will help you even after the unemployment allowance is exhausted.
In the majority of countries, a person has several ways to get extended benefits. These extended benefits are for when you have exhausted your duration of unemployment allowance.
In the US, the extended benefits program provides you with 13 additional weeks of compensation. This is because you provide proof that you have been actively searching for work and that you are interested and able to work.
The US also provides various other refugees and services to unemployed families through providing food and other resources.
6.2.1. SNAP
One of these programs is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Due to SNAP, the government provides funds to the residents of states including Rhode Island, California, and West Virginia. With these funds, they can purchase their groceries and other foodstuff.
The SNAP is accessible in all of the states of the US including Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nebraska etc.
6.3. Reconstruct Your Strategy of Job Hunting
Your unemployment is undoubtedly the main root of your current problems. Inarguably, you can get rid of your current problems by getting employed.
To do that, you have to revamp your strategies of getting employed since clearly, it’s getting you nowhere. Start by taking care of your Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter. We must keep in mind that our cover letter is a representation of the qualities and skills that we possess. So, you need to represent yourself as pristine as you can.
Next what you need to do is spread the word. Expand your connections and spread the word to your friends, families, and other associates. Sooner or later, some employment opportunity might come around for you.
Finally, in the meantime, while you are unemployed, you can work to hone your skills further. You can then possibly get a job that demands more skills. And obviously, a job that requires more skills from its employee is a high-paying one.
6.4. Consider Part-Time Contracts
The jobs with the easiest application process and the least requirements for eligibility are part-time jobs. Part-time contracts can always help an individual in tough times.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re just someone who’s unemployed or someone who’s still studying in an institution. Regardless of that matter, everyone can apply for these jobs and contracts with a tension-free mind.
6.5. Maintaining a Positive Mindset
It’s no lie that job hunting and unemployment can be depressing as heck. But what we can all do is hope for the best and keep a smile on our faces. With such a positive outlook, it’s possible to overcome almost any obstacle.
We should remember that people’s lives are filled with bad times. And good times are just beyond bad times.
Always remember to surround yourself with a network of helpful and positive people as your associates. Furthermore, they are also really helpful when you need encouragement and to lift your spirits during such hard times.
Moreover, you should create a daily routine that monitors your everyday life. Keep in mind to include physical and mental exercises in this routine. Through such exercises, it becomes very simple for an individual to keep their body and mind afresh.
Conclusion
It’s inarguable that a person who has exhausted their unemployment benefits is facing a very challenging phase in their life. Nonetheless, it’s essential to remain proactive and determined during this time.
The steps you take after the depletion of unemployment benefits can significantly impact your future financial stability and career prospects. Using practical strategies and a positive mindset, navigate through difficulty and emerge stronger.
Though unemployed workers do not support the country in any way, we must take care of them as fellow citizens. Furthermore, we also must support them to get their employment back.
That will be it for this article and we hope that it answers your question about what to do when unemployment benefits are exhausted. We truly hope and pray that you will reach beyond your time of unemployment if you are in one. Furthermore, we also hope that you have an outstanding career where the sky’s the limit.
