RoxanneAs if the pandemic wasn’t bad enough, it looks like extra unemployment benefits could be coming to an end.
Did you lose your job as a result of the coronavirus pandemic? If so, you’re certainly not alone, as many people not only lost their jobs, but remain unemployed.
The American Rescue Plan helped extend unemployment benefits with an extra $300 per week. Unfortunately, some states put an end to that prematurely, and September 6 is when the benefits are supposed to cease officially.
This can obviously cause worry if you’ve been using that extra cash to survive. There are things you can do to stay afloat, though, such as these:
Look For Ways to Make Quick Income
The bad news is that those extra unemployment benefits are disappearing, unless they get extended once again. The good news is that there is plenty of work out there, and much of it pays more than it ever did before.
You have two main options when it comes to bringing in quick income. First, you can get a bridge job in an industry that hires quickly. As you can imagine, a bridge job is something you take in between that may not fit all of your requirements, but it does bring in much-needed cash.
For example, you could get a job waiting tables, even though that’s not what you usually do. There are tons of restaurants hiring, and many are now paying higher wages than ever. Some even offer sign-up bonuses, which could make such a job worth your while. Best of all, you can probably start immediately.
The second income-earning option is to start some side hustles. They don’t require the commitment of a job, but can bring in fast income to buy food and pay the bills. While the list of side hustles is never-ending, some examples include driving for Uber, babysitting or pet sitting, or delivering food via services like DoorDash or Uber Eats.
Try to Get Unemployment From Your State
It may not be a lot, but unemployment benefits from your state could still help a bit. To ensure you can continue receiving the basic benefits, contact your state’s unemployment office now.
Call 211
A quick phone call to 211 can result in a ton of assistance. They have operators who are experts in linking people in need with assistance in their area, and they can do the same for you.
For starters, ask about housing assistance. Since Congress allocated $47 billion for rental assistance, the money is out there. The only problem is that it’s split amongst 340 agencies, so getting your hands on it can be complicated. With 211, they’ll point you in the right direction so you can get rental assistance quickly.
Is housing the only thing 211 specializes in? No, as they can also help with food assistance by sending you to local food pantries to meet your nutritional needs in the short term. For long-term food assistance, applying for food stamps (SNAP) is your best bet.
