Losing a job means much more than just the loss of a paycheck. It can put your car, health care, and even your house on the line. While losing a job will inevitably be difficult, there are resources available to help make the transition a little easier. Click here to download a PDF version of this page for distribution.
1. Unemployment Insurance
- For workers who lose a job through no fault of their own, unemployment insurance (UI) provides partial income support to replace their lost wages. The program is administered by the Employment Development Department (EDD). Once you submit a claim for unemployment insurance, EDD will determine the amount of your check and the length of time you’ll be eligible for benefits. New legislation has extended benefits by another 20 weeks for most workers, so even if your checks have stopped recently, you may be eligible for more help. You should apply for UI benefits as soon as you lose your job. For complete information on Unemployment Insurance, click here.
2. Health Insurance
3. Keeping Your Home
- Many families have fallen behind in their payments due to increases in an adjustable rate mortgage or job loss. The best thing to do is to call a housing counselor to see whether you can get help with a loan modification. It is also possible that new legislation passed at the state or federal level can help you. For complete information on avoiding foreclosure, click here.
4. Job Searches and Retraining Help
- If you need to look for work in a new field because your skills are no longer in demand in California, there are programs available to help update your skills. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to collect unemployment insurance benefits while getting retrained for a different kind of work. For more information on retraining benefits, visit http://www.edd.cahwnet.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de8714u.pdf.
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