Losing your job can be a scary experience. If you have enough money to live on because of family support or because of a savings account, it’s only a slight disturbance until you get back on your feet. However, if you have been living from paycheck to paycheck, the sudden loss of income can throw you into a panic. Besides the emotional shock of suddenly getting fired or abruptly quitting, there is also the big question of how you are going to pay your basic living expenses like food and shelter.
Ohio provides a safety net for its residents should they find themselves unemployed. The Ohio unemployment program is offered by the state’s Department of Job and Family Services and is based on unemployment insurance benefits for those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Employer’s taxes make it possible to provide this aid. Check and see what the unemployment programs offer in your own state to see what assistance you can get.
If you get fired from your job, here are four immediate steps you should take to help you get back on your feet:
Step #1: Apply for unemployment benefits.
The first thing you have to find out is if you are eligible for unemployment benefits. You will be able to get these benefits once it has been established that you are now either partially or completely unemployed, that you earned enough or worked long enough to qualify, and that you were fired for no good reason.
Often you could lose your job because of a company layoff, because the company was downsizing, or because the company went out of business. However, you can still be considered for benefits if you were placed in a situation where you had no option but to quit. In other words, quitting your job does not necessarily disqualify you. You may still be eligible if you quit because you were asked to do things at your job that violated legal or ethical standards, were forced to work in an unsafe environment where you risked personal injury or were required to work under conditions that breached labor laws or were not part of an employment agreement.
Step #2: Launch an immediate and focused job search.
The sooner you start looking for a job, the quicker your situation will be behind you. Besides using traditional job hunting strategies, you can also get help from the state. Ohio Means Jobs is a state-funded program that assists with job hunting, job training, and job placement. This assistance is free and allows you to access thousands of job openings. You will also be assisted with online job search tools and be alerted to any recruiting events close to where you live.
Step #3: Develop a plan for managing your bills.
Here are some strategies for managing your bills:
* If you have trouble figuring out how to divide the money you do have you might want to use a paper ledger or learn how to fill out a spreadsheet budget template .
* If you have the money to pay your bills, then continue to pay them. This will prevent problems like ruining your credit or incurring late payment fees. If there are certain bills you can’t afford to pay, then contact your creditors and explain your situation. They may have some provisions for people undergoing temporary financial hardships.
* If you don’t have enough money to pay rent, then you may be eligible for rental assistance from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
*If you can’t afford to feed your family, then you can get help from the Ohio Food Assistance Program.
Step #4: Continue to pay your bills on time.
If you have the money to pay your bills, then continue to pay them. This will prevent problems like ruining your credit or incurring late payment fees. If there are certain bills you can’t afford to pay, then contact your creditors and explain your situation. They may have some provisions for people undergoing temporary financial hardships.
Keep your Spirits Up
While it’s understandable if you feel disheartened by your job loss, particularly if you feel you were treated unfairly despite years of loyalty and hard work for your employer, but it’s necessary to keep your chin up. It can be difficult to get a new job if you have a bad attitude when you go for a job interview.
