Julia Anderson
The COVID-19 pandemic was catastrophic not only to our health, but also to our finances. Many people saw themselves without jobs, making it a lot harder to pay the bills and put food on the table.
While stimulus checks helped a bit, extra $300 weekly unemployment benefits from the federal government are what many families used to stay afloat. Those benefits are set to end on September 6, though. Even worse, some states decided to cut them off prematurely, leaving their residents in peril. What can you do if that extra cash is gone for good? Try the following:
2023
Tax Forgiveness
We know how challenging it can be to pay off your tax debt.
The IRS just announced the 2023 Fresh Start Program, to qualify more people for tax relief!
1. Make sure your unemployment from the state stays intact.
State unemployment benefits often have a limit. Although it varies by state, you can usually only receive unemployment for a certain amount of time before you have to get a job.
While this money won’t make you rich or pay all of your bills, making sure your state unemployment is in order can at least provide a bit of assistance. As such, be sure to contact your state unemployment office without delay.
2. Find rental assistance.
Another issue many are having is the fact that the eviction moratorium is over. So, not only are you losing unemployment benefits, but you could also be kicked out of your home.
Congress set aside $47 billion for rental assistance during the pandemic. It’s split between 340 agencies administering the aid, so the question becomes, how can you get help? The simplest way is to call 211 and tell them your situation. They’ll know precisely what you must do to get rental assistance.
3. Find food assistance.
Besides having a roof over your head, you need food on the table. 211 can also offer food assistance via local food pantries, so ask them for help with that too while you’re on the line.
If food has been an issue for a while, look into applying for SNAP (food stamps). It can solve your food problems well into the future.
4. Cut your expenses.
It may not be fun, but you’ll need to cut some costs for the time being until you get a steady income once again. The easiest expenses to cut are eating out (which includes fast food) and entertainment (which includes cable, Netflix, etc.).
5. Start replacing your lost income.
Losing $300 per week in unemployment benefits is a big blow. It’s not irreplaceable, though, as there are plenty of jobs and side hustles that can boost your bank account before you know it.
Consider taking a bridge job right now so you can get hired quickly and start earning some money. A bridge job is simply a position that isn’t ideal, but can pay the bills. Working in a restaurant is an excellent example of a bridge job, as the industry is hiring people for immediate work, and they’re paying higher than usual.
You can also jump into side hustles without much effort. Working for Uber, DoorDash, or babysitting can all give you quick money to hold you over until something steadier comes along.
