During this recession, more people than ever are needing extra assistance. Here are some resources for those in need.
Got laid off? Here’s are some questions that many people who have lost their jobs are asking these days:
I’m unemployed and need help. What happens if my unemployment checks run out and I still can’t find a job? Where can I get help for my daily needs?
More people are finding themselves in situations they never dreamed they would ever be in; some have lost their jobs and others have found themselves struggling as low-income earners. Unfortunately, very many of us are finding ourselves at the end of our financial rope. What then can we do?
Image by NY Times
We’ve gathered together some resources and options that may hopefully help those in this financial predicament.
Help For The Unemployed: Beyond The Unemployment Checks
If you are underemployed or unemployed right now, you are not alone. With the current state of the economy, it’s not surprising if you’re on a job hunt. Since many folks are seeking employment, jobs take longer to find. If you are not seeking unemployment benefits or your current benefits have run out, there are a few resources to help you get past these hard times.
How To Get Money For Housing and Other Necessary Expenses
If you are jobless and meet certain financial criteria, you can apply for an unemployment bridge grant through Modest Needs to cover certain necessary expenses. The money is granted to a person who is recently unemployed through no fault of their own and has not yet found a job nor received unemployment benefits.
The grant itself is remitted to you for a small emergency expense that may involve your home, child care, health insurance or car. The maximum amount of the grant is $1,000 or your monthly housing payment, whichever is greater. Because the money is a grant and not a loan, you don’t have to pay it back. Other grants offered to individuals by Modest Needs include self-sufficiency grants, back-to-work grants and independent living grants. You’ll need regular access to a computer to keep track of the grants, and you may also need to use a scanner to send certain parts of the grant application.
How To Get Food
FeedingAmerica is formerly known as America’s Second Harvest. When you visit the FeedingAmerica website, you can enter your state or zip code to find local food banks including links to their websites and contact numbers. Food is distributed for free to those who qualify based on need, income and family size. Contact your local food bank to find out about their requirements and distribution schedule.
Grocery relief is available through Angel Food Ministries, a non-denominational organization serving 35 states. Low-cost food packages are ordered online and picked up at local distribution centers. A family of four can purchase a week of food for $30. From the Angel Food Ministries site, you can place an order at your closest distribution center. Food can be paid for by credit card, debit card, cash, money order or food stamps.
How To Get Heat
HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) is a federally funded program to offset the costs of heating for eligible low-income earners. A one-time direct payment is made to a utility company for heating. Usually, it takes 2 to 3 months from the time you apply to get your application processed. Ask your local utility company how you can apply. If you are unable to wait this long, the Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program offers discounted oil to eligible people residing in certain states.
How To Get Medications
If you are taking ongoing medication, the loss of a job and health benefits can be a major crisis. Some cannot afford to maintain COBRA payments to keep their health insurance when they are unemployed. The program called Partnership For Prescription Assistance offers access to free or low cost medication through hundreds of public and private patient assistance programs. Use the Partnership For Prescription Assistance website to search for your medications and to see the programs you may qualify for.
How To Get Clothes, Toys and Household Items
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers emergency financial assistance, food, housing help and emergency transportation to anyone in need. Their thrift stores are a great place to buy low-cost, gently used clothing, shoes and coats. Thrift stores have plenty of useful items including small household items and toys for children. Check out the Society of St. Vincent de Paul website to find local thrift stores in your neighborhood. For just a few dollars, you can get many essentials. Sometimes shirts and trousers cost as little as 50 cents!
How To Get A Job
If you haven’t already, you can also take your job search online by looking into these job boards:
- Job.com: a great resource for local jobs, career advice and other services to help you manage your career and job.
- Executive Search Online: a leading nationwide job matching service for more experienced executives. Pay levels for these executive jobs are typically higher.
- Beyond.com: an extensive career network that’s set up as a community of niche sites in various industries.
- EssayEdge: an essay editing resource for those who need a little help with their college, graduate or other academic admission essays. They help out students seeking to gain admission to the colleges and universities of their choice.
- ResumeEdge: a resume editing resource for those who need a little help writing a high quality resume and / or cover letter. They are the leading provider of resume writing services online and the chosen resume partner of well-known job sites such as Yahoo! Hot Jobs, CareerJournal and Dice.com.
- Resume Rabbit: a resume distribution service that submits resumes to top online job sites such as Career Builder, HotJobs, Monster, Dice, etc, as well as job search engines.
- Snag A Job: an online tool to help you find hourly jobs. This service provides you with access to part-time and full-time hourly jobs.
- Yahoo Hot Jobs: a popular online job board.
- GoFreelance: an online community for freelance professionals and companies looking to hire skilled freelance experts. They house thousands of freelance and work-at-home jobs in the US and worldwide.
Consider freelancing as a way to tide yourself over while you’re looking for permanent, full-time work. The extra cash you earn this way along with the assistance programs you join may help you through this temporary rough patch.
History proves that the economy will eventually improve and before you know it, you’ll be back to work and on your feet again.
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{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }
How do Americans cope with no healthcare, a few prescriptions paid or cheaper doesn’t seem very much to give peace of mind! Just what do you do if your child is really sick – or you wake up with chest pains?
I have been struggling since I was laid off from my job in December 08. Unemployment helped (I have been laid off from a previous job earlier in the year also) but it wasn’t enough to prevent myself getting further into debt.
Job hunting has been difficult with so many layoffs everywhere. I’ve applied to so many places each day along with job agencies and still don’t get any calls for an interviews, even trying to do contacts from my end.
I am a type 1 diabetic with no health insurance and was denied by state health insurance because they said they had no more room for new applicants. I have to force myself to purchase Humilin in order to live.
I was curious to what would happen if my unemployment run out and I found this site. I pray that this information can be helpful, thank you.
I read this article on your website and there was information in the article
about different unemployment grants like unemployment bridge grant. I would
greatly appreciate it if you could tell me where I can get more information
about these grants.
Thank You
Todd Miller
What if you do not own a home, where you go from there. Are you forced to stay in shelter of what.
When unemployment runs out and people living off credit cards begin to realize there’s no economic rebound in sight, then the bread lines can start and we’ll finally be forced to wake up to the reality of the situation; this country has been looted by the rich while the media has done nothing but kept you complacent during the process.
You’d better get that last one moderator, can’t let any reality seep through the cracks you know!
I just lost my job the other day and the thing is I need more help right now than anybody can even know. What I need is a miracle.
I really hope the government helps us out by granting 1st and 2nd tier emergency unemployment benefits. I am beginning to see how many families are affected by the recession.
I need money to pay my bills.
I myself lost and got laid off in December of 08. The good old days, my phone would be running off the hook for the same job, but different recruiters. I had the choice to negotiate rates, salary, etc. Sadly to say those days are gone.
I don’t know how I found this site, but so glad I did, because I don’t feel like I am so alone.
I have worked very hard, for over 19 years and have come to a point in my life, where I was proud. And, my parents were proud when they were still alive. Now, they are gone, and the good old days of job hunting is gone as well. You see my parents always told me since they could not sent me to college that if you work hard, you will work your way up. Which I did. I did not graduate with my class in High School, but did get my GED, and, managed to get my Bachelors degree. I have many certifications in my profession, but it seems companies are asking more and more from candidates. I believe open positions and candidates should be a good fit and with the experience.
I personally think that companies are being a bit too demanding as far as combining 2 jobs with one, expecting the candidate to have both. That is fine. Competition is so difficult these days.
I could go on and on regarding this subject. I respect the recently graduates, however, it is leaving some very experienced behind, while paying the younger ones’ much less money.
One thing I can, recommend, to keep us all sane, so to say, is trying some volunteer work. It does do wonders. I do my job search and volunteer, just to keep my people skills up, and most of all my sanity instead of sitting in front of this computer for 14 hours a day looking for a job. (Plus employers look as Community Service as a positive thing).
In closing, use ALL networking tools you can find. Join professional websites, seek employers out that you are interested in, and most of all, easier said than done, keep your chin up, otherwise you will, drown. “If you can’t swim, learn how to tread water. If you can swim, learn how to float”. Floating is the best safety device if you don’t have a life jacket, and are exhausted. The last thing is take care of you by staying healthy, that is the ONLY way we can take care/still be a part of our family. I wish the best to all of you that I have read your situations, and God Bless us all, in sticking together, helping each other as far as support, and most of all, please let this recession be over quickly. I’m so devastated and heartbroken, to see people lose, what they have worked so hard for!
Well for everybody reading this. I did exhaust my unemployment benefits. I have no money and I have credit card debt. So, I went to my states legal aid office and certified mailed, judgment proof letters , stating I’m out of work, broke and garnish proof. I am also college educated working as a museum supervisor previously.I am now educating myself against the the debt collectors when they start deluging me with threatening and hateful calls. It’s kind of hard to declare bankruptcy when one is powerless financially. I am not alone though. Unless there is an extension of benefits or oodles of jobs fall in our laps . Millions of Americans will run out of benefits by the end of the year. The banks got bailed out, and for us….unemployment, foreclosures, no health insurance, our children out of work, out of control credit card fees, LIES. LIES. LIES. no voice and most of all no compassion…Become your own best advocate, Become educated on your rights… and never, ever let anyone make you feel that you have failed.
Join the party. Even with two degrees been and experience, I have been out of work for 2 years. Spent 4 months in a homeless shelter. Now under- employed with a part-time job. It’s a depression my friend. Start with Food Stamps. Looking for help will over take the time spent looking for work. Especially when you find out that there are hundreds of job applicants for every vacant job. Look for work but always remember that there is hype in the media, websites, educational institutions and even from government officials for jobs that do not exist. Many looking for self promotion, your money or your vote.
Man you call yourselves a civilized country when you let people go destitute because they can’t find a job.
@Brendan,
You fool, it’s called capitalism and the way the markets work. There are jobs in the U.S., just not the right skill sets to fit them. If people want the jobs, they only have to develop the skill sets for them.
I got laid off on Dec 23, 2008 two days before Christmas and still have not found a job. Spent all my savings and maxed out my credit cards. Unemployment is running out. I’ve applied for food stamps and was turned down because I am getting $6.00 too much from unemployment. I almost had a job on Nov. 13, 2009 but the company that was going to hire me ran a credit check and I didn’t get the job, can you believe this? The job is in a plant bagging parts. What is America coming to?
What all of us unemployed need to do, is to stop feeling like failures and use our numbers to get the help we need. Band together and create a voice. A LOUD VOICE that can’t be ignored and swept under the rug. We need the public, the government and the rich capitolist that run this country to see and hear us. Let the general population of the US see how dirty the government treats us. The government claims they can’t afford to help us keep our homes and eat. If thats the case, where do they get the eight grand they give to people to help buy our houses once they are taken from us. I don’t know about you but that money would go a long way in helping me keep my home. This is just one of the things they do to us. There are too many jokes out there that the governments pull on us.
One of my favorite is the stimulus money to create jobs. They give money to work forece centers to employ us. They get companies to take us on for seven twenty five an hour. We get paid from the government not the companies. You know as soon as the government money stops the job is gone. Who the hell can make a living on seven twenty five and hour besides a teenager livng at home with parents with two incomes to off set what they can’t afford.
We need to make the government accoutable for what they are letting happen to us. There are enough educated unemployed people out there who could put something together to get us heard, seen and stop the public from ignoring us. I for one would certainly help in any way I could. If you can help create a voice for us let me know.
Well if they do not extend the benefits after the 46 weeks, or give us a chance to put in for a new claim, I think they should start making prostitution legal. Because when there are no jobs, selling your ass out on the street starts to look real good.
@ Tired As Hell.. I’m tired as HELL too I have been unemployed and underemployed since I was laid off on September 2007. And as a result of being underemployed my unemployment benefits were cut in half. You already don’t receive that much to begin with! I need help! I own a home mortgage which I’ve fallen behind on, and I called to get set up on a “new mortgage plan” but they tell me I may not be eligible because I don’t have enough income! I’ve had to apply for food stamps: now I may need to apply for public assistance because right now, I am barely making it! When is REAL help coming to the unemployed and underemployed homeowners! I sure could use an $8,000 grant to help with my mortgage too.
I see all the suffering going on here and every day I deal with people out of work and looking. I tell them all the same thing, you have to keep moving forward. There will be opportunities. You need to be prepared. Update that resume or improve it. Look for alternative careers. Get help on preparing for interviews. Learn to network for jobs. This is what jobhuntwiz.com is about. If you are in the situation of being laid off for extended periods, please keep moving forward and be prepared. There are small signs that things are getting better.
Has anyone tried the job board GoFreelance?
My last filing date on my first extension is jan 3 does that mean i am not eligible for the 14 week + 6 week extension?
@ William, check out this website to see what extensions you are eligible for.
As an unemployed american since Oct. 2008, I know what you are all going through. We must understand, that though the government says they are helping to resolve the problem, we are the biggest problem. We have become complacent and accepting of whatever the government does for so long, that it has become easier to accept than to stand up for what is right.
We are our own worst enemy. A lot of this started with the gas pricing. Have any of you looked to see how many government officials are invested in the market? Do you really think they are going to cut off their own noses for a bunch of people like us?
Does anyone realize that we financed the oil fields over seas, and now we are paying the price for this. We are bending over backwards to keep them happy for taking our money. What is wrong with this picture?
How many more billions are we going to pay them for breaking our backs? Is the government losing? I’m not so sure.
Tired, yes I’m tired. Tired and worried. I’m over the age group for landing a good paying job. I’m diabetic, but can’t afford the doctors visits to get my prescriptions, which you must have, never mind the blood tests you must also have. My things are minor. There are many of you who are much worse off, and I feel desperately for you. I am also trying to take care of my grandson. He’s only two, but he is what keeps me going, but not the answer for my financial situation.
I have over twenty-one years of experience in my line of work, but again, the age matters. Good luck to all of you and may God help us all.
What about starting your own online business, or checking into work at home opportunities?
Work at home opportunities and your own online business can work out but you have to be very careful with whom you sign up with. There are a lot of scams and dishonest people who set up sites to lure unsuspecting people under the guise of work at home opportunities.
I have my own online business, but I never signed up with anyone — just built my own stuff from the ground up.
There has been a major shift that took place in the world economy. There is not going to be a recovery this time, so don’t expect it. I recently ran a story about this at spiritnewsdaily.com, entitled “Who will save us”.
As Bob Dylan said, “The times they are a changin”. This time, time has been shifted forever.
How is it that we can send billions of dollars overseas to help people, but we can’t even take care of our own people? Look at all of the homeless people and the people in real trouble here. My wife was recently laid off through no fault of hers and now we are worried every day if we are going to lose our home and how we are going to make ends meet. I have been searching hard for a 2nd job and she has been looking but we haven’t come up with anything yet. Why don’t we keep our money here, the money that WE have been paying in taxes for years, and take care of our American citizens first, then after WE have helped our country and OUR people get back on track, then we can help others.
Randy, I keep saying the same thing! I am usually all for helping other countries, but NOW is NOT the time. We have our own problems! I have been unemployed for almost a year now and am very fearful I won’t get an extension as so many haven’t already.
I have filed for bankruptcy and surrendered my home in it. So far, no foreclosure yet, so, I still have a roof over my head. BUT in a couple weeks, I won’t even be able to afford the utilities, food or car payment, which all amounts to about $700 a month. That certainly doesn’t include cell, cable or internet.
We need help HERE in our own country for crying out loud! Don’t send hundreds of millions overseas when we have literally millions here out of work!
I think people are going to have to band together to survive this, just as they did during the Great Depression. Other places in the world already do things like pack houses full of people, each able to help pay the mortgage.
I know of people who are now going back to live with there Senior parents, who are retired and have their houses paid. The Media wants you to believe that unemployment is 10%, but it is actually much higher because people have given up and moved in with friends and relatives.
The fact that you must have a prescription to get your medications is because the government made it that way. People did not want to hear about over the counter drug use anymore so the people of this country gave up their rights to control what they can put in their bodies. Now all these unemployed diabetics, and sick people are in danger for their lives! People must stop giving up freedom for federal regulation or “safety” because you end up with neither! The chronically ill will have to go to emergency rooms to get treated if they cannot afford to pay a doc to write a prescription for meds that they MUST have! Don’t be afraid to go to an emergency room. By Federal law they must help ANYONE who’s life is endanger. I know that as soon as you’re stable they will put you on the street, but survival will be these people’s only goal.
This country is in some serious trouble and what is on the news? “President Obama getting his first health check-up since taking office”.
we need some grant money
I feel so bad reading these comments and yes my story is the same. Got laid off in July of 2009 and can’t find a job; I am almost out of unemployment benefits with savings gone. My biggest fear is being homeless. I, too, sit in front of the computer all day sending out my resume. No calls back — I have no one to help me and cry all the time. I know you should pick yourself up and brush yourself off and start all over again. But when you are so depressed and sink lower into that depression, it is hard. Thanks for listening and God Bless you all.
TIER 5 unemployment benefits extension is needed for the long-term unemployed. CONTACT your Senators!!! I have a job (underemployed – got laid off and had to take a job at 70% of my former salary) but millions of long-term unemployed will lose their benefits starting at the end of March 2010.
The new Jobs Bill did NOT extend benefits for the 99 workers who lost their jobs by the 10s of thousands at the beginning of this recession. THEY NEED HELP at least until companies actually start hiring again. Millions more American children will be forced into poverty once these workers’ benefits are exhausted. More foreclosures, more homeless renters, more landlords in trouble due to lack of rent receipts, more cars repoed — the economic repercussions will be endless. Hooray for healthcare reform but PEOPLE NEED ROOFS OVER THEIR HEADS and a Tier 5 extension will help many desperate folks.
Glad I found this website. I have worked 28 yrs and in the past when I got laid off, I got a job right away. I got laid off last Sept and so far no luck. I know it is age, but maybe its economy. I know I can do my job as good now at age 49 as I did before, if not better. I never called in sick and was honest and loyal to my employers. They seem to want to keep the ones that call in sick and lie to the employer. I keep looking and if I could just think of a way to make legitimate money online, I would do it. I know people have business ideas all the time, I just wish I could find one. Good luck to everyone, but at least we are not alone and we can’t give up!
wow… so many of us. This recession is going to cost me another home. I had to reapply for unemployment due to the year since I applied last time. Don’t know if I will get it. I am 56 and have had interviews but somehow they always pick that other applicant which I find out is younger, but can’t prove anything. I am so scared, so afraid of being homeless. I have lost so many things, I have been selling off my possessions to eat, to pay the electric bill etc. I live in an apartment so when I didn’t pay on time they are evicting me. If I had a house I could get government help or some time to pay with out penalties. All the things I worked hard for, all the things I earned , items that are dear to me are going to be dumped out in a parking lot because I have no way of packing them up or storing them. What is going to happen to my precious pets?
Wow, I am in the same desperate situation as all of you. Unemployed since 7/08 – Top performer in any organization I have ever worked for. Always had surplus vacation time and sick time – highly knowledgeable, reliable, ethical, truthful. Always employed since 7/77. This is uncharted territory for me. About to lose everything I have worked for including my good name as I now cannot meet any obligations either personally or publicly. Never thought that I would be homeless and penniless but that’s where I’m at.
Millions of resumes sent out with very little feedback. In 2 years Ive had less than 10 legitimate interviews. Depression is my friend – I don’t know what will kill me first Diabetes or stress. Thank God for for God and my Faith as this with my family, Pastor and pet dog Scarlet, are what keeps me going. Cant mention friends as I dont seem to hear from them anymore even though I have never imposed myself on them. Enough with the pity party. Need to get back to the grind. God bless you all and we will all pull through – keep fighting and keep your faith.
Yeah this is not cool the way Americans are being treated; been unemployed since Sept 2009. They say I can not get any more help. So how do I pay my rent and bills. It really sucks when your dad served this country and this is what the children get for it.
This is so bad. I worked for the same CO for 13 yrs was on EDD disability for 1 year doctor let me start looking for work again, applied for UI in October 2009 and no more checks after the first week in March. I have applied to a ton of companies, EDD says the last Q I worked was what they based my benefits on. I contacted senator, wrote the CA GOV, senator answered GOV did not. No money, car in repo, no food, eviction on my plate, so whats next, I’m an engineer, I thought wow I should have no problems getting a job. Right. We have no where to turn to. There is nothing out there for us as far as help, well ok I am looking at food banks now.
I guess we hang in there right? But how?
Sorry to hear about all your troubles. I pray that we can all keep our strength through this economic slump.
my unemployment checks ran out. Jobs are scarce. I’m trying to work out of the house on the computer. i found a good job that i think is up my alley but i need 300 dollars to start the business that wants to hire me and will train me every step of the way. can anyone help me! I have a son still at home that needs me to take care of him. Just a little help, i’ll do the rest!!!
@Paul,
I can offer you some help via this advice. And I’ll bet it’s the best help you’ll get for your particular situation right now:
1. Do NOT pay anyone up front to get trained. Sounds to me like a fishy proposition. You’re likely to be out the $300 if you do this unless you are investing in new skills. If you want to pay for a degree or schooling, that’s different. Paying up front to become part of a “get rich quick” scheme is a huge mistake and many people prey upon those who are vulnerable (like the unemployed) during times like these.
2. Take any job that pays, even if it’s not what you want. You can always keep your job search going while holding down the other job.
3. Cut down on your spending. And use coupons. Lots of people are able to save money by using coupons and being smart about their purchases.
4. Barter your skills with those of others instead of paying for services.
Hope this helps!
You crazy liberals need to wake and realize that government interference in the free market is what causes these problems to begin with. If you stop the government from benefiting anyone for any reason, then all these “evil corporations” would have to rely on their own worth, instead of government handouts and favors. You have to end the federal reserve that prints worthless money that benefits the few who get to use it, but when it gets to us its worthless because of rising prices to compensate for the extra money. All our problems are caused by government and the sooner you realize that and limit the government to its constitutional role, the better off we will all be.
Hi all. Every time I read through one of these forums it reminds me that I’m not the one who has changed. the situation in the job market has changed. That helps me keep going as I am reminded that I still have skills and am competent. If I don’t get that reminder it is very easy to slip into the depressing mindset that I am not getting hired so that means I am not worthy of hire.
For me, I have been successfully employed in the telecom sector for over 12 years and like others have commented I have always been recruited for a new job the minute I have left the old one. It is really humbling to have had only one job interview in the last 5 months. I went in and looked at the other applicants and saw a few friends in the same situation as me. We have families to take care of and only one if any of us is going to get the job. That sucks.
Like you I am not pleased with the people who were so greedy and irresponsible with enormous amounts of money. I also agree that bailing out failing companies is ridiculous. A company should survive because it is doing things right, not because my tax dollars save it. The car industries’ unions make me want to vomit. $70 an hour for a guy who didn’t finish high school to screw bolts on a car as it goes down the assembly line? Are you kidding me? And we infused the cash to keep that system afloat.
That said – I believe that the government is not going to be able to help us out much longer so we need to stop entertaining that fantasy. In fact, for every hard worker out there like us who would much rather be working than accepting unemployment insurance there are 5 who are very good at manipulating the system and living off the government permanently. I personally am resigning myself to the fact that I am not going to get what I need from the government because I’m not that good at playing the system.
So maybe we start a mob? The Italians, Cubans, and Russians all did it. Why not a group of college educated Americans who are sick and tired of not getting what’s ours.
hmmm – in retrospect maybe I have changed a little 🙂
So I have been unemployed since August of 2009 .. no fault of my own … but that’s NO consolation when even the local McDonald’s isn’t hiring. In fact their employees are being sent home early .. not even working their full shifts. When the day came that McD’s isn’t hiring you know it’s bad out there !!! I had to drop out of school because I couldn’t afford the gas to drive to the school…. now I’m stuck paying back student loans and I didn’t even finish !!! I agree that we, the USA, need to take care of our own …. Instead we all have to worry that we’ll be cut from our unemployment. I don’t qualify for any help b’coz my husband still works .. but with our bills I’m forced to go to Amscott and take out my unemployment check amount to cover just our rent.
I am having 1 chicken leg boiled and rice .. and that’s all. IF the USA would stop giving everything to illegals then MAYBE those of us that have fought for this country as far back as the Revolution .. as my family has .. well maybe then we will be taken care of !!! Its humiliating to go to food banks just to get another bag of rice .. when I go to the grocery stores and watch ppl buy lobster with their food stamps !!!! All the rhetoric that is said .. all the falsehoods .. all the empty promises aside .. in the end I am still hungry .. still out of work … and no luck even at the local McDonalds. I have a college education but who wants to hire a 51 year old ? I can’t even get my blood pressure meds refilled until I go see the doctor .. to the tune of between $200-250 a visit !!!! I thought this was America .. where we take care of our own …. what rock was I living under ? God help us all !!!!
With all options exhausted & no hope in sight. I’ve decided suicide is the only alternative to end this nightmare.
Ok, i was laid off two yrs ago this month. We were just getting by with my husband’s job and my unemployment. He had good insurance, and i take a lot of insulin as a type one diabetic. My unemployment is now exhausted; i have not been able to find anything and I can’t do retail because i have had my knee recently replaced and I’ve been having problems since with my insulin. April 19th 2010 my husband got laid off and unemployment can’t even cover our rent, let alone one car payment insurance, health insurance, and have also been denied by the state saying they cannot take on any new applicants. We are in desperate need pushing 50 and 60 yrs old I really don’t know what we are to do. We are educated people who have worked all our lives, so what do we do.
Does anyone know if he can claim me as an dependent on his unemployment since mine was exhausted??
Please help and any grant info would be appreciated.
thanks
I was starting to feel like I was in bad shape until I started reading all the comments. Everyone here is exactly like me. I feel your pain and I’m praying that things turn around soon. Don’t give up! Things are going to turn around.
I am in Canada and have been out of a job since August 2009. I was in my last job for twenty years and then things went bad there, a lot of work disappeared followed by a lot of employees. Many people think their great experience and education will save them. Nothing of the sort is true. Most of those jobs are gone for good and what is left are “joe jobs,” the kind of job any old Joe can do. Low skill, low pay. Get used to it, that’s the real North America. Remember that there’s nothing unethical or wrong for you to use any method to beat the system, because the system beat you, right? So go do it. Example: work a joe job under one name, collect benefits under another name. There are many ways to get back at the system that was created to exploit you.
Robert Smyth, please don’t give up i wish i could have seen your message sooner. I was with the same company for 19 years and lost everything to this economy. I know our government has failed us but stay strong. I know in my heart things will work out for us. Please Robert, take it one day at a time pal, and know that we will ok.
I was laid off in June 2008 and have had minimal temp work since that date. I was fortunate enough to recently work the U.S. Census which lasted for 8 weeks. My unemployment has run out and I am so worried about my family and providing for them. My youngest son will be entering his senior year in high school and I don’t want us to be homeless during this pivotal time for him. I am going to continue doing these tedious online applications which appear to be of no avail, however, this latest trend from employers stating that the unemployed need not apply is appalling and discouraging. As if we chose for our lives to end up this way! I obtained a master of science degree to attempt to sidestep age discrimination and industry phasing out. It does not matter how much experience or education one has. We don’t know what these employers want. Too old, too young, too fat, too thing, too this, too that …. long resume, short resume … then to hear that it is in vain to even apply or hope to have a job if you are long term unemployed …
Check these articles out:
CNN Money, Yahoo Finance, Biz Journals
Wow, these stories are heart breaking. My only comment is that one of the reasons why it’s so hard for people to make ends meet today is because from coast to coast in America, it’s hard to find any real close knit communities anymore.
Back in the late 70’s early 80’s, my mom was a single mom, and not only did she get help from her immediate family, but she also got help from her neighbors, friends, her church, and even strangers. Some gave her money, others bags full of used clothes, and others just picked up a phone to let her know that they cared. Because of these kind gestures, she was able to raise me without my father and still keep her sanity.
Today however, it’s just not the case, people are so indifferent towards each other and people barely know there own neighbors. It’s just crazy, I live in a apartment, and the neighbors who just moved in across the hall from me pretty much give off the vibe that I’m not to speak to them. No smile, nothing. People today just don’t want to be bothered, and the males don’t know how to be men and speak up to introduce themselves. It’s sad.
My point however is, we (“The People”) don’t need the government, or even unemployment checks if we all just take care of each other.
See, somewhere along the way, we gave up working for ourselves, and our communities, only to slavishly work for these corporations, who in the end, not only destroyed our communities, but also used and abused us in the process. These corporations have now found greener pastures and are now exploiting people in China and India as I type this. And if you study history, it’s the same trillionaire families that are behind all of this.
On a side note, my tips for the people above if your situation is dire and you really think you will be on the streets. Well, the first thing I would do is migrate to a state that is warm all year around so if you do find yourself on the streets, at least you can walk to the beach and enjoy the weather. And once I got there, I would learn a SKILL/TRADE. So for the men (or young women), you could learn how to install/clean carpet, learn how to remodel kitchens/bathrooms, or learn how to remove popcorn ceilings and update light fixtures. For the women, you could learn how to do hair, nails or start your own cleaning company.
A few other tips: Join a gym, not only will you have a place to release stress, but you will have access to a clean shower/bathroom everyday.
Use a library or a book store (e.g; Borders) to stay cool and learn new things at the same time FOR FREE! You can stay in there all day and nobody will bother you untell closing time.
I wish all of you well….
I read alot of people saying to keep your head up and be optimistic. This is true and is good advice, but we all know this is what we need to do. We as Americans are used to an easy life and having this life handed to us. Yes we all say we have worked hard and now deserve better than this, but what we need is a change in mindset, or maybe a better way to put it, a return to simplicity. Most of us got used to getting jobs easily and many like myself went to college, got high paying jobs, bought a bunch of crap we didn’t need and lived a “lifestyle” thinking that we were living the American dream. Now like so many people, I am unemployed, have been for 4 months, don’t qualify for any extensions meaning my unemployment will run out in 2 months, talk about unfair!
I have been reading about people collecting unemployment for a few years! But this is not my point, my point is that this experience has brought me back down to earth. I am not scared of losing everything, I am not afraid of the future, Im not even afraid of going on welfare or even becoming homeless. I do not think it will get to that, but once you can remove the fear and even guilt, you are free. And I think that is the lesson, once you stop being afraid, and learn that you have to rely on yourself and that for the first time you might really have to dig down hard and it may be rough for a while, you can succeed. Unfortunately there is not very much we have to compare it to. Our degrees, our experience, our social ladder, our self -absorbed BS means nothing, maybe it never really did, and we have to let that sink in and start over, be creative and not be afraid to go in a new direction.
We have to stop the social programing that tells us the we need to follow that “formula” of success that only works for a few, like you purpose in life is to hopefully meet the right person, get a great job, buy a house, etc, and you will be happy and successful. But even before this current recession, most people I knew followed this formula, many to a T, but still most were not happy, unhappy in their marriage, unhappy with their jobs, while trying to live above their means all in hopes of carrying on the facade of living the American dream. Maybe this recession and your and my job loss and inability to find another job is a wake up call to figure out who you really are and what you really want and how to learn to live with less, but learn how to find genuine happiness with less, or maybe it might inspire you to do even more than you did before, instead of lumbering away, waiting to die at your last job all for a paycheck and a false hope of security. I feel more alive than I ever have, I got a huge paycheck from my last job, but hated it (the job, not the paycheck).
I am going to sell my expensive sports car and buy something cheaper and more useful and modest, but the most important thing is that this excites me! No more huge car payment, no more expensive restaurants, I have so much less stress now its amazing. I know some people have lost a lot and I know that depression can reach depths in you where you feel like your life is over, I know, I went through the same thing, but once I realized everything I said previously, slowly my depression lifted and I started to change my perception of happiness and success and focused more on simplifying everything. Just try it, one day at a time, it will get better, with or without a huge paycheck, a big expensive house that you never needed in the first place and that status symbol of a car that everyone knows you cant really afford anyway. screw the government, screw corporations, we don’t need them, don’t even think about them or complain about what they have done to us or what they should do, it means nothing anyway. You can sit in your lazy boy pulpit and complain all you want, you liberals this, you conservatives that, your all a bunch a slaves and mindless followers, puppets who’s strings are now cut and your lying on the floor in a clump unable to do anything on your own. Like I said this is your wake up call as it was mine, I was a slave too, now I am on the other side.
I have been unemployed for over 2 years. I’ve depleted my savings, lost my retirement because of stock market crash, lost my home that I have lived in for 20 years, lost my car, I’m type 1 diabetic and unable to pay for insulin, live on the street, and eat out of Mc Donald’s dumpsters.
I was told that there are no extended unemployment benefits available for me because I have been unemployed too long. I have been thinking about carrying out some type of crime in an effort to receive prison time; it would get me off the street and would receive the insulin I need to stay a live. Actually, I truly feel as if I’m at the end of the road and suicide is the only solution.
Any ideas would be deeply appreciated.
I think the problem is that American people would rather just blog about it than actually march hand in hand and protest and demand that the government give us what we deserve as Americans. As long as we are here blogging our complaints and not in their faces, the government will continue to do what ever they want. The gov wants us all to stay home and blog our complaints so they can continue to ignore us.
@kay,
Most of us are not really activists who’d want to risk ending up in jail for disturbing the peace. And I don’t really think the government is responsible for everybody’s problems. We are responsible for many of our own problems. We overspent and became greedy. Many families are surviving purely on credit. If we all saved and stopped spending, we’d have money to tide us over during times of unemployment.
Or what about developing new skills in order to be come more attractive to employers? There are a lot of jobs that exist, but a lot of Americans don’t want to take them. Unemployment pay is just way more attractive to them that what some jobs are paying these days. But maybe it’s time to grin and bear it.
It seems like there are so many of us in the same boat with being unemployed. Since 2006, it seems like it has been a tragedy every year. I lost my Mom to cancer in 2006, I was her biggest caregiver and had to keep a strong face. She only lived 10 weeks. I never really had time to grieve. In 2007, my brother was in a car accident with his wife. It was a nice sunny day and he had just got on the freeway. He evidently moved over to the other lane and then we don’t know what happened, maybe he was cut off and his 4 runner rolled 5 or 6 times. He is still in a coma.
In 2008, I lost my job at a mortgage company. I considered myself to be one of the hardest workers there with a great work ethic. I have applied for so many jobs that I can’t count and gone on interviews. I’ve taken workshops at the workforce center, but nothing. I am also fighting the age thing, I am 48. It seems no one wants to hire an older worker. I don’t have a college degree but have lots of experience, that doesn’t seem to help much though. Unemployment is done now and now Dislocated Workers is helping me with school, only $3,000, which won’t get me very far. I don’t mind school, but at my age it isn’t very logical and after all the studying and stress, I might still not find a job. Life seems bleak to say the least, my relationship with my husband is not good because of all the stress and my depression. I need a part time job atleast while going to school. Every morning I get sick to my stomach and I am very nervous all the time. I really don’t know what to do, I try to stay positive and thankful that I have a roof over my head and food to eat, but it is very hard..
I too have considered suicide, but that is a selfish thing to do and I wouldn’t do that to my kids.. Sorry to go on amd on, I know we are all in this but something in our country needs to change when we have so many foreigners getting free help for everything and we get no help… I don’t know what America has turned in to, no wonder there are so many foreigners coming over still and we just let them.. I guess if I was going to get everything free and handed to me, I would too. If you want to come to America, speak our language and everyone gets treated the same… Thanks for listening, I can’t afford counseling so getting it off my chest helped..:)
So sorry to hear about the difficulties of so many folks here. I can only hope and pray that things will turn up for all of you and that somehow, things will get better. I’ve fought my own battles — they are not financial in nature but I’ve had my share of difficult times. I hope we’re able to provide a place to commiserate and share our burdens in a healthy way through this blog. Please stay optimistic — a positive attitude can help.
my unemployment is almost out..i have 2 kids, what am i going to do..i can’t put them in daycare because its way to high..im a single parent and i have to deal with rent,water,phone,car insur, car note..im thinkin of just giving up my car but then im gonna be bussing around with 2kids to their appointment or to the local grocery store..
THEY BETTER PASS THIS TIER 5 OR ELSE THE GOVERMENT IS GONNA HAVE A HORRIBLE TIME WITH PEOPLE ROBBING BANKS, PROSTITUTION, ETC..ITS ILLEGAL BUT HELL PEOPLE MAKING $1,000-OR MORE SELLING THEY BODIES then working a 9-5 and they taxing you and wont give you a raise..all the money is america is going OVERSEAS and the government doesn’t want to admit it..but imma say it..AMERICA IS BANKRUPT!!! and we soon we be a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY..too much greed..the goverment needs to WIPE EVERYONES CREDIT CLEAN AND GIVE EVERYONE 1MILLION DOLLARS TO START ..that would boost the ECONOMY because people would be able to buy an affordable car, pay rent/bills, put food on the table and there would be NO CRIME because everyone wont be stressed out TRYING TO HAVE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS because they can afford it..
WE NEED TO LIVE SIMPLE NOT STRESSED..too many people are willing to commit suicide because they are afraid of being homeless and being looked down by the richer society..AMERICA//LAND OF THE FREE?? SOMEBODY LIED!
My employer of 16 years went belly up in November of ’08. We struggled along until Feb ’09 when they finally closed the doors forever. My wife hasn’t worked since we were married 20 years ago so she’s ineligible for unemployment benefits. My benefits are going to run out soon. Despite many years of experience and a college degree, I can’t even land a job at McDonalds. We have no medical insurance. Our savings are wiped out and daughter has will not be going to college when she graduates HS next spring. Heck, she’ll probably not even be able to get a job either. Our home is going into foreclosure, just can’t make the payments anymore. We have no living family left to fall back on. We’ve started looking into possibly moving into a trailer. Its been a humbling experience, going from suburban middle-class to being poor white trash.
I know things are rough. I was out of work for 10 months and my husband for 5. What I have found is you need to know somebody in the company in order to get a job. That is what happened for me and my husband….so if you have any connections to management in any type of company, please try them. It does seem to work in some situations.
Go to this site for friends in the same boat offering support—
unemployed-friends.com
Prayers to you all.
Dave-re: your ‘poor white trash’ comment…..karma?
It is sad that our Senators and Congressmen are more worried about their jobs, feeding the homeless overseas, sending disaster aid to foreign countries, funding wars around the world, then they are about the people here in the United States that they could easily help by stopping their spending outside the country and fund the unemployment extensions.
How can you force people to buy insurance when they have no money for a place to live or food to eat, or gas in their car. In California there are employers receiving 400 applications for a minimum wage job.
We write weekly to our senators and congressmen, even the president asking them to take action, but they need a flood of letters. The unemployed need to take to the streets and make their voice heard.
I was laid off in January 12 of 2009 i was lucky to find a job in 6 months later can you imagine!!! Anyways my husband at the time was working in a good Company he got laid off in August of 2009, i work in that company from 2009 through 2010 they cut my hours all of a sudden got fed up and left . Luckily I Found a better job more money $$$$.
The owner of our Apartment is in foreclosure so we have to leave as well unfortunately i have a Family Emergency went to my country and they fired me. I guess I forgot to mention my husband was employed for 3 months then went to unemployment then he find a job and guess what he is unemployed again!!!
i know there is medicaid Unemployment benefits food banks etc etc but what we need is a stronger economies and they should help people already here… I been in this country for 21 years and i am very sad we no longer life the American Dream i am very depressed.
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I am a single mother of two and live in Michigan. I just found out I’ve exhausted my benefits this week and here it is Christmas, Merry Christmas to my children! There are no jobs in Michigan and am told by social services that to get help with rent assistance, you have to have some kind of income coming into the home, well damn that’s why I need assistance! It’s because there is no income coming in. You have the president sending money over to other countries helping them but lets screw our own when we need help. I was going to school to try to improve my life and my financial aid got cut out also so what is a person to do to make a life for their children. Then they wonder why the crime rate is so high in the United States.
Please Help Us:
I have been disabled since 11-01-2006,my wife lost her job about a year ago and she has been looking for a job but couldn’t find one. She is in school now and still trying to find a job. This is my first time in 48 year’s to get food stamps and asking for help. This is not what i wanted to do, but i have no choice. My credit rating was very good up until 01-2010,now i couldn’t get a dime. Please if there is anyone that can help us. Please let us know!!
Thanks email (beekuhl@live.com)
I was laid off Feb. 2008 been struggling to find a job.. I am 61 and too young to retire and too old for companies to hire me. They don’t want older Americans due to health insurance and how long will they work til they retire or die. They don’t want to invest in us.
The problem is to we support to many illegals here. We pay taxes and they sit at home.. collect on us..
How many people in jails are just doing time… get them out and put them to work in every state and jail that they can.. they can do street cleanups. clean up for free.. they get housing and medical we pay for it.
Unemployment — I am a 99er and no more extensions left what do I do at my age.. I landed in the hospital 2 times due to stress and blood pressure out of control. I can’t get section 8 housing to help me cause I am not disabled and have no children to claim and not Vet. I am on a waiting list but, 500 ahead of me..
The government doesn’t understand what they are doing to this country we built.. If I go on the streets I am not spending money for food, housing, utilities, etc times that by all the others out here.. If we have unemployment we have to give it back by living expenses..
I just don’t understand how the government can just cut us off and not care that we may become homeless.. We worked all our lives and due to the government back in 1996 when we marched on Washington to stop them from removing the Taft and letting jobs go to Mexico and overseas or we will pay the ultimate price in years to come.. DID They listen to us then >>>NO so here we are people jobs as we know it are gone.. So our president is running overseas to get jobs here for us and they don’t want to give them back..sad.. BUT WE TOLD THEM>> now they want suggestions from us..
We need jobs and another extension to live or you will create more problems of putting Americans on the streets and do what ever it takes to survive..
Please go to America speaking out and voice your opinion on anything on your mind..
God help us all! Any one in my situation please let me know what I can do to not to be living on the streets.
Thank you
Darlene
How many Gazillions of dollars has this country spent on Wars around the world ? Our country’s leaders have lost their flippin mind!
You know what i think is funny, people saying well why don’t you open your own business. How the hell are you going to do that when you cant even pay your monthly bills. You need money to start a business. Its a risk taker. Either you do well or you lose so much more. We have all lost so much that most of us refuse to lose anymore. I have a bachelors in Marketing and had an amazing job with amazing pay. I lost my job back in 08 and have been unemployed since then. Well i shouldn’t say unemployed but I was working as a Waitress. I then was talking to a few people who said the medical field is in demand and that jobs will always be available. People are always going to get sick or injured. So i started medical school and it took me awhile to get here. I am a single mother of 2 children and have to figure out expenses. My mother watches them for me “thank god”. This is a one time opportunity for me. This is it. I have to do this. Further your education if you can. Push yourself. I know its not easy. It took my 3 years to ind the right opportunity to get this chance. Don’t let the government win. They are the ones who got us in this situation. The thing that irritates me is people come here from other countries (which is fine, i don’t mind) but they are the ones who get free education, housing, food and whatever else they need to survive. The government needs to start taking care of their own before anyone else. If we were to go over to another country they would not do anything for us. I don’t mind that they want to help the unfortunate who do live in other countries and want to escape their terrible lives but what about us. They think if we help others from other countries that one day when we need them they will be there for us. THEY ARE WRONG. It will never happen. Politics are like first prostitutes. They will screw you for everything you have.
DOn’t give up hope…pray…don’t get into drinking or drugging you willl put yourself in a death spiral…I am 52 I have been unemployed since march 13th 2009 a few days before my 50th birthday…I had a contract job at about the first year…lastes 2 months but that 2 months got me unemployment again…no that I wanted it!! I am not good being off. I cannot enjoy even one day as they melt into weeks and months. I have no kids but getting divorce..had bankruptcy all savings and I had a year and a half saved for emergency..gone…401k liquidated o homes selling where I am and I dont fit any programs unemployment pays too much for food stamps yet not enough for morgage payment…thank God for food pantriesUSE THEM!!! Volunteer for them if you can. I have been on countless interviews eben in other states…down to the last few…and then silence and finally the proverbial email…stating how they chose somebody who more closely fits the job description…this when I pretty much created the positon as a technician…I went to school for 2 weeks with my last 800. to sell insurance for AFLAC…it was like a pyramid scheme maybe ot like that everywhere but I was paying to go to work with money I no longer had so bac to square one…now about to lose house in forclosure…I did get a 3 month modification and once again I am one of two candidates for a great job…but I should have heard last week…email to headhunter replied he is looking into it…then the economy really just went south….I am out of ideas out of money..I found a home I think for my 6 year old love natasha my german sheperd….I will not selfishly love her so much as to deny her and t least I have time to find a place now as opposed to the day they lock me out of my home….My home…kind of a joke isntit….I guess for advice..things re only things…keep the memories..and go with the flo as best you can. Know you are NOT ALONE….and for Gods sake dont kill yoursleves…NOTHING is worth you doing that…If you need help ASK…if you need to talk to somebody DO IT!!! And like I said…Pray that this too shall pass.
Can’t you see what they are planning? Genocide! They want to get rid of everyone they don’t need, take the world for themselves, and their offspring, and keep all slaves to do shitwork for them. You know what I mean!
I am one day away from gas and electric being turned off so I pay a few. Then it is my cable and yes I do need it because that is my link to searching for a job – roadrunner, cable and phone is a package deal. I search all hours, send thank you for the interview, post things, etc. And then my cell phone is also necessary because that is how I can be contacted for interviews, etc. I need to be contacted wherever I am and cannot afford to miss a call. I am down to bare bones. And I have 2 children, rent is behind and a 3 day notice is on it’s way. I need help, but do not know how to get it. Any ideas for someone who only knows how to make money and not ask for it?
I feel bad for those people who are really trying and cannot find work, and that’s including myself. Getting a new career would be a good thing. Since there are jobs that need filling such as registered nurses, elderly home care attendants, etc. If President Obama would give people that are out of work free grants to put them through school that might be a good start for helping the unemployed.
I also feel we all need to start thinking of ways to get this country moving again. Let’s try to remain positive and if you ever really need help don’t be afraid to ask a friend or a neighbor. There are plenty of good people out there willing to give a hand. There are also local churches that are willing to help as well. Good Luck and remember, do not lose hope. Remain positive, always!!!
One of the posts up there made me laugh. I’ve been having a single chicken leg with rice three times a day for the last two weeks.
The government doesn’t care about the people, they just care about making the money. The faster some of you get this through your head, the better you will be off. You need to depend on yourself, at the end of the day, no one cares if you are homeless, unemployed or have been getting your meals from a dumpster.
We as the unemployed can unite together and make life better for ourselves and our families and not have to look or depend on the government. Let me know if you are willing to unite, I have a plan that will work for all of us and we can eliminate our financial lack. Get back soon.
~ Sommie
I received a letter today stating since the unemployment rate in the State I get my unemployment benefits from went down, I am being cut off. I understand that some are able to find work, but what about the ones that are trying but have not found any work? WTF am I supposed to do? Right now I am worth more dead than alive. I never thought I would find myself in this position.
I lost my house, my stocks, my savings. I went to the market today and I spent 10min trying to justify do I eat today or not.
@Heather,
I’m sorry to hear about your situation, and the truth is, many people are suffering financial difficulties for a variety of reasons. A lot of people have turned to short term debt to get themselves back on their feet. Or if you live in a place where jobs are scarce, this may be a time to consider a serious move. I can, however, sympathize with the loss of livelihood and savings, and the truth is, it’s happening all over the country. Is there a silver lining? Sure — some of us rise to the challenge. Persistence will eventually pay off, but you’ll have to get motivated to keep going.
Sounds like you don’t have dependents to worry about, which could be one less worry for those in this situation.
All this political rhetoric about everyone being irresponsible is a joke. In my opinion, this whole thing is a joke. I grew up in a poor, single-parent household and finished high school at a young age. I went to college with very little to no support and earned a graduate degree from an Ivy League university. Throughout a 10-year career, my earnings only exceeded the poverty line for 2 years. I am a single parent with more student loan debt than my mother had — and I did benefit from a good amount of scholarship money. Loan forgiveness programs don’t apply to me because of the employers I chose. I would not have chosen to work for them if I actually had a choice.
I have been homeless more than once and have no car, and all the jobs in my field that are available require that you have a car to travel. If I need a job, chances are I cannot afford a car. I don’t overspend; I am a master at surviving in poverty. But I never have the chance to save when I don’t earn enough to provide the basic necessities for my family. I was laid off last year, my unemployment is about to run out, and the welfare office is so disorganized that they cant get my case right so I have no public/government assistance at this point.
I live with family temporarily and am concerned that this won’t last much longer. My mother worked at a hospital for 25 years and was recently fired by a bipolar boss who wanted to give the job to her friend. My father worked in the same field for 30 years and has changed careers twice in the last 5 years because his jobs are now being outsourced to India.
To add insult to injury, my health is deteriorating every day, and I have no health insurance. I was told that I might have cancer last year but can’t get a biopsy with no money and coverage. I’m having symptoms of a heart problem that runs in my family and cannot afford to see a specialist. This disease has killed several people in my family between ages 26-38. I’m just counting down the few years I have left, just waiting to die. I’m so over it. This whole world is a joke.
I got laid off at no fault of my own and I have worked 28 years of my life. I’m now 51 years old and I am taking a trade under TAA and received unemployment for two years and have another semester in school but just the other week without notice I was told that, this was my last check and I want to know how I’m gonna make with no income, being single at 51.
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