A range of assistance is available for workers who lose their jobs.

• Unemployment Benefits
• Workers’ Compensation
• Social Security Survivors’ Benefits

Unemployment Benefits

The federal-state unemployment insurance program pays benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed so that they can meet their financial needs.

• Find your state unemployment office
• Disaster unemployment help

The Economic Policy Institute offers an online calculator that enables workers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to estimate how much money they will get if they apply for unemployment insurance. Workers may be surprised to learn how difficult it will be for working families to get by on these inadequate benefits.

The AFL-CIO’s resource booklet, When the Paycheck Stops, is available on this website in full. You also may access specific sections of the guide for specific types of help:

When the Paycheck Stops:

• Start with yourself
• Where to go for help
• Taking care of business
• Dealing with creditors
• Keeping a roof over your head
• Putting food on the table
• Managing utility payments
• Staying insured
• Staying healthy
• Getting a job

Click here to order printed copies of When the Paycheck Stops or a summary brochure.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers' compensation provides income and medical benefits for workers who are injured or become sick because of their jobs. Death benefits may be provided to surviving spouses and dependent children of workers who are killed on the job.

• Find your state workers’ compensation office
• Get information for federal workers
• What to do if you are hurt on the job

The U.S. Department of Labor recommends turning to “One-Stop Centers,” a part of the workforce investment system that provides a range of free services such as career assessment and counseling and job training access. The Labor Department also refers people who have lost jobs to America’s Career Kit, a website giving online access to employment listings, information about job categories and the skills needed to perform them, training resources and the locations of career development service providers. 

• Connect with One-Stop Centers for employment help 
• Check out America’s Career Kit 

Call the Social Security Administration anytime at 800-772-1213 (TTY for the deaf: 1-800-325-0778). Service representatives are available at those numbers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the workweek.

Other Resources

The Working for America Institute has information, tips and resources for surviving layoffs. They include downloadable brochures about the types of help unions and state and federal agencies can provide and other useful information.

Union Privilege offers a wide range of help to working families with immediate and long-term needs. Special assistance is available from Union Privilege’s credit card, loan, mortgage and real estate, life and accidental death insurance, education loan and car rental programs. Union Privilege also offers short-term, interest-free disaster assistance loans. The Union Plus credit card and Union Plus loan programs have established layoff help lines for union members who may have difficulty with their payments due to layoffs.

• Union Plus Credit Card Layoff Help Line: 1-800-551-2873
• Union Plus Loan Program Layoff Help Line: 1-800-365-1328