Greetings Special You
I was a remote employee. I was working as a Regional Tech - covering 5 states, the company was based in Wisconsin (state) but I am/was living in Minnesota. Our unemployment insurance is $566 a week and will be going up to almost $594 when the Federal bailout unemployment support/funds of $25.00 each week additional kicks in -(Mar 15th or so). My company of Wisconsin sent in my wage earnings to the State of Wisconsin Instead of Minnesota, so they would save big $$. You see, Wisconsin's weekly amount is of $366.00 a week, not $566(like where I live Minnesota) a week, so they save LOTS of $$.
Although this is wrong, the laws never define this as a true law, or direction. So, learn from this: when and if you ever get a job as a "remote" employee" and live some where else, to where your employer is, make sure your wage earnings are sent to your home state to where you reside (or, I suppose to the highest payout state. So.... needless to say I feel sad and crappy. Loosing a job ALWAYS makes one feel like crumb and makes you feel like a looser.
So, I will try to get some Certifications, up-grade my Technical knowlege base, try to get into shape some(or a lot) and look and feel better. Doing this makes you more marketable, look marketable, feel better about your self, and should help get the Gig you need and want.Working out (a little Health Club action) will help me and you, and just maybe, get some people to meet,connect, and possibly do some networking or, at least,talk some and feel better. So many people are hurting and need support. Lets all do our best and believe in our selves. It's hard to do this, and seems much more easy than is sounds, but this is all we have. Let's do this thing !

Mark- ( lazerpete@hotmail.com)

Most people would agree understand and agree that it's rude to make observations or give unsolicited advice about something they perceive as a flaw on someone else; for example, something visible, like weight gain. Unfortunately, by some baffling twist of logic, this majority of people who know it's proper to keep their mouths shut about sensitive topics like someone's weight suddenly seem to lose all grasp on common decency when presented with the topic of unemployment. The very same person who wouldn't dream of blurting out to a pleasantly-plump friend, "Oh my gosh you're getting fat, what the heck have you been eating?" sees no problem whatsoever with blurting out to an unemployed friend, "Oh my gosh, you're still not working? How the heck are you paying your bills?" Perhaps even more maddening, they think it's their duty to launch into a tirade of "helpful" suggestions, a laundry list of random businesses they've "heard" were hiring (probably a week or a month or a season ago), or their own infinite compendium of "trust me" tips for interviewing, writing resumes, or whatever else they can think of.

Dealing with long-term unemployment myself, I've faced this more times than I could ever count, at every social situation from parties to movie nights to simply standing in line at the grocery store. It has made me shy away from attending gatherings I would otherwise have loved to attend; it has made me think twice and decide not to pick up the phone or return an email when an old friend reaches out to catch up; it has made me feel like a social pariah or even a stranger in my own life. It's all fine and good to repeat the mantra that people mean well and they're not trying to be hurtful...but that doesn't make the words sting any less, or make it any less frustrating to field the same questions and give the same answers over and over again.

I think the key really is what's illuminated in the original post above: honesty IS the best policy, and that honesty starts with what you say to yourself. You do not HAVE to answer a question just because someone asks it. You do not HAVE to explain yourself or your situation, and you most certainly do not have to explain your finances. If the honest truth is that you don't want to talk about something in particular, or even the whole can of worms in general, don't be afraid to say so and change the subject. Most people will respect your boundaries, and the few nosy nitwits who insist on pressing you for answers can be conquered with a simple, "I'd really rather not discuss it."