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Recession Resources

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Filing an Unemployment Claim

File online or by phone with the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), the State of Michigan's source for unemployment claims. UIA may be reached toll free at 866-500-0017

Michigan Works! provides in-person assistance, computers, and job postings, at local offices throughout the state:

  • Ferndale: 248-545-0222
  • Highland: 248-889-0410
  • Novi: 248-956-5060
  • Oak Park: 248-691-8437
  • Oxford: 248-969-2399
  • Pontiac: 248-276-1777
  • Southfield: 248-796-4550
  • Troy: 248-823-5101
  • Waterford: 248-682-3417
  • Wayne: 734-858-4284

No Worker Left Behind — Free tuition available to job seekers. Must apply by July 2010 for up to $5,000 per year for two years to get a degree in a high demand field. Call toll free at 800-285-WORK

For additional assistance in filing your claim, watch Filing Your Claim for Unemployment Benefits and Finding a Job at the UIA website.

Health Insurance Options

COBRA

If you do not qualify for insurance through your spouse/partner's employer or for Medicaid, you may qualify for a reduction of 65% of the cost of COBRA for up to nine months through a new government program. This program may also be available if you previously did not elect for COBRA. Call toll free at 866-444-3272 for more information.

Spouse/Partner’s insurance

Consider enrolling in health insurance available through spouse’s or partner’s employer.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPPA, you have 30 days to enroll in your spouse/partner’s plan if you lose insurance due to loss of employment, regardless of when the open enrollment period is.

Private Health Insurance

Research health care insurance providers based on cost and amount of coverage.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance not-for-profit organization provides "Report Cards" on Health Insurance Providers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BC/BS, 877-4MY-BLUE [877-469-2583]) of Michigan is the state's nonprofit insurer of last resort. BC/BS must accept all applicants.

Government Funded Health Insurance

Veterans qualify for VA benefits: 877-222-8387

Medicaid is available to low-income families, disabled persons, children, and pregnant women. To apply for Medicaid, go to or call your local Department of Health Services office.

MIChild (Toll free: 888-988-6300) helps children under age 19 of working families (those who do not qualify for Medicaid). This program has a higher income bracket than the Medicaid program.

Free or Low Cost Primary Care

A list of Free Clinics in Michigan can be found at the Free Clinics of Michigan site.

At Community Health Centers, you pay what you can afford based on your income.

Michigan Cover the Uninsured provides free and/or low-cost health screenings locally.

Project Healthy Living provides free and/or low-cost health screenings locally.

Finding a New Job

General

careeronestop.com — a "one-stop shop" that provides tools to help job seekers, students, businesses and career professionals.

Cover Letters, Resumes & References

Job Searching

Occupational Outlook Handbook looks at future growth in different occupations. Published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Handbook includes information on income, training, job searching and the job market by state.

The database ReferenceUSA allows you to search for potential employers by industry, number of employees, location, etc.

Unfortunately, there are a number of types of job scams. Many of the most common scams fit in more than one category. Learn how to recognize and avoid job scams.

Job searching websites:

Interview Preparation

About.com's Job Search site offers a variety of interview questions, answers, and interview tips

State of California Employment Development Department has an excellent site on interviewing. Includes questions, pitfalls and thank you notes.

Internships

Job Training

U.S. Representative John Dingell’s office has compiled a guidebook entitled, "Displaced Worker Assistance and Training Opportunities Guidebook", which includes information on unemployment benefits, food stamps, foreclosure assistance, job training programs and more.

Homeownership Preservation

Help for Homeowners from Southeast Michigan Council Of Governments (SEMCOG) — Provides homeowners with access to many resources including timelines, counseling services, treasurer's offices, housing assistance, and advice on avoiding scams. Call toll free at 800-961-3334

Housing and Energy Assistance from the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency. Offers foreclosure prevention counseling as well as home ownership counseling and assistance. Call 248-209-2600 for Pontiac, or 248-542-5860 for Ferndale

GreenPath Debt Solutions — Non-profit organization in Farmington Hills offering help with foreclosure prevention, repossession, and utility shutoff. Offers free debt counseling services either over the phone or in-person. Also information on loan modification scams that claim to be associated with the U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development. Call toll free at 800-550-1961

Save the Dream Program — Program operated by MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) to help homeowners keep their homes through refinancing. Call toll free at 866-946-7432

Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Project — Collaborative statewide project from the Michigan Poverty Law Program that provides direct legal representation to homeowners facing foreclosure, support to housing counseling organizations, coordinating policy advocacy on a statewide basis, and provides training and technical support. Call 734-615-2450

Making Home Affordable from the Department of the Treasury. Refinance or modify loans to a payment that is affordable now and into the future. A self-assessment tool provided allows homeowners to determine if they are able to benefit from this program. Also includes FAQs, payment estimators and lots of other valuable resources. Call toll free: 888-995-HOPE

Hope Now — An alliance between HUD approved housing counselors and mortgage companies that provides free foreclosure prevention assistance. Call toll free 888-995-HOPE

Mortgage Foreclosure Resources for Consumers from the Federal Reserve. Information and links to agencies and organizations that may be able to help consumers

Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center — The Mortgage Bankers Association provides information about the foreclosure process and borrower options.

Credit Repair & Maintenance

Credit Score/Report

Maintaining Good Credit

Credit Counseling

Additional Assistance Programs

General Assistance

  • The Information Center, Inc., The Family Resource Place is a private, non-profit organization, comprehensive Information and referral agency dedicated to the national goal of bringing people and services together
  • Michigan Helping Hand helps Michigan citizens facing economic hardship find the services they need
  • Team Canton: Community Assistance Resource Guide contains information on food pantries, clothing banks, financial assistance, job placement assistance, education and training programs, and much more in the Canton area
  • United Way 2-1-1 is a multi-lingual, comprehensive information and referral service available 24/7/365. Its database contains more than 20,000 programs and services such as after school programs, senior care services, medical and prescription assistance, credit counseling and mortgage foreclosure assistance, and housing and utility resources

Michigan Department of Human Services

The Michigan Department of Human Services provides help in numerous ways. Call 517-373-2035 for assistance.

Utilities

The 2009 Michigan Energy Assistance Directory, developed by the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm, provides information on private and public programs that offer energy assistance, as well as a county listing of utilities, programs, and resources available.

Food Stamps/Food Banks

Senior Services