Unemployed (or Preparing to Be)? These Sites Could Be Your Best Friends

by PC World

Top 10 Tools for Freelancers

(via Lifehacker.com)

Adobe is offering free software to unemployed developers. They are giving  away Adobe Flex Builder 3, regularly sold for US$249.

Go to their website for more details and to download.

If your adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less in 2009, you can get free tax preparation and e-filing. The IRS website lists many companies to choose from.

The most popular being Turbo Tax Free Edition. To prepare and file taxes for State, it will cost $27.95.

As you know, the first $2,400 of Unemployment Tax Benefits received in 2009 are free.

Here are some articles that can help with your tax preparation.

From About.com Job Search Tax Deduction Tips

Kiplinger’s 19 Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions

MSN’s 10 Tax goofs many of us keep making

2009-2010 Tax Calendar

Here are some lists that I’ve compiled on Twitter to help with your job search.

Job Search

Resume Help

Career Coaches

Human Resources

When you’ve been let go your first and most obvious concern is the loss of your income – but another great concern should be your health insurance. Heaven forbid you were to get into an accident or get very ill. An emergency room visit can cost you anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

COBRA

If you had health insurance with your last employer may be able to elect continuation coverage also known as COBRA. The U.S. Department of Labor has a FAQ section to give you more information on COBRA. The continuation coverage lasts for 18 months and can cover your family as well. You MUST elect for coverage within 60 days.

The Stimulus Act or ARRA also allows for a discount on COBRA via a tax credit.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as amended on December 19, 2009 by the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (2010 DOD Act) provides for premium reductions for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA. Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. To qualify, individuals must experience a COBRA qualifying event that is the involuntary termination of a covered employee’s employment. The involuntary termination must occur during the period that began September 1, 2008 and ends on February 28, 2010. The premium reduction applies to periods of health coverage that began on or after February 17, 2009 and lasts for up to 15 months.

The only problem with COBRA, especially if you have a family, is that it can be very expensive.

Medicaid or other State Sponsored Programs

In certain situations you may qualify for Medicaid. It is administered through each individual state. Eligible people include: certain low-income families, parent of eligible minor children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

Each state may also have other health aid options, you can choose your state and see the available programs on the Needy Meds site.

If you don’t qualify for COBRA or Medicaid. You can get your own health insurance.

Independent Health Insurance

Visit a site like eInsurance (the one reputable site that I know – and that I’ve personally bought insurance from). Fill out your information and the site will gifve you premium options.

If money is very tight, you can choose a low cost premium, but it will come with a high deductible – but as long as you can have higher coverage for accident and emergency situations, it could be well worth it.

Health Clinics

The U.S. Department of Health Services has a clinic locator on their website. They provide: checkups when you’re well, treatment when you’re sick, complete care when you’re pregnant, immunizations and checkups for your children, dental care and prescription drugs for your family, mental health and substance abuse care if you need it.

Needy Meds also has a locator tool for you to find low cost, free or sliding scale clinics.

Another solution, though a bit more pricey than these other clinics is Minute Clinic located in some CVS stores. They list their services and costs on their website. These clinics require no appointments and are open on weekends.

Via Lifehacker comes Better Talking

1. Sign up to get a phone number to call and your pin

2. Call and take our prep interview at any time you wish

3. Share the interview with your network & experts

4. Get feedback & new ideas on how to answer tough questions

5. Win the job!

I’ll be testing this out tomorrow morning and posting the audio…maybe. I tend to sound like a kid on the phone.

ETA: I had real phone interviews this morning and have been running my errands – so I will be testing this out and posting the results on Friday morning.

Infographics are a great way of visualizing concepts. Here are few relevant ones.

Unemployment Rates Around the World

Employment Change by Industry

Higher Education = Loser Unemployment

Jobs may rebound in 2010

The Best and Worst Places to Work by Average Salary

Unemployment rate in the US from 2004-2009

Unemployment Rates – A Historical Chart from 1948-2009 – From the Wall Street Journal

Job Market Competition – The number of unemployed persons per job posting

When you’re unemployed, the biggest issue that overtakes your thoughts and keeps you up at night is finances.  Here are three free budgeting/financial tracking web applications to help you sleep better.

Mint

BudgetSketch

MoneyTrackin

Kmart is offering a program that gives a 20% discount, for up to 6 months, to their unemployed customers on Kmart brand products including groceries and household necessities.

Enrollment requirements are a state issued identification card and  a state unemployment benefits confirmation.

Visit the Kmart Smart Assist website for more information and eligibility information.