How to Earn Extra Money While Getting Unemployment

Unemployment sure helps when you lose your job, but the money you receive is never the same amount as the income you made before you were laid off. Sometimes, it's tough making ends meet on the unemployment benefits you receive and you wonder how you'll ever make it to the next unemployment check. But there are ways to make extra money when you get unemployment and compliment the checks you receive week. In fact, earning a little extra money when you receive unemployment is easier than you think and often makes the paycheck you received from work look a little small. Here's some tips to help you find extra income when you get unemployment to help make your ends meet.

Instructions

1. Find a part time job that allows you to still keep your unemployment benefits. Usually, in most states, you can work up to 20 hours a week and still get your full unemployment check. This 20 hours a week can often give you around $100 or more extra in income and around $400 a month to help make ends meet while you are on unemployment. It's best, however to find just a minimum wage job since you cannot make too much at your work while you get unemployment. Or, you can get a decent paying job and work less hours a week so that you do not make too much money. Talk to your state's unemployment compensation office for more information to be sure you do not go over the allotted amount for income while receiving these benefits. They can give you more information.

2. Find a part time job that pays you income under the table. There are many jobs available that will pay you to work for cash rather than pay you by check and take taxes out. This can be any job from babysitting, waitressing, bartending, and/or construction work. Word of mouth is a great way to find an under the table job where you can make any amount of money and still claim unemployment compensation benefits. However, be careful when doing this because it is not exactly legal and you could get in trouble having to pay back unemployment benefits received if you made too much at an under the table job. The best way to do this is to work for someone you trust and keep it to yourself that you're earning extra money while receiving unemployment checks.

3. Work from home doing online work or freelance writing. You can make a great second income while receiving unemployment compensation benefits by working online. Even using sites like eHow, Bukisa, or selling items on eBay can help to bridge the gap between the money you need and the bills you have to pay while on unemployment. Plus, since you're off work and receiving benefits, you'll have more time to devote to freelance writing sites and online work at home. This could mean a pretty big income if you take the time and have the patience to work at it. Talk to others who work at home or write for sites such as eHow, Bukisa, Associated Content, and more, to find out how to get started. Most times, you can simply sign up under a great freelance writing site and start writing immediately. You just need a PayPal account.

4. Work for friends, family, and neighbors you know that need help. There are many people who need help around their home whether it be housekeeping, plowing or shoveling in the winter, or caring for pets. You can make a pretty good income helping others and charging for your services. What's nice about doing this is that you're working for yourself so you won't get caught making extra money while on unemployment as you might if you were working for another company. Put an ad in the newspaper selling your services or ask around to find people who will pay you to work in or around their homes. You could make $10-$15 just for shoveling someone's driveway or $5 to walk someone's dog. These little bits of extra income add up and will help to compensate for lost income due to only receiving unemployment checks.