Corey Haim was found dead this morning, of an apparent drug overdose – according to what several websites and newspapers are reporting.

I try to stay on topic with this blog, and it definitely isn’t a celebrity gossip sheet – but I’m a product of the 80’s and this really hits home.

Corey Haim starred in hit movies such as Lucas, The Lost Boys, Dream a Little Dream – often alongside Corey Feldman, a longtime friend who was often cast as his sidekick in movies and TV.

Corey Haim’s death is a shame – like anyone’s is – but especially so because he was estranged from his long-time buddy Corey Feldman, and was trying to kick the drugs and get his career started again.

When you file for unemployment you want to do it immediately after you get laid off, you want to do it right, and you want to avoid getting caught up in a beaurocratic nightmare.

The fact is, thousands of people are filing for unemployment every day, and there are only so many unemployment counselors, and only so many people they can see in one day.

This is why you want to have a game plan – a plan of attack for filing for unemployment, so you can get it out of the way and begin your search for a new job.

Check out our Step By Step Instructions For Filing For Unemployment so you can avoid getting caught in endless lines, or caught up in the system.

Please share your stories about when you filed for unemployment, or any tips you might have below in the comments section.  Also you can start a new topic about it in the unemployment forum

Illinois unemployment is just as bad as everywhere else, and getting worse.  There is a high concentration of automotive industry jobs as well as Wall Street type finance jobs, as Chicago is home to several stock, derivative, and commodity exchanges.  Currently, the IL unemployment rate at 10.3% as of June 2009.   It’s not just auto-workers and stock-brokers  that are losing their jobs — everybody is getting hit hard.

If you are unemployed in Illinois you can file for unemployment compenation as well as other forms of assistance.  But you’re looking for answers to your pressing questions about what to do next, questions like:

1. Do I qualify for unemployment insurance?
2. How and where do I file for unemployment benefits?
3. Unemployment Office Contact Information.

To get solid answers to these questions, check out our state unemployment directory’s entry for IL Unemployment.

With well over 6 million people unemployed in the United States, and more people losing their jobs daily, it is tough to get in touch with your unemployment office.

Here’s a valuable lesson that I had to learn the hard way.  First of all, you need to file for unemployment online, if at all possible.  You should know pretty quickly what the status of your claim is.  If you have not heard from the unemployment office, or know the status of your claim, in one week — it is very important that you go to the unemployment office in person.

Often, the unemployment agency tells you “Don’t contact us, we’ll contact you” or some such similar message.

Don’t listen to this.  This is how people fall between the cracks.

So, we’ve put together a guide full of great tips and tricks for filing for unemployment, and not falling through the cracks.

Check out:  **How To Contact Your Unemployment Office – How To File For Unemployment**

If you have some hard-learned tips of your own that you’d like to share, please leave them in the comment

section below, or post them in the **unemployment forum**.

The job outlook in New York keeps going from bad to worse.  The spectacular crash of Wall Street and the investment banks and law firms has devastated many lives and really weakened the overall NY economy.

Currently, the NY unemployment rate at 8.7% in June 2009.  While not as high of a rate as many of the other states, New York’s large population means that this is still a lot of folks out of work.

If you are unemployed in New York you can file for unemployments benefits and other forms of assistance.  But you need answers to a lot of questions, including:

1. Do I qualify for unemployment insurance?
2. How and where do I file for unemployment benefits?
3. Unemployment Office Contact Information.

To get solid answers to these questions, check out our state unemployment directory’s entry for New York Unemployment.

It is a shame that criminals prey on people when they’re at their must vulnerable, because as unemployment rates have increased, so has the incidence of unemployment scams and unemployment fraud.

If you’ve just lost your job, you’ve got so much to worry about – you certainly don’t need the added burden of getting taken by a scammer.

We give you a checklist on how to identify and avoid these criminals and their scams:

How To Identify Unemployment Scams

If you’ve been a victim of an unemployment scam or any kind of job scam or internet scams, or have some suggestions of your own, please post it in the comment section below, or in the job forum.

The employment situation in Michigan keeps going from bad to worse.  The auto industry has been on decline for many years, but it is really on the ropes now.  Thankfully, with the bailout money from the federal government and bankruptcy restructuring, hopefully this great industry will emerge stronger than ever.  The highest rate in the nation, with the Michigan unemployment rate at 15.2% in June 2009.

If you are unemployed in Michigan there are lots of services and programs to help you.  But you need answers to a lot of questions, including:

1. How do I qualify for unemployment insurance?
2. How do I file for unemployment benefits?
3. Unemployment Office Contact Information.

To find out answers to these questions, check out our state unemployment directory’s entry for MI Unemployment.