Here is one bit of advice: Unemployment used to be paid by paper check (and I read that this is still possible, but also there is debit card and direct deposit). My advice: if you get paid by check, cash or deposit it immediately after receiving each one, don't wait. The state used to gauge if you still need unemployment by how quickly you cashed that check. If you appear desperate, they keep paying. For example, if your partner is working, then maybe you are not so desperate and wait a while before you bother to deposit it, then wham, you are cut off.
I imagine it's the same with their debit card, they get to see everything. I have no idea with direct deposit.
Yeah, you had to do that then also, but how do they know you really need the money? Long ago there was no on-line option, but there was an in-person option:
I imagine it's the same with their debit card, they get to see everything. I have no idea with direct deposit.