I was recently laid off and have been facing a long stretch of unemployment. It's been a tough road, especially since I live in North Carolina, where the unemployment benefits are quite low—only about $4,200 before taxes for 12 weeks. I've heard that NC ranks last in the country for worker support during layoffs, which is really disheartening. My ex, who had a six-figure analyst job, was laid off in March and is now working part-time, bringing in around $1,600 a month. Technically, she's employed, but it’s not enough to make ends meet. As for me, I had a small salary for six months, but now I'm back on commission and not making any income. I guess I'm technically employed, but it feels like I'm back at square one.