By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN
You were just laid off. How do you collect unemployment benefits?
Apply in the state where you last worked, even if you live elsewhere. Benefits are financed by state taxes on employers. The more workers an employer lays off, the higher its tax rate, says Jeffrey Wenger, associate professor of public administration and policy at the University of Georgia. States generally recommend that you apply online or by phone; in some states you may be able to apply by mail or in person.
Job Searching Strategies 