Yes, this is timely information.

I was laid off more than eight months ago. I received a year's salary severance, and am able to draw unemployment.

Something I would like to add here for folks who may get a nice windfall severance:

PAY OFF YOUR DEBT WITH IT as soon as you get it in your hands. You will free up perhaps quite a bit of spending power once you do and the savings on fees and interest, alone, is worth it.

That is what I did, and although it was only around
$10,000 or so, it freed up about $400 a month with about a $200 per month savings on the interest.