When you find yourself in the position of being unemployed and trying to figure out your next step, it can be easy to become frustrated, especially if your unemployment is due to downsizing or outsourcing, making your current skills less in demand in your area. You may be applying for the same jobs as many of your former workmates.

South Carolina’s unemployment rate as of July, was at 10.9 percent, the third worst in the country. One of the issues working against the very important connection between those offering jobs and those needing jobs , is lack of training for the positions currently available. Governor Haley pointed this out recently by saying “…we have companies that need workers. And we have workers that need jobs and we don’t have the training to match them up".

The obvious solution to this issue is to find a way to provide the necessary training to unemployed workers while still helping them to keep their head above water financially until they are prepared for their new career direction.

That’s where a Federal Pell Grant comes in. Although not everyone qualifies, this is an option well worth looking into if you find yourself unemployed at the moment.

The first step is to figure out what you might like to learn. What would you like to go to college for now that the opportunity might be available? A One Stop Career Center is a great place to go for help in figuring that out: you can call to find one in your area: l-877-US-2-JOBS or go online to locate one here: www.servicelocator.org .

You can also go directly to the university, college or trade center of your choice for guidance on the courses that might be best for you. They can help you to apply for your grant, since almost any one that you choose will be familiar with the program and accept it. The Federal Pell Grant scholarship covers up to $5,350 in education costs. Many times you can continue receiving your unemployment benefits while completing your courses.

Remember to bring evidence that you are an Unemployment Insurance Beneficiary when you visit a school, which will allow them to evaluate your eligibility for the grant.

Even if you financially do not qualify for this particular grant, there are other options for financial aid that your chosen school can help you with.

The application for the Federal Pell Grant Scholarship can be found here: www.fafsa.gov or you can call l-800-4FEDAID.

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