I used to think that unemployment benefits weren’t for someone like me – someone who voluntarily left a full-time job to move across the country for a significant other’s graduate school. I hadn’t been laid off, so I figured I was ineligible. My mistake.

The Department of Labor reported last week that new unemployment insurance claims increased by 11,000 – more than analysts expected – to a total of 531,000 new claims. Those numbers suggest that economic times remain difficult, and many people are navigating the unemployment insurance maze for the first time. Help is out there, if you know where to look. A good place to start is at the Department of Labor Web site, which can direct you to your state employment office.

I called my local employment office and after spending 20 minutes on hold, I spoke with a representative who informed me that I could apply for benefits online. I went to the employment department’s Web site and found it simple and straightforward – I entered my personal information, submitted an electronic form and waited for a claims specialist to get back to me.

While I waited, I visited my new county’s Department of Social Services office, where I applied for food stamps (I was unemployed, after all) and a Medicaid program that covers family-planning related care. Again, something I never thought I would do in life, but there comes a time to lose that pride.

Newly unemployed workers should also consider applying for COBRA, which gives workers and their families who lose health benefits the opportunity to continue receiving benefits, with a few stipulations. For more information, find it here.

The Department of Labor says your claim will probably take three weeks to process – some states require a one-week waiting period for claims. A week after I filed my employment claim, a “claims specialist” called me and asked me questions about my job status. I explained that I was not fired, that I moved for my boyfriend’s education and that I was actively looking for work. She told me to keep a log of where I apply for jobs. A few days later, I received a letter informing me that I had been approved and could continue to apply for benefits online each week. I just had to continue looking for ward and keep track of my applications (contacting temp agencies counts).

My experience showed me the wide availability of support programs out there when life throws you a curve ball. The Department of Labor says that unemployment insurance is available to workers who lose their jobs “by no fault of their own,” and meet other criteria.

Another surprise: you can still collect unemployment insurance if you are working part-time. After a month looking for work, I found a few temp jobs through a personnel agency. The employment department Web site explained that I could still receive benefits if my wages were below a certain amount, so I noted them on my next claim. Happily, it didn’t affect my benefits because I was earning well below the threshold. This is true for freelancers as well, but individuals need to check with their state for its rules.

If anything goes wrong with your claim, you’ll hear from the employment department promptly. If they deny your claim, you have the option to appeal.

Most states try to put as much information available online as possible because they are so overwhelmed with phone calls. If you must call, avoid Mondays and Tuesdays – mornings and around lunch time are busy, too.

And remember, being unemployed is not the time to be too proud to ask for government aid – especially ones you have been paying taxes for.