The blow from the global coronavirus pandemic continues, and it is not limited to health issues. The economy has also taken a hit, with unemployment soaring. Last week, unemployment insurance applications filed in the U.S. surged to a record 3.3 million, and job losses are expected to continue as businesses scale back or close altogether.

Unemployment can be stressful at any time, but especially so in the midst of a global pandemic. However, if you have been laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak, there are assistance programs available to help you file for unemployment and receive benefits to cover some of your regular expenses.

Here are some general guidelines on how to apply for unemployment online, as well as eligibility and where to apply.

Unemployment insurance is a benefit paid to laid-off workers that is deducted from the employer's payroll taxes. Each state operates its own unemployment benefit program based on guidelines set by the federal government. This means that unemployment application procedures and benefit amounts vary from state to state.

Again, it depends on where you live, but generally speaking, most states follow the main guidelines set by the federal government. One is eligible to file for unemployment benefits if he or she lost his or her job through no fault of his or her own, i.e., basically if he or she was laid off or laid off because he or she lost his or her job, rather than being laid off for cause.

They must also meet wage and work requirements, meaning that they were employed long enough to receive unemployment benefits. Each state has its own formula, but in general, the base period is determined by how much you have earned in the past year retroactively from the time you filed for unemployment.

Because COVID-19 led to a sharp rise in unemployment, the federal government advised states to adjust eligibility requirements so that more furloughed workers could receive benefits. Specifically, federal guidelines now allow states to pay benefits when employees are unable to work because their employer has temporarily suspended operations. Also eligible are employees who are quarantined under COVID-19 but are expected to be able to return to work once the quarantine is completed, employees who leave their jobs because of the risk of exposure to the coronavirus, and employees who are caring for a family member.

The U.S. Department of Labor website has extensive information on eligibility to apply for unemployment insurance.

Typically, unemployment benefits last for six months, but as with most things related to unemployment insurance, they may vary from state to state. The government is also likely to push for an extension of benefits related to COVID-19. This is part of the stimulus package currently making its way through Congress.

Even if you live in another state, you must file for unemployment in the state where you worked. The U.S. Department of Labor offers a state-by-state unemployment benefits search, where you can get general information about unemployment benefits in a particular state, where you can request them online or by phone, and a list of links that provide COVID-19-related changes regarding unemployment eligibility and benefits offered in that particular state.

Here you can learn more about applying for unemployment insurance in each U.S. state. Each state requires different information when applying for unemployment benefits, but you should have your Social Security number, the name and address of your former employer, and your employer's employer registration number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) on hand. The latter information can be found on the W-2 tax form.