Well, via Open Forum (which is run by BizBox's sponsor, American Express OPEN), we learn about an intriguing, states-administered program called self-employment assistance. Basically, it is unemployment assistance for the unemployed who are trying to reemploy themselves by employing themselves--by starting their own businesses (whether literally or in the self-employed sense). This is important because, believe it or not, if you are unemployed but spending even marginal amounts of time working for or trying to set up something whereby you are self-employed, then you are not eligible for unemployment assistance. In fact, the self-employment assistance dollar amounts are the same as unemployment assistance.

The problem? Ah, yes. The problem.

The problem is that, though run out of the U.S. Department of Labor, it is a states program, and a voluntary states program, which only seven states actually participate in: Maine, Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware.

We couldn't put it better than the post itself: "So, if you live in one of the magical seven states that has the program, you can encourage family and friends and neighbors facing unemployment to consider starting their own businesses. And, if you live in one of the other forty-three states that don’t offer self-employment assistance, it may be time to contact your state department of labor to ask why."