Best Unemployment Loans 2020

Written by Bryan Daly
Fact-checked by Caitlin Wood

Best Unemployment Loans 2020

Categories

Loans Unemployment

Whether you’ve lost your job due to cutbacks or COVID-19, left for personal reasons, or you’re just waiting for your next career path to come along, being unemployed can definitely put you in a tough financial situation. When that happens, you may start asking yourself; can I get a loan if I’m unemployed?

Yes, you can. In fact, there are plenty of lenders in Canada that now offer short-term unemployment loans to jobless credit users struggling with debt. That’s right, if your application is approved, a lump sum of cash will be deposited into your bank account, which you can use for almost any expense that comes your way. 

How Do You Qualify For an Unemployment Loan?

Obviously, one of the best things about unemployment loans is that you don’t need a job to qualify for financing, which other credit products may require you to have. That said, there are a few personal and financial criteria that you’ll need to be eligible, such as:

• Income – You must still be earning enough money to cover your loan payments. Acceptable forms of basic income include welfare, unemployment insurance, the Canadian Child Benefit, your pension, or other government benefits. 

• Decent Credit – A few negative marks on your credit report isn’t always a deal-breaker. However, bad credit, a history of missed payments, or a recent bankruptcy can limit your options, increase your interest rate, or get you denied.  

Required Documents may include (but aren’t limited to):

• Government photo identification (passport, driver’s license, etc.) 
• Your latest bank statements (proof of income & active bank account)
• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• A utility bill or other proof of your address
• A pre-authorized debit form or VOID cheque

Best Unemployment Loans in Canada 2020

	Amount	APR	Term (months)	Funding Time	Type of Loan
	Up to $20,000	19.99% – 46.8%	6 – 60	24+ hours	Short-term Loan	More Info
	$100 – 10,000	46.93%	6 – 60		Personal Loans	More Info
	Up to $10,000	43%	36 – 60	24+ hours	Guarantor Loan	More Info
	Up to $15,000	19.99% – 46.93%	Open-ended	+15 minutes	Personal Loan	More Info
	Up to $1,500	Varies by province	–	5+ minutes	Payday Loan	More Info

How Can I Increase My Chances of Approval?

Essentially, getting approved for the best unemployment loan in 2020 is all about your creditworthiness. While it can be embarrassing to declare your lack of employment, your lender simply wants to know you’ll be able to pay off your debt without issue. As long as you’re a permanent Canadian resident with decent credit, are past the age of majority in your province or territory, and have an income large enough to cover your payments, then you shouldn’t have too much problem qualifying for an unemployment loan.   

In addition, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of approval for a favourable loan amount, interest rate, and repayment plan, including but not restricted to:

• Complete your application honestly – Although every lender has different requirements for their potential clients, filling out any questions or details they request is the first step to any good loan application. Doing this allows them to check your financial health and lets them know you’re a serious borrower.   

• Increase your credit score – Not every lender checks credit. However, many do because it tells them how you’ve handled debt in the past. You can gradually improve your credit score by paying down your existing credit products, disputing errors on your credit report, and other simple tactics. 

• Consolidate existing debts – The more debt you have, the less likely you are to get approved for the loan you want, This is because a lender will see that whatever income you have coming is already being used to cover the preexisting debt payment.

• Provide security – Some lenders will accept collateral, such as your vehicle, home, or another asset. This can both increase your approval odds and help you secure better loan conditions. Be careful. If you default on too many payments, your lender will have the right to seize your asset and sell it to cover your debt. 

• Get a cosigner – Otherwise known as a guarantor, you can also increase your approval chances by getting a stronger candidate to cosign your application if your own finances or credit aren’t good enough. Make sure they’re fully aware that your loan payments will fall to them if you cannot afford them. 

How Can I Choose the Right Lender?

Remember, there are plenty of lenders across Canada that can offer you an unemployment loan. However, you might have to look outside of banks and credit unions, where requirements can be tougher, meaning you usually need a job to qualify. 

Instead, you may need to apply with an alternative lending company, such as a private lender, no-credit-check lender, or payday lender. These institutions are usually much more lenient with their restrictions, as long as you can afford your loan payments. They can also have faster approval times and more adjustable repayment plans.

Do Your Research and Watch Out For Scams

All this said it’s extremely important to do research and compare a few different lenders in your area before giving away any personal or financial information. After all, one of the main risks associated with unemployment loans is the higher interest rates and administrative fees that may be involved.  

Unfortunately, research is also key because alternative lenders are harder for the government to regulate, leading to a larger probability of scamming, fraud, and illegal rates. These predators are either looking to sell you a terrible loan for an unreasonable cost or, even worse, to steal your identity, money, and financial information.

Be Careful of Payday Lenders

For example, a payday loan is a small lump sum ($100 – $1,500) that gets deposited directly into your bank account. These loans are tempting because there are very few requirements and approval times are only one or two days. Plus, some payday lenders will approve you without a job, provided you have some sort of monthly income. 

Nonetheless, payday loans are risky because they have very high-interest rates (300% – 500% APR) and short repayment terms of 14 days. While they can be a viable option during an emergency, there are also many fees and possible penalties. All of this can make a payday loan far more expensive than a traditional unemployment loan.

Prior to applying, be sure your lender has legitimate credentials, a long history of satisfied customers and a good rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Why Do Consumers Need Unemployment Loans? 

Obviously, it can be difficult to cover your daily expenses when you don’t have a job or you’re self-employed with an inconsistent income. It can also be tough when you’re retired or something is preventing you from working, such as a criminal record, a medical issue, or an unexpected event like the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Overall, an employment loan can be a more affordable way of dealing with those issues because you can pay off all your most important expenses at once, leaving you with a single (often adjustable) repayment plan to follow. 

Because the loan is liquid cash in your bank account, you can use it for almost any expense. That said since you could be in debt for some time, it’s best if you only use your unemployment loan to cover your essential costs, such as:

• Groceries and household supplies
• Home maintenance or repairs
• Vehicle maintenance or repairs
• High-interest debt consolidation
• Medications or other health costs
• Utilities and other household bills

What Warnings Should I Look Out For With Unemployment Loans?

Don’t forget, there are a few risks that you must consider before you apply for an unemployment loan in Canada. Although you shouldn’t have trouble finding a loan that suits your preferences, these dangers can definitely affect your credit and finances. 

Here are a few warning signs to look out for with unemployment loans in 2020: 

• The financial burden of your payments – While a loan can help you deal with your expenses, any payments, rates, and fees involved can put you in significant debt, so you must be careful and not apply for more money than you can handle.

• Higher APR (Annual Percentage Rate) – Alternative lenders can take on riskier clients because they balance out the equation with higher interest rates than some banks or credit unions. Extra interest may also apply if you miss payments. 

• Fees – While interest will likely make up the main portion of your final loan balance, there may be several administrative fees associated with your unemployment loan, like loan origination, cheque cashing, etc.

• Automatic debits – Most lenders will automatically withdraw your loan payments from your bank account. They may charge you a non-sufficient fund (NSF) or overdraft penalty if you don’t have enough money in the account on the due date. 

• Short terms – Although conditions vary from lender to lender, many will only offer you a short repayment term to minimize the risk involved. If you can’t afford to pay all your loan costs by the end of your term, bad debt problems can occur.

• Scamming and predatory rates – As mentioned, predatory lenders and scam artists can use your desperation to trick you out of your money. If the deal looks too good to be true or they claim to approve 100% of their clients, walk away. 

• Danger to security – Remember, your lender may seize your collateral if you default on too many payments. If you have a guarantor, their finances and credit could be damaged if they become responsible for your payments and can’t afford them.  

Searching For The Best Unemployment Loan in 2020?

No matter the reason for your unemployment, there are sure to be some lenders in your area that can offer you a loan with favourable conditions. If you’d like to be connected with those financing sources, there’s no better referral network than Loans Canada.