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Lost your job? Here’s what you need to know.

A man uses his phone to copy phone numbers posted on the locked doors of a Georgia Department of Labor office Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Norcross Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
A man uses his phone to copy phone numbers posted on the locked doors of a Georgia Department of Labor office Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Norcross Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) A man uses his phone to copy phone numbers posted on the locked doors of a Georgia Department of Labor office Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Norcross Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and SARAH SKIDMORE SELL / Associated Press Writers 5 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Nearly 33.5 million Americans have lost their jobs and applied for unemployment benefits in the past 7 weeks – a stunning record high that reflects the near-complete shutdown of the U.S. economy.

On Friday, the government said the U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was just 3.5%, a 50-year low.

For those who have lost jobs, it’s a frightening time. Bills need to be paid. Do they qualify for unemployment benefits? How fast will the money arrive?

Here are some questions and answers:

HOW CAN I GET UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?