How do you compensate society for being unemployed?

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I need some ideas! I'm thinking of volunteering at the mental hospital and taking a course to be a patient attendant, and hopefully get on there. I write books too, and sometimes I go on forums for people with depression and try to help the people out. What do all you unemployed people do? Share stories of guilt and trying to compensate!

Volunteer work is a good thing. If able and eligible, maybe something like donating blood? Perhaps joining a support group and share your own experiences, which may be of value to others?

I was part of 2 groups at the hospital but they ended. I will volunteer, yes. Fraid I probly can't donate blood with my meds.

When you're working (in the US), your employer pays in a certain amount of your salary as "unemployment insurance." You're actually earning that money, but you only get it if the employer fires you, lays you off temporarily, or goes out of business. So, when you are unemployed and using that money to survive until you find a new job, it is, in fact, YOUR money. You're not leeching off the public dole, like Welfare.

Same with (most) Social Security Disability - if you're classified as disabled after years of work, the money you then draw comes from a fund you've been paying into all the time you were working (this may be different if you're classified disabled in your youth).

So there's no reason, under such circumstances, to feel you "owe" society any compensation just because you're not actively employed.

I'm retired. Society is on it's own.

I was given such a hard time in school that I don't feel I owe society anything, it owes me for what it put me through.
I keep myself to myself and must have a very low carbon footprint compared to most people in the western world. I haven't got anything much to feel guilty about in comparison to somebody who might be working hard and contributing in financial terms but the at the same time doing far more damage to the environment and the Earth's long term future.

Volunteering is productive work. So is raising kids, even without "working."

I take it on a case-by-case basis. If somebody just sits around drinking beers, and does nothing around the house, and is nasty to everybody, this person is unproductive.

Some unemployed people are actually more "productive" than some employed people.

When I was unemployed back in 2008,
I ended up becoming an artist.

I went from selling photos on an old, rickety card table at an outdoor art show
to exhibiting my artwork in art galleries and museums,
opening up an online store that's still making sales,
and winning awards.
I also paint now, along with being a photographer.

So go for your passion ...
even if it means risking a little money to get you started.
(Of course, be prudent and make sure you have enough money to pay rent, bills, and groceries.)

No, I'm not a full-time artist
and art isn't making me rich,
but it's changed my life for the better,
that's for sure.

Good luck to you!

School was a veritable minefield of interaction. The war mask has faded somewhat. It just feels different.

Social interactions and anxiety are my biggest challenges. If I would push myself to contribute, my mental health would deteriorate at a very rapid pace.

I totally agree with will@rd

I can't get this logic of compensating society, specially relating it to unemployment. Maybe this is an american thing? Or maybe I just don't have this sort of work ethic.

I feel it doesn't make sense because most of jobs today are actually useless stuff just created to sustain the system, as it most of stuff we produce – so does productiveness really matters? It is harmful for the planet and it just keeps feeding an unfair system.

I can't understand why being out this system make me a bad person – and actually, nobody is exactly outside it, unemployment is an important part of keeping the system: if you don't have unused working force, you can't negotiate with your workers.

I have a degenerative neurological disorder. Right now all I can do is be a wife and mom at home. When I can I read WP and contribute here, because working autistic adults and autistic adult wellbeing are my main professional interest areas.

A few years ago when I was doing better, I volunteer taught refugees and sometimes also adult literacy. Most organizations will let you do it regularly, occasionally, or like a substitute teacher, so every once in awhile. Whichever you want- they'll take it. You don't have to be good at your native language to do it- just be a native speaker.

I think you can also volunteer regularly or semiregularly at animal shelters or be an occasional foster parent for a pet. I have a family member who does that. She will be on call to take a foster puppy if the regular foster family goes out of town for a night or a few nights.