The dreaded question "what do you do" when unemployed

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For anyone who is currently or has been unemployed for stretches of time, and receiving government assistance, what do you tell people when they ask "what do you do?" Do you feel shame or anxiety when asked?

As a related aside, do you ever feel guilt when talking about your daily life with a full-time employed person? How do you approach the topic of work in general when it comes up? Any tips on how to feel less inadequate are appreciated.

I'm technically unemployed, I do ocassional cash in hand freelance gigs as a life model and have done since 2019. As of recently I started volunteer work at a charity shop twice a week, so far sorting and pricing donations. I am not tethered to any of these roles and it's my choice whether I want to be there or not. That freedom to leave is really what keeps me turning up, as soon as I'm obligated I just sorta fall to bits. The income I actually live on is gov, and my house is council owned. I've done temp paid jobs and other volunteer jobs in the past, they had rather predictable ends.
(This post would be tl;dr if I included every example, maybe they'll come up in replies.) But my stamina does grow with age.

Anyway, pre-life modelling I always panicked when someone asks me what I do. I hesitated before saying "nothing at the moment" or sometimes "inbetween jobs" if I felt able to tell a half truth. Post-modelling I still hesitate because even though I mention it, it's nothing I can make a living on. Atleast it's an answer. I overstate its importance until I'm compelled by the honesty forces to say that it's nothing full time and I don't live off it, but I want to add more sessions to my calender (I do.) I don't explain any further but the implication is clear. I avoid the topic even with friends (bar a couple of of exceptions), when they're struggling with career stress, I feel guilt. When people at the art classes ask me what else I do I grow sheepish too. I sometimes feel exposed if I talk about an activity that requires suspicious amounts of free time. (I also don't disclose about AS 99.999% of the time, being mysteriously jobless discloses for me and I hate that.)
An irl friend of mine frequently says things like "I wish I could do all that" if I bring up a random thing I did. Ok sorry???

An online friend from the therian community sometimes talks to journalists. She emphatically states how our subculture is made up of normal adults with jobs and marriages, such as herself. I've spoken to journos too and never mention anyone's work or marital status because it's irrelevant to the topic! Rates of personal success are not the reason why niche subcultures deserve respect. They just do on their own merits. I'm not quasimodo, don't hide me to look good.

I don't think there's anything wrong with not living a 9-5 lifestyle, I'm not ashamed of it overall. I never judge anyone else's situation. But I'm embarrassed by how trivial my daily stresses seem when I talk about them (they're real to me!). I'm hyper aware that the taxes of people who ask "what do you do" are funding my survival and their voting habits might be fighting against it.
I'm afraid to seriously date anyone because I'm afraid of being a burden. I wish I was married though so I can call myself a homemaker/housewife, it's more respectable. So I imagine it's harder for a man to be in this position.

I recently became unemployed. There was talk of my contract becoming permanent but they chose someone else to fill that position. So, when people ask, I say that I was recently let go. It's less clunky than explaining about contracts.

Personally, I've been in and out of employment a fair few times. I don't feel guilty or ashamed. My friends are aware of my situation. There was judgement during previous times I was unemployed, but I think they understand better now.

However, I also understand just how privileged I am that I have family that have supported me through all this.

Like you, I have had my fair share of temp contracts and volunteer places. I did work full-time once. Terrible place but I was desperate to get my first job. Ended up blowing up in my face.

Unfortunately, there aren't many full-time opportunities around in my area (I plan to move). Then there's fact I'm learning to drive. It really shouldn't have taken me so long but my last instructor really wasted my time.

So, I bought a notebook. Naturally it has a dragon on it. One problem at a time to fix. Once I've established a timeframe on earning my licence, I can figure out other details. Frankly, I had a plan already, I just put it off because I doubted myself so I tried to give up and settle but life seems to have turned around to say nope! Not letting you do that!

My NDA says I can't really discuss what I do...

or

I sell cocaine and cocaine accessories.

or

I sell pooping videos online.

No matter what I answer with, I make sure to behave completely confused if it's ever brought up again.