How can I keep a budget when unemployment keeps starting and stopping payments?

This is the third time I've gonna weeks without any income then by the time I catch up on the past due stuff I'm broke again. How can I save?

Make sure you have a system to remind yourself to give unemployment the information they need at the appropriate time. I've not found unemployment to miss payments so long as one is certifying continuing eligibility on time.

When income is variable, I look at my budget and make a list of things that can be cut or put off during shortfall weeks. Also, I think that part of the reason for saving is to tide you over in lean times. Perhaps this is your lean time when you should draw down your savings to fill gaps rather than stress about finding money to save.

It’s impossible. You have no security so the budget is the last thing on your mind.

That's completely wrong. With the new PUA system having to be put into place it's a nightmare. That wasn't meant to sound rude. Just, a lot of us waited weeks or months to even get a determination, and then it got pulled out from under us. Even though we turn what's required in on time. It's also not unemployments fault either though. They had to put together all of it at the last minute, and then on top of it have people stealing millions of dollars through fraud… it had to be stopped. It sucks, it really does… but I get it