 TITLE: Can You Get an Emergency Loan While on Unemployment? CONTENT: An unsecured personal loan can be a good option during an emergency, as online lenders often have easy applications and fast funding. You may even be able to prequalify for a loan in a few minutes without impacting your credit.\nHere are a few steps you can take to prepare:\n*   **Check your credit.** Your credit can be especially important when you have limited income. Get your free credit report and FICO® Score☉ from Experian to see where you stand and how you may be able to improve your credit before applying. Higher credit scores can qualify you for lower interest rates and save you money on your loan repayment costs.\n*   **Review lenders' income requirements.** Look online or call lenders to see which types of income they'll consider and if they have a minimum annual income requirement.\n*   **Get prequalified.** If the lender offers it, try to get prequalified for a loan with a soft credit pull—which won't hurt your credit. You can also use Experian CreditMatch™ to see offers from several lenders in one place.\n*   **Consider a cosigner or joint application.** If you can't qualify for a loan on your own, you may be able to have a friend, family member or spouse who has a steady income and good credit serve as a cosigner (co-borrower) or joint applicant. Upgrade and Prosper both offer this option. But be cautious, as a cosigner will also be responsible for the loan, and missing payments can hurt their credit as well as yours.\nIf you're having trouble qualifying, you could be tempted by loans that are easier to qualify for, such as a no-credit-check loan, pawn loan or auto title loan. OneMain Financial offers both unsecured loans and auto title loans, and you may be able to prequalify without impacting your credit.\nHowever, as with payday loans, these types of financing tend to have high fees and interest rates that make them difficult to repay. In general, they're best left as a last resort once you consider all your other options. END