ST. JOSEPH CO. — It's a program designed as a last resort for Indiana's unemployed — people who have been unemployed for many months, in some cases for over a year. Extended unemployment benefits offer a more strict set of rules that can cost users their benefits if they don't follow them very closely.

Being unemployed is stressful for anyone. Add on being a parent and it becomes worse. Then imagine having five children and both parents are unemployed.

“You used to be able to go out and drive around and see houses going up constantly, all over the place,” said Kevin Whitehead. “And now you can barely see a half dozen going up anymore.”

Kevin and Julie Whitehead both worked in the housing industry. Kevin built manufactured homes; Julie worked on the mortgage side. Both have now been out of work so long they're part of Indiana's extended unemployment benefits program — a program they fear is so tough it's designed to make them lose their benefits.

“It's crazy — more people are going to be on this, and I'm afraid people are going to throw their hands up and just say, ‘Screw it, I'm not going through this problem anymore,’ and that's just one way they’re going to get you off unemployment,” Kevin said.

Under extended unemployment you must apply for at least three jobs a week, and the Whiteheads were told you can't apply for two jobs in the same day. Indiana Workforce Development claims that is not a requirement. But Julie Whitehead says she didn't get her benefits for weeks as a result.

Under extended benefits you must also apply somewhere that is actually hiring. Sounds simple, right? Julie Whitehead argues it's not.

“There isn't anyone hiring!” she said. “I mean I’ve put applications in for places I'm not even qualified for, because I can learn.”

Indiana recently added seven more weeks to the extended unemployment benefits program; but the Whiteheads worry at some point they will run out either because they no longer qualify or because they can't meet the demands of the program.

So all they have right now is their belief that at some point things will turn around.

“It's going to get better … it can't stay like this,” Kevin said.

It's true that extended unemployment benefits are designed to get people off unemployment. It's supposed to set up challenging circumstances forcing people to look very hard for a job, but the Whiteheads argue right now it's not a fair fight.

Join us every Thursday at 6 p.m. as we introduce you to another family and show you how they're coping with unemployment. Here on WSBT.com you can read their stories, plus find resources to help you and your family, friends or neighbors.