Negotiating pay when I have been out of work - what worked for you?

I have been out of work for 21 weeks and feel pressure to accept less. I do not usually post, so bear with me. I looked up ranges in Milwaukee and they vary a lot. Does giving a range hurt?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

Benefits matter too. A slightly lower rate with better coverage was better for me.