How do you handle bills on unemployment? - any advice?

My income is now a fraction of what it was as a software tester and I am trying to cover the essentials. Any experience at all would help. The rent is fixed and the car payment is high. Did lenders work with you?

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

Check for energy assistance programmes. I got a credit that covered two bills.