Dear John: Regardless of whether the true jobless rate is as high as 20 percent or a lower percentage as you recently discussed, I have the following question.

How are these people surviving?

We are talking about almost 1 in 5 working-age Americans and their children.

After a time, unemployment checks stop coming. Food stamps only go so far. Other aids are limited and finite.

Is there an underground economy we are not taking into account that provides the answer, or is it something else?

Are spouses or families, friends and private organizations providing support? Thanks. R.K.

Dear R.K.: That is a very good question for which I don’t have a good answer.

There has been a surge in recent years of people filing for disability claims under Social Security. If you get approved, you can collect some money. But that doesn’t seem like enough to live on either.

And I guess people drain their savings — if they are lucky enough to have any. Or, as you suggested, they can bunk with Mom, Dad, uncles and aunts.

And yes, there is probably a huge underground economy that provides income that isn’t counted in the states.

Readers, let’s hear how some of you are getting by.

Dear Readers,

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