Even as the nation s unemployment rolls appear to be moderating, older employees are still having trouble finding work.

In April, nearly 2.1 million people age 55 and over were without jobs and looking for work, according to AARP s reading of the Bureau of Labor Statistics latest employment report. The unemployment rate among this age group fell slightly in March from February -- to 6.9% from 7.1% -- then ticked back to 7% in April. But the length of time older workers remain out of work expanded, with older job seekers spending an average of 42.9 weeks put of work in April, from 38.4 weeks in March, according to AARP.

A job loss later in life doesn t have to end up derailing your retirement plans. Here are five tips to help workers ease into early retirement or weather a blip in between jobs:

Seek out unemployment benefits

As of April, roughly 15.3 million workers claim to be unemployed, according to the BLS. But Uncle Sam is trying to help through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and its subsequent amendments. Under ARRA, unemployed individuals who involuntarily lost their jobs between Sept. 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010, may qualify for a 65% reduction in health insurance premiums for up to 15 months. Other state-level program extensions, such as additional weeks of unemployment benefits, may also be of use if you qualify. Check your state s employment commission or labor department web site for more information, says Joseph Montanaro, a financial planner at USAA in San Antonio.

Assess your expenses, pare down

Retirees of all stripes must often re-evaluate their expenses when they leave their jobs. However, doing so early, may mean possibly having to make deep budget cutbacks. Among other things, moving to a smaller home could trim your housing costs or just refinancing your current home to a 30-year fixed mortgage, suggests Montanaro. That doesn t sound exciting for someone who is 60, but it can halve their principal and interest payments, he says. Also, getting a part-time job may provide some extra wiggle room, Montanaro says.

Tap retirement funds, without a penalty

It s rarely a good idea to remove funds from a retirement account before turning 59 1/2 -- which is when individuals may withdraw from their retirement accounts without incurring a 10% tax penalty. However, 401(k) plans do offer an early retirement window. If you retire or lose your job the same year that you turn 55, you can start taking money out of a 401(k) without getting hit with a penalty, says Mari Adam, a financial planner in Boca Raton, Fla.

For those with IRAs, it s also possible to draw down your account early without paying a penalty. Through so-called 72(t) withdrawals, workers younger than 59 1/2 may remove a series of "substantially equal periodic payments" (SEPP) from their retirement accounts without a penalty. Note that those annuity-like IRA withdrawals must be made at least annually for five years or until you turn 59 1/2.

Sell off company stock

For jobless 401(k) holders who aren t 55, consider rolling your retirement funds into an IRA. Typically, IRAs offer retirees more investment options than what s available in a 401(k), says Dean Barber, the founder of the Barber Financial Group, a wealth management firm in Lenexa, Kan. In addition, a direct transfer of assets will avoid the 10% tax penalty, as well as paying income tax on any withdrawals. If, however, you have company stock, don t also transfer that stock to a tax-deferred account, cautions Barber. That s because the difference between the average cost basis, or what you paid, for those shares and the current market value is not subject to ordinary income tax. Instead, the maximum tax rate for long-term capital gains, which is 15% in 2010, is owed.

Consider taking Social Security

Many soon-to-be retirees know that waiting to tap Social Security benefits can make sense financially, as individuals can only claim full benefits when they reach full retirement age -- that is, somewhere in between 65 and 67, depending on the year they were born. However, if need be, unemployed workers can access Social Security benefits at age 62. There's at least one way around taking such benefits early, says Joe Black, a wealth advisor at FSG Wealth Management in Stone Mountain, Ga. A married couple, for instance, might consider asking the higher wage earner to apply for and then suspend benefits at age 62 -- thereby allowing the spouse to tap the spousal benefit while the higher earner s benefit can continue expanding with interest.