The 72-Hour Layoff Survival Checklist

Do not sign anything yet. Do not post on LinkedIn. Do not panic-apply. Gather your severance letter, benefits summary, final pay details, and any documentation about your separation. Save digital copies of everything from company systems you are about to lose access to — pay stubs, performance reviews, contact lists, project files that are yours.

Identify your COBRA election deadline (usually 60 days from coverage loss, but the notice deadline matters). Check if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period on the ACA Marketplace. Note your last day of employer health coverage. Call your HR contact or benefits administrator to confirm: final paycheck timing, PTO payout policy, 401(k)/retirement account status, and any non-compete or IP assignment clauses.

Calculate your real monthly burn rate — not your ideal budget, your actual spending. Include rent/mortgage, insurance, food, debt payments, subscriptions, and minimum obligations. Divide your liquid savings by your monthly burn. That is your real runway. Write it down. This number drives every other decision.

File as soon as possible. Many states have a waiting week, so delays cost you money. You will need: your SSN, employer information, dates of employment, and reason for separation. File online through your state’s unemployment insurance website. Keep your confirmation number.

Create a simple tracking document for: applications sent, contacts reached, follow-ups due, and deadlines pending. Set a daily schedule with blocks for job search, networking, skills, and recovery. Structure prevents the drift that makes unemployment feel worse than it needs to.

Write a 2-sentence explanation of what happened. Practice it. You will use this dozens of times. Do not badmouth your employer. Do not over-explain. State what happened clearly and pivot to what you are focused on next.