Laid Off Today? Start With These First Steps
You do not need to solve everything today. Build a personalized plan below, then work through the first 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days — one calm step at a time.
Last updated July 2026
What should I do first after being laid off?
Stabilize before you act. Write down what was said in the meeting, ask HR for your last day, final pay date, severance terms, and benefits end date, and do not sign anything on the spot— you almost always have days or weeks to review. Save any personal files you're permitted to keep before access is cut.
Then work in order: file for unemployment as soon as your state allows, decide health coverage (COBRA vs Marketplace), and map your runway. H-1B workers should move fast — the grace period is generally up to 60 days. Build your personalized step-by-step plan below.
- Estimated time
- Today: ~1 hour of calm, high-priority steps
- Cost / impact
- Free · nothing to buy · don't rush big money moves
- What you need
- Your separation letter, last day, benefits end date
Layoff First 24-Hour Action Plan
Answer a few quick questions to get a personalized plan with your urgent deadlines highlighted. You can download or print it, or send it to family.
Layoff First 24-Hour Action Plan
Answer a few questions and get a calm, personalized checklist for the first 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days. Everything stays in your browser.
What to do in the first hour
Gather information — this is not the time for decisions
- 1Take a breath. Decisions made in panic rarely help.
- 2Write down what was said in your termination meeting, including names and dates.
- 3Ask for your separation letter or agreement in writing before you leave.
- 4Note your exact last working day and when your final paycheck arrives.
- 5Do not sign a severance agreement on the spot — ask for the review deadline in writing.
- 6Save only personal documents you're permitted to keep — never confidential company files.
What not to do immediately
Don't sign anything today
You almost always have days or weeks to review a severance or separation agreement. Signing under pressure can forfeit negotiation leverage.
Don't vent on social media
Angry posts about your employer can affect references and future hiring. Give yourself 24–48 hours before posting anything.
Don't make big money moves
Avoid large purchases, 401(k) cash-outs, or investment changes while you're in shock. Those decisions can wait.
Don't access company systems after access ends
Even accidental access after your termination can create legal complications.
If you feel unsafe, may harm yourself, or are in immediate crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline right away. In the U.S., you can call or text 988(Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). LayoffNext provides general planning information only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support.
Documents to download before access ends
Only what you're permitted to keep — never confidential company data
- Offer letter, employment agreement, and any equity grant documents.
- Recent pay stubs and your most recent W-2.
- The separation/severance agreement and any benefits summaries.
- Health-insurance and COBRA paperwork.
- 401(k) / retirement account statements and plan contacts.
- Performance reviews and a list of accomplishments for your resume.
- Personal contacts you're entitled to keep.
Questions to ask HR
- What is my exact last working day?
- When will I receive my final paycheck, and what does it include?
- Am I receiving severance? How much, and what conditions apply?
- How long do I have to review and sign the separation agreement?
- When does my health insurance end, and what are my COBRA details?
- What happens to my unvested equity, bonus, or commission?
- How will you code my separation for unemployment purposes?
Full list: Questions to ask HR after a layoff.
Severance package review
Don't accept the first offer blindly
Severance is usually negotiable. Check the cash value, any restrictive clauses, and what's missing before you decide.
Use the decision checker
Our Should I Sign My Severance Agreement tool flags red flags, missing items, and questions to ask HR based on your specific offer.
Health insurance decisions
Know your coverage end date
Ask HR exactly when employer coverage ends. A layoff is typically a qualifying event for a Marketplace special enrollment period.
Compare COBRA vs. Marketplace
COBRA continues your current plan but you pay the full premium; a subsidized Marketplace plan may be far cheaper. Compare before deciding.
Unemployment filing
File in the state where you worked as soon as possible — waiting can delay your first payment. Severance does not automatically disqualify you; rules vary by state.
Emergency budget
Find your runway
Add up cash, severance, and expected unemployment, then divide by essential monthly expenses to see how many months you can cover.
Cut optional spending early
Trim subscriptions and discretionary spending first — small changes now meaningfully extend your runway.
Resume, LinkedIn & job search
Refresh, don't rebuild
Update your resume for your target role and lead with impact. You don't need to do this in the first 24 hours.
Turn on 'Open to Work'
Update your LinkedIn headline and summary, then let a few trusted contacts know you're looking.
Track every application
A simple tracker keeps stages, follow-ups, and contacts organized so nothing slips.
H-1B / visa worker emergency steps
If you're on an H-1B or other work visa, your timeline is tighter. The grace period is generally up to 60 days (or until your I-94 expires, whichever is sooner) to find a new employer to file a transfer, change status, or depart. Talk to an immigration attorney right away.
H-1B layoff guide & 60-day countdownEmotional reset & practical next steps
A layoff is a business decision made with different information and pressures than you have — it is not a verdict on your value. Your only job today is to stabilize: gather information, don't sign anything, tell one person you trust. The bigger decisions are tomorrow's problems, and they're solvable. When you're ready, turn this into an ordered plan with Build My Layoff Plan.
Your 24-hour, 7-day, and 30-day checklist
Work through it at your own pace — your progress saves in this browser, so you can close the tab and come back. Copy, print, or WhatsApp it to someone helping you.
Prefer a deep dive? Read the first 24 hours, first 7 days, and documents to collect guides.
Layoff recovery checklist
0/14First 24 hours — stabilize
First 7 days — file & review
First 30 days — build momentum
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first after being laid off?
Stabilize before you act. Write down what was said in the meeting, ask HR for your last day, final pay date, severance terms, and benefits end date — and do not sign anything on the spot. Save any personal files you're permitted to keep before access is cut, then tell one person you trust.
Should I sign severance the same day?
No. You almost never have to sign immediately, and signing under pressure can cost you leverage. Ask for the review deadline in writing. Workers 40+ generally get at least 21 days (45 in a group layoff) plus a 7-day revocation window under the OWBPA.
When should I apply for unemployment?
As soon as your state allows — usually right after your separation. Filing early prevents delays in your first payment. Apply in the state where you physically worked.
What documents should I save after a layoff?
Your offer letter and employment agreement, recent pay stubs and your latest W-2, the separation/severance agreement, benefits and COBRA paperwork, 401(k)/equity statements, and a list of your accomplishments for your resume. Only keep what you're permitted to — never confidential company data.
How do I handle health insurance after a layoff?
Find out exactly when employer coverage ends. A layoff is typically a qualifying event for a Marketplace special enrollment. Compare COBRA (keeps your current plan, you pay the full premium) against a subsidized Marketplace plan before deciding.
What should H-1B workers do after a layoff?
Act quickly. The H-1B grace period is generally up to 60 days (or until your I-94 expires, whichever is sooner) to find a new employer to file a transfer, change status, or depart. Talk to an immigration attorney right away and review the visa layoff guide.
Should I post on LinkedIn after a layoff?
It can help — many people find leads by sharing an honest, forward-looking 'Open to Work' post. But give yourself 24–48 hours to process first, and avoid posting in anger about your employer.
How soon should I start applying for jobs?
There's no need to rush applications in the first 24 hours. Spend the first days stabilizing finances and benefits, refresh your resume and LinkedIn in week one, then build momentum with a steady daily routine in your first 30 days.
Special situations
Deeper decision guides for the details that trip people up after a layoff.
Remote worker layoff checklist
Which state applies for unemployment, final pay & more
WARN notice meaning for employees
What a WARN filing does and doesn't guarantee
H-1B layoff action plan
Phased first 7 / 30 / 60-day visa plan
PTO payout after layoff by state
Is unused vacation paid out? It depends
Severance and unemployment
Can you receive both after a layoff?
RSU vesting after layoff
The date that decides what you keep
COBRA subsidy after layoff
The cost cliff employees miss when coverage ends
What should I do next?
Pick the one that matches your most pressing worry right now.
Build my full layoff plan
Turn today into an ordered, personalized set of steps.
OpenCheck my runway
See how many months your savings can cover expenses.
OpenShould I sign my severance?
Red flags and a readiness checklist before you sign.
OpenSort out health coverage
Compare COBRA vs. a Marketplace plan.
OpenStart here: your layoff recovery journey
Six steps, in order. You're somewhere on this path — pick up wherever you are.
Related LayoffNext Tools
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Deepak Middha is the founder of LayoffNext and a Chartered Accountant (ICAI, India). A U.S. immigrant with nearly 20 years of experience — and 17 years in hedge fund and private equity administration, including as Vice President of Fund Accounting at NAV Fund Administration Group and Associate Director of Private Equity and Real Estate at SS&C Technologies — he builds free, plain-language layoff tools and guides for employees, H-1B workers, and immigrant families.
Educational content only. LayoffNext does not provide legal, financial, tax, insurance, employment, immigration, unemployment, investment, or mental health advice. Always consult a licensed professional or official government source for guidance specific to your situation.
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