Laid Off? Your First 30 Days: A Step-by-Step Survival Guide

The first 30 days after a layoff are the most financially dangerous of your career — and the moment most people make the mistakes that cost them months of runway.

A layoff is disorienting. One day you have a paycheck and benefits; the next, you're asked to figure out severance, unemployment, health insurance, and a job search all at once — while your bills keep arriving on schedule.

The professionals who navigate this window well don't have more talent. They have a plan. Here's the step-by-step playbook to protect your income, your benefits, and your leverage in the 30 days after a job loss.

Day 1–3: Lock down your cash position

File for unemployment immediately — benefits are not retroactive in most states, so every day you wait is money lost. Review your severance agreement carefully before signing; you may have 21 days or more, and you should understand whether accepting it limits your rights.

Map your fixed expenses against your emergency fund. Be honest about the gap: most high-earners discover that state unemployment — often $235–$500 per week — covers less than 15% of their monthly obligations.

Day 4–14: Protect your benefits and your leverage

COBRA lets you keep your health insurance, but it's expensive — often 102% of the full premium. Compare it against a marketplace plan before the 60-day election window closes.

This is also when financial pressure starts pushing people toward the first job offer they get. That's the expensive mistake. With a financial bridge in place, you can hold the line for the right offer instead of the first one.

Day 15–30: Run the gap, not the panic

The professionals who come out ahead treat a layoff as a planned transition, not an emergency. That's exactly what Cushion was built for: supplementing up to 60% of your income for up to 5 months, so the gap between jobs doesn't liquidate your savings.

Your income is your most valuable asset. The best time to protect it is before you need it — but if you're already in the window, the playbook above is your fastest path to stability.