Layoff 72
For anyone just laid off in the US

Laid off? Here's what's due, and when.

Enter your last day of work. You'll get a dated list of the deadlines for health cover, unemployment, severance and retirement, plus what to do first over the next three days.

Free and private. It runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Your dates

Take a breath. Most of these deadlines are weeks away and only a few are days. This shows you which is which.

Add details for exact dates (optional)

Your deadlines

    Your first 72 hours

    Do these in order. If you only do Day 1 today, that's enough.

    The Layoff 72 Pack

    The free list shows you when things are due. The pack helps with the harder parts: what to say to your employer and which health option to pick.

    $19

    • 47 questions to ask before you sign a severance agreement, grouped by what each one protects: pay, health, equity, your reference, and your rights
    • 11 copy-paste emails. Ask for more time, more severance, paid COBRA months, a longer stock option window, a neutral reference, and a promise not to fight your unemployment claim
    • COBRA vs. marketplace worksheet. A spreadsheet and a plain-English guide that show the real cost of each option for the rest of your year
    • Runway calculator. How many months your money lasts, with and without unemployment, and the date it runs out
    • Retirement and benefits checklist for your 401(k), 401(k) loans, HSA, FSA, stock options and life insurance
    • Unemployment claim prep sheet with everything to have ready before you file, plus a job-search log
    Get the pack for $19

    Instant download. Plain text and spreadsheet files that open on any phone or computer. Written for US workers. It's not legal or tax advice, but it'll make a lawyer's time cheaper if you need one.

    A look inside

    Three of the 47 severance questions:

    • Is the severance conditional on signing the release? What do I get if I don't sign?
• Will the company pay part of my COBRA premiums? For how many months, and is it paid directly or as cash?
• Will you agree in writing not to contest my unemployment claim?

    The opening of the "more time" email:

    Hi [Name],

Thank you for sending the separation agreement. I want to give it the careful read it deserves, so I'd like to take until [date] to review it. Could you confirm that works? ...

    Questions

    Is this private?

    Yes. The deadline tool runs entirely in your browser. Your dates are saved only on this device, so they're still here when you come back, and "Clear my data" removes them.

    Do I have to sign my severance agreement right away?

    Almost never. If you're 40 or older, federal law gives you at least 21 days (45 for a group layoff) to consider it, plus 7 days after signing to change your mind. Under 40, you get whatever time the agreement says, and asking politely for more is normal.

    Should I take COBRA or a marketplace plan?

    It depends on your income for the rest of the year, your doctors, and how much of your deductible you've already paid. COBRA keeps everything the same but is often expensive. A marketplace plan can cost far less if your income drops. The pack's worksheet works it out with your own numbers.

    I'm getting severance. Should I still file for unemployment?

    Yes, file now. Some states delay or reduce benefits while severance is paid, and others don't. The state decides that, not you. Filing late is the one mistake you can't undo.

    I'm not in the US.

    Sorry, this is built around US rules (COBRA, the ACA marketplace, state unemployment). It won't fit other countries.

    What if a date looks wrong?

    Your plan documents, your agreement and your state's rules come first. This tool uses the standard federal rules, and some plans and states differ. If anything doesn't match, trust your paperwork and ask HR or the plan administrator.