First steps after a layoff

Protect your income, health coverage and time in the first two weeks — then start a focused search.

Who this is for: You lost your job recently (or know it is coming) and feel you need to act fast.
You will have: A short, written plan covering benefits, health coverage, money and your first job-search actions.
Time: About 60–90 minutes, spread over a few days

Before you start

Your last day of work and any separation or severance letter
Recent pay stubs
A list of monthly costs you cannot skip

Steps

File for unemployment insurance with your state
Unemployment insurance is run by each state. Look up your state's program and apply as soon as you can; your state's rules decide when benefits start. Keep your confirmation number and the dates you must certify.
Decide how you will keep health coverage
Compare continuing your employer plan through COBRA (often at full cost) with a Marketplace plan. Losing job-based coverage can open a Special Enrollment Period — deadlines apply, so check early.
Make a 90-day money picture
List fixed costs, expected benefits and any severance. Benefits are generally taxable income; decide whether to have tax withheld.
Write down what you want next — and what you won't accept
Pay floor, commute or remote, schedule limits. These become your search filters and help you avoid offers that look rushed or suspicious.
Capture your experience while it is fresh
Spend 10 minutes answering JoRoute's questions about your last role. Specific tasks and results are easier to recall now than in three months.
Start a focused search, not a frantic one
Pick 2–3 target role titles and search real postings from official employer boards. Check any unexpected 'offer' before sharing personal data.

Example

A first-week plan:

Mon: filed state UI claim (conf. #…). Tue: compared COBRA vs Marketplace; chose Marketplace before deadline. Wed: 90-day budget. Thu: answered JoRoute experience questions. Fri: saved 5 real postings for 'operations coordinator'.

Illustrative example — invented for this guide.

Two-week checklist

Select the text and copy it

[ ] State unemployment claim filed — confirmation #: ____
[ ] Certification days noted: ____
[ ] Health coverage decision (COBRA / Marketplace) by: ____
[ ] 90-day budget written
[ ] Pay floor: $____  Remote/commute limit: ____
[ ] Experience answers captured in JoRoute
[ ] 2–3 target role titles: ____
[ ] 5 real postings saved

Common mistakes

Waiting weeks to file for unemployment
Letting a health-coverage deadline pass
Applying to everything in panic instead of 2–3 target roles
Paying anyone who promises a guaranteed job

Free resources

How do I file for unemployment insurance? — U.S. Department of Labor, checked 2026-10-13
Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA) — U.S. Department of Labor, checked 2026-10-13
Health coverage options if you're unemployed — HealthCare.gov, checked 2026-10-13
Unemployment compensation — Internal Revenue Service, checked 2026-10-13

JoRoute tools for this

Capture my experience — Record tasks and results while they are fresh
Find jobs — Real postings from official employer boards

Next step

Ten minutes, in your own words.

Capture my experience

Limits

General information, not legal, tax or benefits advice — rules differ by state.
Benefit amounts and eligibility are decided by your state program.

Reviewed 2026-10-13. Sources were opened and checked on the dates shown.