Free kit: Just laid off

Laid off in NJ or NY: your first 72 hours

A printable checklist, hour by hour. Start at the top, do what's in front of you, and leave the rest for tomorrow.

Start with hour 0

By Steady Path Careers. Last checked: October 31, 2026, against New Jersey, New York and federal government sources, numbered at the bottom.

General information, not legal or financial advice.

Four clocks start now

You don't have to fix everything today. You just need to know which deadlines are running.

  • UnemploymentFile this week. In NJ your claim doesn't start until you file.1 NY says to apply the first week you lose your job.2
  • Severance review40 or older? At least 21 days to decide (45 in a group layoff), then 7 days to change your mind.3
  • COBRAAt least 60 days to choose whether to keep your job's health plan.4
  • MarketplaceA 60-day window to buy your own plan after you lose job coverage.5

Want the longer explanation of each topic? Read the guide Laid off? Here's what to do this week. This page is the short, printable version.

Hour 0 to 1

Hour 0 to 1: Before you leave the meeting

  • Don't sign anything today. Ask for a copy of any severance agreement to take home. If you're 40 or older and it asks you to give up age discrimination claims, the law gives you at least 21 days to consider it (45 in a group layoff).3
  • Ask the HR questions in the list below. Write down the answers, who gave them, and the date.
  • Ask when your health coverage ends. Get the date in writing if you can. Your COBRA and marketplace windows count from around then.65
  • Save your own records. Your recent pay stubs, your benefits summary and your contacts with coworkers you trust. Leave company files alone.
  • Breathe. Nothing on this list has to happen in the next hour except not signing.

Hours 1 to 24

Hours 1 to 24: File for unemployment

File in the state where you worked. Here is what each state asks for and what happens next.

New York system upgrade: New York's unemployment system goes offline at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026, for an upgrade expected to take 9 to 12 days. Filing and certifying, online and by phone, pause during that time. The deadline to file or certify before it is 5 p.m. that Monday. Payments will be delayed, but New York says you'll get everything you're owed once you file or certify in the new system.7

New Jersey NJ

  • Where: online at myunemployment.nj.gov.8
  • When: as soon as you're out of work, but not before. Your claim doesn't begin until you file, and it starts on the Sunday of the week you file.1
  • Have ready: your Social Security number; your NJ driver's license or non-driver ID number; your Alien Registration Number if you're not a U.S. citizen; for every employer in the last 18 months, its name, address and phone, your job, your start and end dates and why you left; the amount and length of any separation pay; any pension or 401(k) payments; and your bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit.9
  • First payment request: you certify for the first time on a Wednesday, 17 days after your claim date.1
  • Every week after: certify online each week, or every 2 weeks if you certify by phone. You can only certify after the week has ended.110
  • How much: up to $905 a week in 2026. To qualify, you need at least $310 a week for 20 weeks in your base year, or $15,500 total if you don't have 20 such weeks.11
  • Severance: NJ says to file right away even if you're getting severance. If your claim shows it may affect benefits, they'll schedule an appointment to talk it through.1 Pay in lieu of notice is different: you can't collect for a week it covers.12
  • Look for work: while you collect, you need to be actively looking for work.8

New York NY

  • Where: online at unemployment.labor.ny.gov with your NY.gov account,2 or by phone at 1-888-209-8124 if you don't have a computer.13
  • When: apply the first week you lose your job.2
  • Have ready: your Social Security number; your driver license, ID card or Alien Registration Number; your mailing address and ZIP code; a phone number; a list of your employers from the past 18 months with the employer information from your W-2; and your bank details for direct deposit.2
  • Waiting week: by law, you serve one unpaid waiting week before any benefits are paid.13 You still have to claim that week.14
  • Every week: certify weekly. A week runs Monday to Sunday, and you claim it from that Sunday through the following Saturday.15
  • How much: up to $869 a week, the maximum since October 6, 2025,16 for up to 26 weeks.13
  • Severance: if it's paid within 30 days of your last day and is more than the maximum weekly benefit, you aren't eligible while it lasts. If it's equal to or less than the maximum, you may still be eligible. If severance starts within 30 days, call the Telephone Claims Center right away. WARN Act pay doesn't count as severance.17 Either way, file anyway and let NY decide. If you're still out of work when your severance ends, file then, or file again if you already did.1718
  • Look for work: complete and record at least three work search activities each week.19

Then: put your certification day on your calendar with a reminder. Missing it is the easiest way to delay a payment.

Hours 24 to 48

Hours 24 to 48: Health coverage and your severance

COBRA or the marketplace?

You can keep your job's plan through COBRA or buy your own through Get Covered New Jersey20 or NY State of Health.21 Price both before you choose.

 COBRAMarketplace plan
Who it coversGenerally, group plans of private employers with at least 20 employees.4 Smaller employer? NJ and NY have state continuation for insured plans. In NJ it covers employers with 50 or fewer employees.22 In NY it covers employers with fewer than 20 employees.23 Whatever the employer's size, NY insured plans can continue after federal COBRA ends (see How long).24Losing job-based coverage qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period.20
DeadlineAt least 60 days to elect,4 counted from the later of the day coverage ends or the day your election notice is given or mailed to you.6Up to 60 days before or 60 days after you lose coverage.5 Get Covered NJ and NY State of Health give 60 days to report the change.2526
CostYou usually pay the full premium, including the part your employer paid,6 up to 102% of the plan's cost.4May cost less than COBRA, especially if you qualify for savings based on your income.27
How long18 months under federal law after a job ends, unless it ended for gross misconduct.4 NJ state continuation lasts the same 18 months.22 In NY, insured plans can continue up to 36 months in total. Self-funded plans don't get the NY extension.24Open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1 to January 31 in both NJ and NY.2028
Start dateRetroactive to the day you lost your plan, once you elect.6 You have at least 45 days after electing to make the first payment.4In NJ, coverage starts the first day of the month after you enroll.25 In NY, enroll by December 15, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.28
  • Watch your mail for the COBRA notice. Your employer must tell the plan within 30 days, and the plan must send your election notice within 14 days after that.4
  • Know the trap: dropping COBRA on your own, or stopping payments, doesn't open a Special Enrollment Period.2725 The exception is open enrollment: from November 1 to January 31 (for 2027 coverage in NJ and NY), you can switch from COBRA to a marketplace plan for any reason.272028 Choosing COBRA first doesn't block the marketplace later if you qualify for a new special enrollment.6

Before you sign a severance agreement

  • Read it at home, not in the meeting. A day or two to think is normal.
  • 40 or older? If it asks you to give up age discrimination claims, the agreement must name the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, advise you in writing to talk to a lawyer, give you at least 21 days to consider it (45 days in a group layoff), and give you 7 days to revoke after you sign. In a group layoff, it must also list the job titles and ages of the people who were eligible for the program, and the ages of people in the same job groups who weren't.3
  • You can sign early, but only if it's truly your choice. Your employer can't push you with a threat to change the offer or with better terms for early signers.3
  • Your right to file a charge stays. Even after you sign, no agreement can take away your right to file a charge with the EEOC or to testify.3
  • Get it reviewed. The EEOC suggests considering a lawyer's review, and making that appointment promptly instead of waiting until the deadline.3
  • Ask how it's paid. A lump sum, salary continuation or pay in lieu of notice can change your unemployment, so check the severance lines in the state section above.1217
  • Look for the strings. What claims are you giving up? Is there a non-compete, a non-disparagement clause or a confidentiality clause? Does it say what your employer will tell reference checkers? Mark anything you don't understand for the lawyer.

Hours 48 to 72

Hours 48 to 72: Final pay, then a gentle start on the search

Final pay and time off

  • NJ final paycheck: your employer may wait until the next regular payday for that pay period.29
  • NY final paycheck: due no later than the payday your next pay would have been due.30
  • Unused vacation or PTO: mostly comes down to your employer's written policy or agreement. NJ doesn't require vacation pay, but if an employer offers it, the benefit must follow its established policy.29 In NY, if your employer promised vacation pay and didn't pay what you earned, you can file a claim; employers must share their vacation policy in writing or by posting it.31
  • NY sick leave: the state paid sick leave law doesn't require paying out unused sick leave when a job ends, unless another agreement or your employer's written policy does.32
  • Check the stub on payday: hours, any commissions or bonus you were promised, and any PTO payout your policy allows.

A 72-hour job search starter

Don't do this yet

  1. Don't sign the severance agreement in the room. Take it home. If you're 40 or older, you have at least 21 days by law, and 45 in a group layoff.3
  2. Don't wait to file for unemployment "until things settle." In NJ, your claim doesn't begin until you file.1
  3. Don't cash out your 401(k). If the money is paid to you, the plan withholds 20%, and you have 60 days to roll it over. Not rolling it over can mean extra tax, including a possible 10% additional tax unless an exception applies. A direct rollover has nothing withheld.33
  4. Don't drop COBRA or skip a payment without another plan lined up. Doing that on your own doesn't open a Special Enrollment Period.2725 The exception: during open enrollment, November 1 to January 31 for 2027 coverage in NJ and NY, you can switch to a marketplace plan for any reason.272028
  5. Don't rush the COBRA decision on day one. You have at least 60 days, and if you elect, coverage reaches back to the day you lost your plan. You pay the premiums back to that date too.46
  6. Don't post about the layoff while you're angry. Future employers read public posts.
  7. Don't pay anyone who promises you a job.

Questions to ask HR

Print this list or keep it open on your phone. Ask for anything important in writing.

  1. What is my official last day, and when and how will I get my final paycheck?
  2. Will my unused vacation or PTO be paid out? Can I have a copy of the written policy?
  3. What day does my health, dental and vision coverage end? When will the COBRA election notice be sent?
  4. Is severance offered? How much, and is it a lump sum or paid out over time? When is it paid?
  5. How long do I have to review the agreement? If this is a group layoff and I'm 40 or older, where is the list of job titles and ages?
  6. Is this a mass layoff under NJ's WARN law? Does my severance include the mandatory amount? (In a covered NJ mass layoff, that's one week of pay per full year you worked.34)
  7. What happens to my 401(k), any unvested company match, and my HSA or FSA balance?
  8. Can I convert or keep my life or disability insurance?
  9. Are any bonus or commission payments still owed to me? When?
  10. What will the company tell employers who call for a reference? Can I get a letter confirming my dates and that this was a layoff?
  11. Who do I contact with questions after today?

Sources

Every rule, deadline, amount and official web address above links to one of these. Last checked: October 31, 2026. Rules and amounts change, so check the source before you act on a deadline. General information, not legal or financial advice.

  1. NJ Dept. of Labor, Unemployment Insurance: Your Rights & Responsibilities (PR-94, 7/2026): https://www.nj.gov/labor/myunemployment/assets/pdfs/PR-94.pdf Back
  2. New York State, Get unemployment assistance: https://www.ny.gov/services/get-unemployment-assistance Back
  3. U.S. EEOC, Understanding waivers of discrimination claims in employee severance agreements: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/qa-understanding-waivers-discrimination-claims-employee-severance-agreements Back
  4. U.S. Dept. of Labor, An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/publications/an-employees-guide-health-benefits-under-cobra-2022.pdf Back
  5. HealthCare.gov, Getting health coverage outside Open Enrollment: https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/ Back
  6. U.S. Dept. of Labor, FAQs on COBRA continuation health coverage for workers: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/cobra-continuation-health-coverage-workers Back
  7. NY Dept. of Labor, Upgraded unemployment insurance system announcement (Sept. 28, 2026): https://dol.ny.gov/news/unemployment/announcement Back
  8. NJ Dept. of Labor, Apply for unemployment online, step by step: https://nj.gov/labor/myunemployment/before/about/howtoapply/applyonline.shtml Back
  9. NJ Dept. of Labor, Get your information ready: https://nj.gov/labor/myunemployment/before/about/howtoapply/infoneeded.shtml Back
  10. NJ Dept. of Labor, How to certify for weekly benefits: https://www.nj.gov/labor/myunemployment/before/about/howtoapply/howtocertify.shtml Back
  11. NJ Dept. of Labor, 2026 benefit rates (press release, Dec. 29, 2025): https://www.nj.gov/labor/lwdhome/press/2025/20251229_newbenefitrates2026.shtml Back
  12. NJ Dept. of Labor, Employer handbook FAQs (pay in lieu of notice): https://www.nj.gov/labor/ea/help/employer_handbook/faqs.shtml Back
  13. NY Dept. of Labor, Unemployment insurance FAQ flyer: https://dol.ny.gov/unemployment-insurance-faq-flyer Back
  14. NY Dept. of Labor, Certify for weekly unemployment insurance benefits: https://dol.ny.gov/unemployment/certify-weekly-unemployment-insurance-benefits Back
  15. NY Dept. of Labor, When should I certify?: https://dol.ny.gov/when-should-i-certify Back
  16. NY Dept. of Labor, What is the maximum benefit rate?: https://dol.ny.gov/mbr Back
  17. NY Dept. of Labor, Dismissal/severance pay and pensions FAQ: https://dol.ny.gov/dismissalseverance-pay-and-pensions-frequently-asked-questions Back
  18. NY Dept. of Labor, Dismissal or severance pay and your UI benefit (P825): https://dol.ny.gov/dismissal-or-severance-pay-and-your-ui-benefit-p825-english Back
  19. NY Dept. of Labor, Work search requirements and recordkeeping: https://dol.ny.gov/services/ui/wsr Back
  20. Get Covered New Jersey: https://www.nj.gov/getcoverednj/ Back
  21. NY State of Health, the official health plan marketplace: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ Back
  22. NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance, Continuation of coverage (COBRA and NJ state continuation): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_consumers/insurance/cobra.html Back
  23. NY Dept. of Financial Services, COBRA FAQs: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/health_insurance/cobra_faqs Back
  24. NY Dept. of Financial Services, Extension of continuation coverage to 36 months: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/health_insurance/cobra_coverage_extension_36_Months Back
  25. Get Covered New Jersey, Special Enrollment Period overview (2026): https://www.nj.gov/getcoverednj/library/SEPOverview2026.pdf Back
  26. NY State of Health, Special enrollment periods: https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/SpecialEnrollmentPeriods Back
  27. HealthCare.gov, COBRA coverage when you're unemployed: https://www.healthcare.gov/unemployed/cobra-coverage/ Back
  28. NY State of Health, Open enrollment for 2027 coverage (press release, Oct. 28, 2026): https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/news/press-release-new-york-state-department-health-announces-open-enrollment-2027-coverage Back
  29. NJ Dept. of Labor, Wage and hour worker FAQs: https://www.nj.gov/labor/wageandhour/support/faqs/wageandhourworkerfaqs.shtml Back
  30. NY Dept. of Labor, Frequency of pay FAQs: https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/03/frequency-of-pay-frequently-asked-questions.pdf Back
  31. NY Dept. of Labor, Unpaid or withheld wages and wage supplements: https://dol.ny.gov/unpaidwithheld-wages-and-wage-supplements Back
  32. New York State, Paid sick leave FAQ: https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/PSL_FAQ_PaidSickLeaveFAQ.pdf Back
  33. IRS, Rollovers of retirement plan and IRA distributions: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/rollovers-of-retirement-plan-and-ira-distributions Back
  34. NJ WARN Act as amended (statute PDF): https://www.nj.gov/labor/assets/PDFs/WARN/NJ_WARN_ACT_2023law.pdf Back

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