Just got laid off? The first things to do, in order.

A few of these have deadlines, and missing one can cost real money, so it helps to move through them in roughly this order in the first week or two. None of it is complicated once you see the whole list.

1. Pin down your final pay and PTO

Your final paycheck is owed on a deadline set by your state, and if you were laid off, that deadline is often short. Separately, your unused vacation may be owed as a payout depending on your state and your employer's policy. Both are worth checking right away, because both are money you may already be entitled to. I wrote about each in more depth: when your final paycheck is due and whether your PTO gets paid out.

2. Sort out health insurance before it lapses

Losing a job usually means losing employer health coverage, often at the end of the month. You generally have two options. COBRA lets you keep your existing plan, typically for up to 18 months, but you pay the full premium plus a small administrative fee, so it can feel expensive. You usually have 60 days to elect it, and coverage is retroactive, which means you can wait and only sign up if you actually need care. The other option is a marketplace plan: losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event that opens a special enrollment window, and a marketplace plan with a subsidy is often cheaper than COBRA. Compare both before the clock runs out.

3. File for unemployment now, not later

A layoff is a no-fault separation, which generally means you qualify for unemployment benefits. File with your state's unemployment agency as soon as you can, because benefits usually start from when you file, not from your last day, so waiting can leave money on the table. Have your employment dates and earnings handy. If severance affects your timing, the agency can tell you how it interacts with benefits in your state.

4. Read the severance and release carefully

If you are offered severance, it almost always comes with a release, a legal agreement where you give up the right to sue in exchange for the money. Do not sign it in the room. You are usually allowed to take it home and read it, and in certain group layoffs, workers who are 40 or older are given a longer window to consider it and a few days to revoke after signing. Look at what you are giving up, any non-disparagement or noncompete terms, and whether the amount is standard for your tenure. For anything significant, a quick review by an employment attorney can pay for itself.

5. Take care of your 401(k)

Your retirement savings are yours, and you have time, so do not rush. You can usually leave the money in the old plan, roll it into an IRA, or roll it into a future employer's plan. The one move to avoid is cashing it out, which can trigger income tax plus an early-withdrawal penalty and quietly erase years of growth. A direct rollover keeps it tax-free and simple.

6. Lock in references while you are fresh in mind

Before contacts scatter, ask a manager or two you trust if they would be a reference, and get a personal email or number rather than just a work address you will lose access to. A short, warm note now is far easier than a cold ask in six months.

This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and the rules around severance, benefits, and unemployment vary by state and by your specific situation, so confirm the details with the relevant agency or a professional. Mostly, be kind to yourself this week. A layoff is rarely about you, and the list above is very doable one item at a time.