What should you do in the first 48 hours after job loss?
The first 48 hours define your financial trajectory.
The full picture
The first 48 hours define your financial trajectory. A 2024 NBER working paper found workers who create a structured plan within 2 days reduce savings depletion by 35%. Priority actions: (1) File for unemployment immediately — benefits are backdated to filing date, not job loss date.
(2) Do NOT elect COBRA yet — you have 60 days and it’s retroactive. (3) Review your severance offer but don’t sign — you have 21 days minimum. (4) Cut discretionary spending by 30% immediately.
(5) Calculate your runway: liquid savings divided by monthly expenses. (6) Update LinkedIn and notify your network.
Model this decision with your actual numbers
The PivotReset Decision Support Engine shows you the 12-month financial projection for each path.
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