Layoff Survival Calculator
Calculate your financial runway and determine how long you can survive without a regular paycheck.
Quick answer: Runway depends on when benefits arrive as well as their total amount. Enter available cash, monthly spending, and the duration of confirmed benefits. Use your own numbers below.
Assumes benefits start immediately and arrive evenly. Payment delays, unexpected bills and benefit eligibility are not modeled. Six months is an example reserve, not a guarantee of safety.
When to use this tool:
- Recession readiness
- Layoff preparation
- Emergency fund goal setting
How it's Calculated
- Monthly spending = expenses + debt payments, counted once.
- During benefit payments, savings fall by spending minus monthly benefits.
- If savings run out before benefits end, runway stops there. Otherwise, remaining cash funds spending after benefits end.
Key Assumptions
Defaults are example inputs. See methodology and corrections for how to check results, or report an issue.
- Savings and net severance are available now.
- Benefits begin immediately and last for the entered duration; use zero if uncertain.
- Spending is constant. The model is a monthly approximation, not a daily payment schedule.
Actionable Insights
- Future benefit payments cannot cover a cash shortfall today.
- Try a no-benefits scenario and include new insurance costs in spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cash available for bills after setting aside taxes and committed payments.
Yes. Use the amount available after withholding and any restrictions.
No. Check eligibility, amounts and dates with the responsible agency.
It is a comparison scenario. The appropriate reserve depends on your obligations and uncertainty.
This calculator does not model a waiting period. Check the first months separately and run a zero-benefits case.
Enter them in the debt field and exclude them from basic expenses to avoid counting twice.
Why payment timing changes runway
With $1,000 in savings, $3,000 monthly spending and $1,000 monthly benefits, cash falls by $2,000 a month. It runs out after about half a month even if benefits were approved for six months. Adding all six future payments to savings would incorrectly report 2.3 months.
With $12,000 in savings and the same spending and benefits, the savings cover the $2,000 monthly shortfall for six months. Compare both examples with your own payment calendar. A monthly average can miss a rent bill due before a benefit payment.
Build the spending estimate
Include housing, food, utilities, insurance, transport and required debt payments. Keep tax reserves and one-time bills separate. The career transition checklist explains how to stress-test the budget.
Sources and scope
Examples use US dollars and US workplace terminology. Change the inputs to match your benefits and costs. These are comparison models, not tax-return or payroll calculations.