Monthly expenses
Savings (optional)
Available to draw: $0
Enter your benefit and expenses to see your runway.
Fill in the weekly benefit amount and at least one expense category on the left.
Why this matters
A layoff changes your financial math overnight.
Most people focus on the weekly benefit number. What they miss is the gap between that amount and their actual monthly bills — especially COBRA health insurance, which can cost $600–$800/month on its own.
This calculator shows your real runway: how many weeks your benefits cover your bills, how many more weeks your savings can bridge the gap, and exactly when you'd run out of money without a new income source.
Benefits replace ~40–60% of income
Most state formulas are designed to replace roughly half your previous wages. Washington (max $1,152) is the most generous; Mississippi (max $235) the least.
COBRA is the budget killer
Your employer was paying most of your health insurance premium. COBRA means you pay 100% plus a 2% admin fee — often $600–$1,200/month. Budget for it explicitly.
File the moment you lose your job
Most states have a 1–2 week processing period before first payment. Every week you delay is a week of benefits lost. File online the same week you're laid off.
Savings bridge the gap
If your monthly bills exceed your weekly benefit × 4.33, you're running a deficit. Savings slow the drain. This calculator shows exactly how many weeks your savings extend your runway.
Don't know your benefit amount yet?
Calculate your estimated weekly benefit first, then come back to plan your runway.