If your income stops, protect your options first

First 24 hours: keep the record

1. Confirm dates, final pay, accrued leave, benefits and any written reason for termination or reduced work.
2. Save pay records, employer notices, policy documents and deadlines in a secure folder.
3. List essential obligations: housing, utilities, food, medication, transport and dependents.
4. Before missing a payment, contact providers for hardship, payment-plan or protection options.
5. Check local unemployment assistance, food aid, health coverage and worker-rights agencies; eligibility differs.

First week: reduce single points of failure

Write a realistic weekly cash-flow sheet. Do not borrow expensive high-interest money before checking trusted nonprofit credit and benefits counseling. Ask your utility provider about shutoff protections and your landlord or housing counselor about local requirements.

Weeks 2–4: preserve choice

• Update a skills inventory covering paid and unpaid practical work.
• Use workforce centers and accessible training; compare costs, certificates and job outcomes.
• Research worker cooperatives or short-term mutual support without assuming an informal project will replace employment.
• Document adverse automated benefits or hiring decisions and ask about review procedures.
• Maintain trusted contacts and personal routines; crisis is not evidence that you are disposable.

Know what this guide cannot do

It is not legal, financial or benefits advice. Deadlines and rules are jurisdiction-specific. If benefits are denied, preserve the notice and use the Human Appeal worksheet while promptly contacting qualified local assistance.