dh lost his job yesterday - Page 2

[lmonter]

Btdt. Last year as a matter of fact. Four weeks after I peed on a stick, and hubby had zero notice/warning at all as well. I had my first official prenatal appt at 33 weeks or so (took several months to find a new job a state away, and another month for insurance to kick in).

Since he was laid off, get on your state's unemployment website asap and file. We got our first unemployment check the week after hubby got his last paycheck (and was no longer working). His company didn't fight/protest the unemployment like my sister's old company, so it was easy peasy. Hubby just went on the website every week we didn't have a job and the checks came on Thursdays. As long as your mortgage isn't exorbitant or you weren't making $5/hour, it should help. You could also look into food stamps and WIC if you don't have much of a pantry stockpiled.

Then, just do the usual things - resume updated and everywhere, bare bones bills, and enjoy spending some time together in the meantime.

[sanguine_speed]

Sorry, mama . That sounds so hard.

[sanguine_speed]

double post

[fyrwmn]

thanks mama's! dh headed over to hand deliver his signed severance package today, so hopefully that will get things moving. he's also checking out a lead on another job. the business he worked for was taken over by a bigger business last year. they flew corporate guys in to do all the cut backs, so i don't know if that's why things are taking longer. they gave him his severance package as well as his last check (for the 2 days he worked) when they terminated him. he had to look over the severance package, sign it and then get it back to them before they could get started on that i guess. the business that took over is out in iowa, as opposed to here where we are. there is also the chance that the mill will hire him back in another capacity i guess, but we won't hold our breath on that. my biggest freak out is that we have 2 lo's at home now (15mo and 4.5yrs) and baby #3 is due in just over 9 weeks. we're hoping dh can get some more answers today, as everything was kind of rushed tuesday. from what we understood when dh talked to them, it sounded like 60+ days to get the actual severance check. he's going to get unemployment started asap too, and thankfully they said they would not fight it at all. we've never been thru this before, so having everything so up in the air and no real answers or time lines is what is scariest i think. the thought of trying to support our family on just my salary for 60+ days is next to impossible. i need to just remember to breathe! i just wish life would stop pullin gthe rug out from under us every time we start to get our footing back!

[2cutiekitties]

OP please google severance package advice. You can negotiate, you have time, etc. The common mistake is to buy into the rush rush thing they do.

[kate42]

I'm so sorry! It happened to us in Feb. 2009. One day, DH had a great $85k job and the next day...gone. We walked around shell-shocked for a week or so. Definitely file for unemployment right away. In NY, he could do it online so I would check into that.

It's not the end of the world, although it sure feels like it for a while.

[HappyMommy2]

Your dh should set up a Linked In account now, and connect with bigwigs and clients ASAP, before they forget about him. Once you are gone, you become kind of a leper.

Get the basics in there and start connecting NOW. The profile can be beefed up later, just start with the most recent job. The network of contacts is SO important these days. Jobs aren't even posted, most are obtained because of who you know.

[shelbean91]

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Losing a job is never at a good time. With regards to the 401k cashout, PLEASE try to not do this if at all possible. I know having the cash is important, but you will get knocked over next year at tax time - seriously. We did that *once* and it's taxed at a much higher tax rate and there is a 10% penalty for early withdrawl. NOT worth it if not absolutely necessary. The sting for us was lessened a bit as we used the money for school expenses and a down payment on a house (some of it had been a loan that had to be paid back with the proceeds.)