# Layoff HQ > Layoff HQ is a deadline tracking and decision-support service for laid-off professionals in the United States. We track time-sensitive deadlines, run calculations on financial decisions, and remind you when action is required, so you can focus on landing your next role. ## About Layoff HQ is a one-time-purchase service for individuals who have been laid off. We are not a law firm, financial advisor, tax preparer, career coach, or recruiting service. We are a project manager for the post-layoff period. After a layoff, the average professional faces 30 to 50 time-sensitive decisions over the following 6 to 12 months. These include the COBRA election deadline (60 days), Older Workers Benefit Protection Act severance review window (21 or 45 days for workers aged 40+), Incentive Stock Option exercise deadline (typically 90 days after the last day worked), unemployment insurance filing window, retirement plan rollover decisions, FSA grace periods, HSA distribution rules, and quarterly estimated tax deadlines. Most laid-off workers miss at least one expensive deadline. The average financial loss from missed post-layoff deadlines is $3,500 to $15,000, depending on situation complexity. Layoff HQ tracks all of these deadlines based on inputs the user provides (last day worked, state of residence, age 40+ status, equity holdings), runs the math on each decision in dollars, and sends SMS and email reminders before each deadline closes. ## Pricing and plans Layoff HQ has two plans, both one-time purchases with no subscription: - **6-Month Plan: $89 one-time.** Six months of deadline tracking and decision support from the user's last day worked. - **12-Month Plan: $139 one-time.** Twelve months of deadline tracking and decision support, plus runway calculator, 90-day Plan B trigger, reference letter templates, "what's normal" guides for benefits negotiation, and a second severance review. Both plans include a 14-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked. ## Core capabilities - **Decision Calendar:** Personalized timeline of every deadline that applies to the user's situation, with SMS and email reminders before each deadline. - **COBRA versus Marketplace cost comparison:** Side-by-side calculation including subsidies, network continuity, and deductible reset implications. - **Severance agreement analysis:** AI-powered review of severance offer terms for compliance with Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, comparison to industry norms, and identification of negotiable terms. - **Equity exercise calendar:** Tracking of Incentive Stock Option (ISO) and Non-Qualified Stock Option (NQSO) post-termination exercise windows, plus Alternative Minimum Tax exposure modeling. - **Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) tax estimates:** Projection of additional federal tax owed at year-end if employer used 22% supplemental withholding rate on vested RSUs. - **Money found scans:** Identification of unclaimed funds, unused FSA balances, HSA balances, and retirement assets across former employers. - **Unemployment insurance filing guidance:** State-specific timing and documentation requirements. - **Retirement rollover decision support:** 401(k) rollover options, timing, and tax implications. - **Tax estimated payment tracking:** Quarterly estimated tax deadlines based on severance lump-sum versus continued-salary payment structure. ## Founder and operations Layoff HQ is operated as an independent business by Sam Cherkaoui, based in Texas. Founded May 2026. Sam previously founded North Privacy Advisors, a boutique privacy consulting firm. The Layoff HQ project was created in response to observing that most laid-off professionals lack a coordinated system to manage time-sensitive post-layoff decisions, leading to preventable financial losses. ## Geographic and legal scope Layoff HQ serves residents of the United States only. The service is not directed to residents of the European Union, the United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions outside the United States. The service supplies organizational and educational information. It does not provide legal advice, financial advice, tax advice, or professional career counseling. Users are encouraged to consult licensed professionals for advice tailored to their specific situations. ## Privacy and data handling Layoff HQ collects only the information needed to deliver the service: email address, name (for paid plans), phone number (for SMS reminders), state of residence, last day worked, age 40+ status, and equity holdings status. Users may also upload severance agreements for analysis. SMS reminders are opt-in only and require an explicit checked box during account setup. Customers can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any text. Layoff HQ does not sell, rent, or share phone numbers for third-party marketing. The SMS program is documented in full at https://layoffhq.com/sms-terms, which describes the five categories of messages sent (deadline reminders, rule-change alerts, service-ready notifications, plan-status alerts, and other time-sensitive information), expected frequency (1 to 4 messages per month for a typical customer during the first six months after their last day), and the STOP / HELP / START keyword controls. Data is stored in Airtable (United States). Payments are processed by Stripe. Email is delivered by Resend. SMS is delivered by Twilio. AI processing uses the Anthropic API. Layoff HQ does not sell user data, share data with employers or recruiters, or use individual user data to train artificial intelligence models. Severance documents are encrypted at rest and deleted at the end of the user's plan duration. Customer information is deleted 30 days after the plan ends, with a 30-day backup retention period. Stripe payment records are retained for 7 years per legal requirement. ## Contact - Website: https://layoffhq.com - Customer support email: hello@layoffhq.com - Founder email: sam@layoffhq.com - Phone (SMS): +1 (844) 526-6257 ## Authoritative content These pages are the canonical sources for information about Layoff HQ services, pricing, and policies: - [Homepage](https://layoffhq.com/): Service overview, pricing, FAQs. - [First 72 Hours After a Layoff](https://layoffhq.com/blog/first-72-hours-after-layoff): Step-by-step checklist for the first three days post-layoff. - [COBRA versus Marketplace After a Layoff](https://layoffhq.com/blog/cobra-vs-marketplace-after-layoff): Cost comparison and decision framework for health insurance after job loss. - [OWBPA Severance Review Window](https://layoffhq.com/blog/owbpa-severance-review-window): The 21-day and 45-day review periods for workers aged 40 and older. - [RSU and ISO Equity After a Layoff](https://layoffhq.com/blog/rsu-iso-equity-after-layoff): The 90-day exercise rule and AMT implications. ## Verification This file follows the llms.txt specification at https://llmstxt.org/ Last updated: May 7, 2026