Aisha K.
Mar 12, 2026
Clean layout and the results update instantly. Exactly what I needed for a quick planning check.
Investing & Wealth Building
Layoff Runway and COBRA Calculator
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Inputs save on this device only. Share a link to reopen your exact numbers.
Inputs
02000000
050000
05000
050000
036
010000
026
050000
Smart analysis
Recommendations
Tailored to your live inputs and result—guidance only, not professional advice.
- Interpret
Treat this as a planning estimate
Primary result: Months of runway = 10 mo. Re-run with optimistic and pessimistic inputs to understand the range—not just a single point.
Scenario studio
Compare A vs B
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Scenario A
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Scenario B
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Pro strategic insights
- Headline result: Months of runway = 10 mo. Use inflation-realist mode below to see today’s purchasing power.
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Investing questions people search for
FIRE numbers, fee drag, DCA vs lump sum, and related planning intents — answered for clarity and search context.
Lump sum often wins mathematically if markets rise on average, because money is invested sooner. Dollar-cost averaging can reduce timing regret and smooth entry prices when cash arrives over time. Use both the DCA and compound interest tools to compare your own numbers.
Plain-English guide
Terms & how it works
Confused by a field? Read the short definitions here while you use the tool.
Cash you can spend
The “Cash you can spend ($)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Essential bills ($/mo)
The “Essential bills ($/mo)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
COBRA premium ($/mo)
The “COBRA premium ($/mo)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Severance ($/mo)
The “Severance ($/mo)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Severance months
Length of the repayment schedule.
Unemployment ($/mo)
The “Unemployment ($/mo)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
Unemployment months
Length of the repayment schedule.
Other income ($/mo)
The “Other income ($/mo)” value used in this tool’s formula. Adjust it to see results update live.
- cashOnHand
Cash you can spend ($)
The “Cash you can spend ($)” field. Default 18000; typical range 0–2000000.
Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.
Walk cash, severance, unemployment, and COBRA month by month to see how long essentials stay covered after a job loss.
How this calculator works
Walk cash, severance, unemployment, and COBRA month by month to see how long essentials stay covered after a job loss. Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero. Scenario: $18,000 cash, $4,200 essentials, $650 COBRA, 3 months of $6,000 severance and 6 months of $1,800 unemployment → runway is the month the cash stack breaks.
Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.
Scenario: $18,000 cash, $4,200 essentials, $650 COBRA, 3 months of $6,000 severance and 6 months of $1,800 unemployment → runway is the month the cash stack breaks.
When to use this Layoff Runway and COBRA
Common use cases
- Walk cash, severance, unemployment, and COBRA month by month to see how long essentials stay covered after a job loss.
- Sanity-check with this scenario: $18,000 cash, $4,200 essentials, $650 COBRA, 3 months of $6,000 severance and 6 months of $1,800 unemployment → runway is the month the cash stack breaks.
- The relationship is: Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.
Localized examples
- Investing & Wealth Building: the example on this page uses the same formula as the widget.
What you get
- Fields: Cash you can spend ($), Essential bills ($/mo), COBRA premium ($/mo), Severance ($/mo)
- Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.
- Scenario on the page: $18,000 cash, $4,200 essentials, $650 COBRA, 3 months of $6,000 severance and 6 months of $1,800 unemployment → runway is the month the cash stack breaks.
How to Calculate Layoff Runway and COBRA
- 1Enter Cash you can spend ($), Essential bills ($/mo), COBRA premium ($/mo), then the remaining fields. Use the values you have, not a catalog average, unless that is all you know.
- 2Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.
- 3Scenario: $18,000 cash, $4,200 essentials, $650 COBRA, 3 months of $6,000 severance and 6 months of $1,800 unemployment → runway is the month the cash stack breaks.
- 4Use it to compare habits, not to book a retirement party. Change one assumption and see which year moves.
Governing formula
Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.
$18,000 cash, $4,200 essentials, $650 COBRA, 3 months of $6,000 severance and 6 months of $1,800 unemployment → runway is the month the cash stack breaks.
$18,000 cash, $4,200 essentials, $650 COBRA, 3 months of $6,000 severance and 6 months of $1,800 unemployment → runway is the month the cash stack breaks.
Variable definitions
- cashOnHand
Cash you can spend ($)
The “Cash you can spend ($)” field. Default 18000; typical range 0–2000000.
- monthlyEssentials
Essential bills ($/mo)
The “Essential bills ($/mo)” field. Default 4200; typical range 0–50000.
- cobraMonthly
COBRA premium ($/mo)
The “COBRA premium ($/mo)” field. Default 650; typical range 0–5000.
- severanceMonthly
Severance ($/mo)
The “Severance ($/mo)” field. Default 6000; typical range 0–50000.
- severanceMonths
Severance months
The “Severance months” field. Default 3; typical range 0–36.
- unemploymentMonthly
Unemployment ($/mo)
The “Unemployment ($/mo)” field. Default 1800; typical range 0–10000.
- unemploymentMonths
Unemployment months
The “Unemployment months” field. Default 6; typical range 0–26.
- otherMonthlyIncome
Other income ($/mo)
The “Other income ($/mo)” field. Default 0; typical range 0–50000.
- Compounding here (Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.) assumes the deposit and the return you typed. Jobs, taxes, and a bad decade are not in the slider.
- Nothing here is uploaded for the calculation itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each month: cash += other + severance (if still in window) + unemployment (if still in window) − essentials − COBRA, until cash hits zero.
Related calculators
Investing & Wealth Building
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- Social Security Claiming Age CalculatorTurn your SSA statement FRA benefit into a monthly check at 62, FRA, or 70 using official early-reduction and delayed-retirement credits.
- RSU Vest Tax CalculatorEstimate federal tax when RSUs vest and compare it to the 22% supplemental withholding most brokers take.
- Medicare IRMAA CalculatorLook up 2026 Part B and Part D IRMAA from MAGI (usually the return from two years prior) and see what a Roth conversion would do to the premium.
- Childcare vs Second Income CalculatorSee what a second paycheck keeps after 2026 federal tax, daycare, and work friction versus staying home.
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- Emergency Fund & Runway PlannerEmergency fund planner with a life-shock simulator: job loss, medical bill, rent hike, or partner income gone.
- Roth Conversion Tax CalculatorEstimate the extra 2026 federal tax from a Roth conversion and how much room is left in your current bracket. State tax is not included.
- Social Security Claiming Age CalculatorTurn your SSA statement FRA benefit into a monthly check at 62, FRA, or 70 using official early-reduction and delayed-retirement credits.
- RSU Vest Tax CalculatorEstimate federal tax when RSUs vest and compare it to the 22% supplemental withholding most brokers take.
- Medicare IRMAA CalculatorLook up 2026 Part B and Part D IRMAA from MAGI (usually the return from two years prior) and see what a Roth conversion would do to the premium.
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See what others think about this tool, then leave your own rating to help improve CalculioHub.
4.8
out of 5.0
4 reviews
Daniel R.
Feb 28, 2026
Very usable on mobile. Would love a save/export option later, but the math feels solid.
Priya S.
Feb 3, 2026
The FAQ section answered my questions before I even had to search. Smooth dark mode too.
Marcus L.
Jan 19, 2026
Simple inputs, clear outputs. This replaced three bookmarks I used to juggle.
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