Resources
Outside help we don't run, vetted by hand. No affiliate links, nothing that costs you money to click. (ever)
Crisis & Immediate Help
If you are in crisis right now, start here. These are staffed 24/7 and free.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988. Free, confidential, 24/7, and there is no threshold you have to meet.
Call or text 988 ↗
Unemployment
File as soon as possible. Every state has a window. Missing it costs you money you are owed.
USAGov Benefit Finder
official
Ten minutes, and it lists every federal program you qualify for.
Check eligibility ↗
Your state's unemployment office, appeal help, and a real human at a local Job Center.
Explore resources ↗
National Employment Law Project
What you're owed and what your employer can't do, in plain language.
Know your rights ↗
Health Coverage
A layoff triggers a special enrollment period. You have options beyond COBRA. Most people do not know this.
A layoff triggers a Special Enrollment Period. You don't have to wait for open enrollment.
Compare plans ↗
Medicaid Eligibility Check
official
A big income drop may mean free coverage. Most people never check. Check.
Check eligibility ↗
Cuts prescription costs by up to 80 percent on some drugs. No account needed.
Find lower prices ↗
HRSA Health Center Finder
official
16,000+ community health center sites on a sliding scale. No income can mean free care.
Find a center near you ↗
Free or heavily discounted medications, straight from manufacturers, in one database.
Search programs ↗
COBRA Information via DOL
official
The official word on your COBRA rights and the 60-day election window.
Understand your rights ↗
Financial Assistance
Assistance programs exist that most people never find. These are the ones worth your time.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Nonprofit financial counselors, not the predatory debt-settlement kind.
Find a counselor ↗
LIHEAP: Utility Assistance
official
Help with heating and cooling bills. Funds run out seasonally, so apply early.
Find local agency ↗
USAGov Benefits by Category
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Every federal assistance program, browsable by category: food, housing, childcare, more.
Browse programs by category ↗
Food & Housing
No judgment. These programs exist for exactly this situation.
Feeding America Food Bank Locator
Find a food bank. Many are walk-in, no income verification. It preserves cash for rent.
Find a food bank ↗
USDA SNAP Eligibility
official
Eligibility is based on current income, so a fresh layoff may qualify you now.
Check eligibility ↗
HUD Housing Assistance
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Housing vouchers, public housing, and free HUD-approved housing counselors.
Find housing help ↗
National Low Income Housing Coalition
State-by-state rental assistance, useful where federal programs don't stretch.
Find state resources ↗
Mental Health
Job loss is a genuine grief event. Getting support is not optional. It is part of the plan.
Psychology Today Therapist Finder
The big therapist directory; filter for sliding-scale fees.
Find a therapist ↗
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Your old employer's EAP may keep working 30 to 90 days after your last day. Check.
Find your EAP ↗
Mesothelioma Hope: Mental Health Guide
If a cancer diagnosis is part of this too: a free guide to mental health support for patients and families.
Read the guide ↗
Retraining & Upskilling
Free and low-cost paths to close skill gaps or pivot. These are the ones with actual outcomes.
Google Career Certificates
Job-ready certificates in 3 to 6 months, built for career switchers.
Explore certificates ↗
LinkedIn Learning: Free via Library
Free with a library card from most major public library systems.
Check library access ↗
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
official
Closed to new layoffs since 2022. Ask about WIOA Dislocated Worker training instead.
Check the program status ↗
Job Search: The Stuff You Don't Already Know
Skip Indeed and LinkedIn. You already know those. These are the resources that actually move the needle.
Staffing Agencies for Bridge Income
Contract work within days. Not giving up, keeping cash flowing while you search.
Find contract work ↗
Freelance & Contract Platforms
Contra, Toptal, or Upwork by skill level. Earning within two weeks is realistic.
Find freelance work ↗
Going Independent
If you have decided to freelance or start something. These are the legitimate free resources.
Registering an LLC, taxes, loans: the official guide. Less intimidating than it sounds.
Start here ↗
Free mentoring from people who've actually built businesses.
Find a mentor ↗
Health insurance options, contract templates, and rate-setting guides. Free.
Join free ↗
Veterans
Extra support you've earned. Benefits, employment help, and directories built for veterans and their families.
Every benefit you've earned, one official hub: health care, GI Bill, home loans, pension.
See your benefits ↗
Free one-on-one career coaching and resume help for veterans and military spouses.
Get free help ↗
CareerOneStop for Veterans (DOL)
Priority job services, apprenticeships, and your local veteran employment rep.
Find services ↗
National Resource Directory
official
A vetted directory of thousands of services for veterans and their families.
Browse the directory ↗
These open outside the app. Every source re-verified 2026; if one turns into a paywall or a lead-gen trap, tell us and it's gone.