Got laid off today. When do I apply for unemployment benefits?
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Call the agency and ask. The new Marvin system does not allow an open claim to sit more than 2 weeks with benefits unclaimed, before it is closed out and you have to start the entire process of enrollment all over again. You don't want to find yourself doing the same work of opening a claim twice.
As soon as possible with a 'but.' You won't be able to collect until you receive your last paycheck from your employer. Hypothetically, if you are given a 30 day notice of your being laid off, but remain on the payroll, with an opportunity to find another job within the company, you are still employed. If you cannot find another job and once you receive that last check you become eligible.
Once you are 'unemployed' and you are able to find another job, the company knows you may be 'desperate' and they may offer you less than what they normally would. My advice would be for everyone in this precarious situation of not knowing how long you will remain at GM to get their resumes updated and posted on a handful of job sites. Be ready to close one door and walk through another.
Who am I? I spent 10 years at Walmart and saw the same thing happen over my last 4 years there. At first, the severance packages were generous and then get worse and worse over time. Currently, if they want to get rid or their employees/associates, they just give them a bad annual eval. That is the kiss of death. No severance comes with that. And yes, Walmart got rid of the associates over 50 (they made too much), those with 20 or more years (they made too much) and those that had the 'audacity' of using their health benefits (they cost the company too much - WM was self-insured). Eventually that 20 year tenure became 15 and then even less. I saw the writing on the wall and left become they dropped my to the curb like week old trash.
During all this, the people that remained, suffered survivor's guilt. They also picked up the extra work, now doing the jobs of 2 people or more. Rumor had it that the 'survivors' started taking anti-depressants more often due to the stress of their situations. Nobody smiled anymore. It became a depressing walking dead situation. You stressed out every day of the work week not knowing who was on the chopping block. Once you made it to Friday you had a sense of relief and were able to enjoy Saturday. On Sunday the stress came back thinking about the next work week.
On the flip side, everyone I stay in touch with who left WM voluntarily or involuntarily are so much happier. Most found jobs making more than what they did at WM. The hours were less. (WM has a mandatory 45 hour work week. Most people who wanted to get 'ahead' there worked 50+, closer to 60 at the sacrifice of their health and families.) The pace was slower and the stress was gone.
So if you are one of the ones who are let go I'm sorry. Keep a positive attitude if you can, and maintain a regular daily schedule. Take a few days off to relax (if you can) to unwind a bit before jumping into your job search. Or if you can, retire and be free of the rat race we call corporate America.
Good luck everyone!
Starts immediately but you need to apply
I'm not very experienced with this, but everything I've read says "as soon as possible". It can take some time, so get on it now.