Did I really get laid off due to funds?

Who knows but it doesn’t sound like you’re that upset. If your boss said you could use him as a reference, that’s a good thing.

I’m worried about health insurance. I might have to have surgery if my exam doesn’t go well in a few months

Well, can you qualify for Medicare?

I guess so since I got laid off. I never had a “real” job before or insurance.

Indeed you are lucky. I’ve been job searching for 6 months.

I went through the same thing a few months ago, including having my pay increased and then getting laid off. I collected unemployment for six weeks and then landed a really sweet gig that gives me the best work environment I’ve ever had, pays enough, and doesn’t require me to bring work home. It is this amazing little Bermuda Triangle of a gig, and it was total serendipity that I found and got the job.

Be open to something like this happening to you. Where you worked was probably poorly managed, which is why something dumb like raising your salary and then laying you off likely happened. There’s more intelligent employer-life out there if you are open to finding it.

Since you were laid off, you qualify for unemployment, so get that process started. Secondly, you qualify for COBRA or some kind of continuation of coverage which means you can keep your health insurance so long as you pay the full premium. That’s what I’m doing until my new insurance kicks in when I have three months on the job. The other option is to purchase insurance through your state’s health exchange (assuming you live in the US).

You’ll want to hang on to some kind of insurance so that when your next employer-based plan kicks in they won’t make you wait a few months to get benefits. If you have a Certificate of Creditable Coverage from your previous insurer, then your new benefits will kick in right away.

Best wishes for your new job.

I second getting started on Unemployment. It takes awhile to start getting paid.

And why would you play mind games with yourself wondering if there was some underlying cause for your layoff? Take it at face value and assume they are telling you the truth instead of second guessing yourself.

Should I trust my ex boss to use him as a reference as he said to?

I hear stories of my friends all the time that they open and close menial departments in their company all the time. Don’t take it personal. If a person in position of power says you can use them as a reference, that is what they mean. I don’t think he is trying to knife you. If he was trying to knife you, you might’ve ended up getting fired over the stupidest thing. The fact that you were laid off and collect unemployment benefits is proof enough.

Well, all they can legally ask is if you worked for them, I think. Perhaps they can ask if you were eligible for rehire.

we werent allowed to give information other than title, length employment, that’s about it.

And @chelle21689 I don’t blame you for wondering. I would too.

It hasn’t sounded like you and your employers/supervisors have had a good relationship. I’m not sure I would want someone calling for a reference in such a situation. Is there anyone in the office who has a superior position to you, who you know would give you a good reference? If so, I’d put their name down instead.

Get a written reference. Then you can choose to use it or not

Then when the time comes put it to the test.. Use your ex-boss’ generous offer.. use him as a reference and see what results. If the job you apply for doesn’t hire you then ask them why and though they won’t give names, they will give reason and if it has to do with references then you will know the reason your position was eliminated. I would then check my old company and see if the position was reinstated with a new face and go from there.. It’s really easy to find hungry lawyers in these times.