Wondering if the Layoff Day-1 Checklist will work with your phone and tools?
The short answer: if you have a phone and access to free apps, you’re equipped. The checklist was designed to run on the gear you already own — your phone, free apps, and a printer. No special equipment, no paid software, no learning curve. Day one is stressful enough without fighting your tools.
Phones that work
- iPhone (iPhone 8 and newer) — the printable checklists work on any phone, and the fillable PDF with 245 tap-type fields works in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app
- Android (Android 8.0 and newer) — same deal; the checklist is designed for the phone in your pocket
- What matters most — a working phone with internet access for filing unemployment and accessing benefits portals
Free apps that pair with it
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) — for the fillable PDF on your phone or tablet
- Google Sheets or Excel (free) — for the .xlsx budget and deadline tracker
- Your state’s unemployment portal — the checklist tells you when to file; the portal is where you file
- Any free scanner app — digitize severance letters, benefits paperwork, and ID documents
Devices and tools that help
- A printer — for the flat PDF checklists; the ink-friendly black-and-white version keeps printing cheap
- A folder or binder — keep the severance agreement, benefits letters, and checklist in one physical place
- A calendar — phone or paper; the deadline tracker feeds dates into whatever you use
What pairs with it
The checklist handles day one. Pair it with the Unemployment Claim Filing & Appeal Pack for the weeks after — the checklist gets you through the first 24 hours, the appeal pack handles the claim process that follows.
The bottom line
If you can open a PDF and use your phone, you can run this checklist. It’s built for the worst day, not the best — everything works on free tools and prints cheap.
Ready for day one? Get the Layoff Day-1 Checklist for $8.95, or find DealShore on Etsy.
Get free sample pages + new kit alerts — email contact@dealshore.com
Related: Layoff Day-1 Action Checklist: What To Do When You Get Laid Off (The First 24 Hours)