Estimate a layoff severance payout from biweekly pay and length of service — two weeks for the first six months, plus one week for every additional complete six-month period, capped at 72 weeks.
| Weekly pay | — |
| Months of service (used) | — |
| Complete 6-month periods | — |
| Severance weeks (tenure-based) | — |
| Tenure-based severance | — |
| Dismissal indemnity | — |
| Total pre-tax severance | — |
| Total pre-tax severance | — |
| Federal tax withheld | — |
| State tax withheld | — |
| Net severance pay | — |
2 weeks for the first 6 months of service, plus 1 week for each additional complete 6-month period, up to a maximum of 72 weeks. Only full 6-month periods count. Dismissal indemnity, when included, adds a flat amount on top per contract based on years of service — 2 weeks (under 5 years), 4 weeks (5–9 years), 6 weeks (10–14 years), or 8 weeks (15+ years) — and is not subject to the 72-week cap.
Note: this estimate excludes the additional 3 weeks' pay in lieu of notice, unused PTO, and any economic differential, if applicable. It also does not include FICA (Social Security & Medicare), which still applies to severance.
On tax rates: the federal default (22%) is the IRS flat withholding rate for supplemental wages. State rates are rough, editable defaults, not exact withholding tables — actual state supplemental withholding rules vary (flat rate, aggregate with regular pay, or none). Some states have no income tax.
Disclaimer: this tool is for estimation only and cannot guarantee accuracy. It is not tax or legal advice.