B. Graham,
More unsolicited advice. If your company has a retirement plan that you are vested in and you are let go, leave the retirement in place, if you can. Usually if you "cash out", you get only what you "put in" and would loose any interest or company contributions. They will "suggest" you cash out because it is better for them. A reduced pension is better than no pension and it will still accrue interest on what is left in, until you reach retirement age. Of course, this doesn't apply if they are "going under". Not my business, I just had friends hurt by "cashing out" and having to start over late in life.
Mike