And the Ascend West Virginia program only accepts applicants for certain cities, at certain times of the year.
Relocation incentives are designed to boost the local tax base, so most programs pay the benefit over a year or two. And many encourage you to put down roots.
Tulsa Remote will pay the $10,000 in a lump sum if you buy a home (the cash is otherwise spread out over the first year). In Topeka, remote work applicants need to buy a home to get the full $10,000.
And don’t forget, any bonus may be taxed as income, so you need to set some money aside for the IRS.
Assess impact to your current, future employment
Remote work still has some limits. Understand your employers’ expectations before applying or moving, as certain things can impact your quality of life in your new locale.
If your company and colleagues are all on the West Coast, for example, you may be expected to keep those hours, even if you relocate to Maine. That can make for some late nights.
Your new city may have a lower cost of living than your current home base — that’s typically part of the appeal. Will your company adjust your salary to your new cost of living? You want to be crystal clear on that before taking the leap.
