There've been many reports about London Lehman employees getting screwed over when it comes to severance, but apparently some lucky New Yorkers are getting the royal treatment as well. From a Laid Off Lehman Sister:

I left Goldman Sachs to work for Lehman Brothers thinking that they were the classiest of the 2 firms in way of respect. For the first 8 months, I was correct until I was laid off last week and was FIRST told I would have severance until Dec 15. When I called back after the Barclays deal, they said October 3rd. Then when I called today, they said that last Friday was my last paycheck, NO severance. This is the most horrific incident I have ever heard of a firm doing to well over thousands of employees.

And another:

I was laid off Sept 10 and promised a generous severance. I basically live pay check to pay check so the severance package was my security to pay rent, bills and insure proper time to find a new job. I have little in savings as I've been paying down my debt for the past year.
Now I've been told that the company doesn't know if they are going to pay out what was promised to me. They said my last paycheck was on Friday and they are not sure if I will be receiving another one. So basically I'm in a holding pattern and at the same time unable to apply for unemployment.
It amazes me that certain management who stayed (to go down with the ship) at Lehman and even promoted weeks before the chapter 11 filing were enticed by bonuses to stay. Yet the company can't even keep their commitment with former employees who were the backbone of that company. Instead HR keeps saying- call back, we don't know a thing keeping 'us' blowing in the wind wondering if 'we' will get the severance that 'we' deserve.