How to Claim Statutory Redundancy

Step 1 — Check you qualify

Before claiming, confirm you meet the three eligibility criteria:

• You are an employee (not a freelancer, contractor, or agency worker unless on a PAYE contract)
• You have at least 2 years of continuous service with your employer
• You are being dismissed because of genuine redundancy

Use our calculator to estimate what you should receive based on your age, pay, and length of service.

Step 2 — Ask your employer in writing

You do not need to go to a government office to claim statutory redundancy. You claim directly from your employer. Write to them (email is fine) stating that you wish to make a statutory redundancy claim and requesting confirmation of:

• The amount of redundancy pay they believe is due
• The calculation they have used
• The date by which payment will be made

You are entitled to a written statement of how the calculation was made. Your employer must provide this within a reasonable time of your request.

Step 3 — Your employer pays you

If your employer accepts the claim, they should include your statutory redundancy pay in your final payment or in a separate payment shortly after your employment ends. By law, your employer must pay your redundancy pay on or shortly after the date your employment ends — unless your contract specifies a different arrangement.

Your employer may deduct Income Tax and National Insurance from any part of your redundancy pay that exceeds the £30,000 tax-free threshold. The first £30,000 is tax-free.

Step 4 — If your employer refuses to pay

If your employer refuses to pay statutory redundancy, you should:

1. Write to them again setting out why you believe you are entitled and quoting the Employment Rights Act 1996
2. Contact ACAS — 0300 123 1100 — for free advice on whether the refusal is justified and what your options are
3. Apply to the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) — part of the Insolvency Service — if your employer has failed to pay and is either insolvent or has refused without valid reason

The Redundancy Payments Service (RPS)

If your employer cannot or will not pay your statutory redundancy, you can apply to the Redundancy Payments Service. The RPS is a government scheme that ensures employees still receive their statutory entitlements even if the employer cannot pay (for example, if the company is insolvent).

You can apply to the RPS online at gov.uk/claim-redundancy. You will need:

• Your employer's name, address, and contact details
• Your P45 or letter from your employer confirming your employment end date
• Details of your pay and length of service
• Your reason for claiming (redundancy, Insolvency Service claim, or other)

The RPS will investigate and, if the claim is valid, will pay you directly. If the employer is still trading but refuses to pay, the RPS will pursue the employer on your behalf.

If you disagree with the calculation

If your employer has offered a figure but you believe it is wrong:

1. Request their written calculation — you are entitled to this. It should show how they arrived at the figure, including the weekly pay used, the age multipliers applied, and the total
2. Check it yourself — use our calculator with the same inputs to verify
3. Write to your employer explaining why you believe the figure is incorrect and providing your own calculation
4. If they still refuse — apply to an employment tribunal for a decision. You have 3 months from the date your employment ended to make the claim