How long does an employer have to pay redundancy pay?

There is no specific statutory deadline for the exact day redundancy pay must be paid, but case law and ACAS guidance indicate it should be paid on or before your final day of employment, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. Most employers include redundancy pay in the final payslip or make a separate payment on the termination date.

If your employer delays without explanation, write to them immediately requesting payment and providing your statutory redundancy pay calculation. Give them a reasonable deadline — 7–14 days is typical. If they still fail to pay, you can bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal. The time limit for a redundancy pay claim is 6 months from the date your employment ended, which is longer than the usual 3-month limit for unfair dismissal claims.

If your employer is insolvent and cannot pay, the government's Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) can pay statutory redundancy pay directly to you, up to the statutory cap. Contact the Insolvency Service if your employer has entered administration, liquidation, or receivership.