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How to use UK Work Rights

New here? Start with the quick guide below. Scroll down for answers to common questions about your rights and how the site works.

โšก Quick Guide ๐Ÿ” Using the Checkers ๐Ÿ“– Reading the Guides ๐Ÿ‘ค Your Account โš– About the Site ๐Ÿ’ผ Employment ๐Ÿ’ผ Benefits ๐Ÿ  Housing ๐Ÿ“‹ Other Rights

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โšก New here? Here's all you need to know

How to get guidance on your rights in under 2 minutes โ€” no account needed

1
Pick the right checker โ€” go to the homepage and tap the topic that matches your situation. Employment issue? Tap Employee Rights. Benefits problem? Tap Benefits. Housing? Tap Housing.
2
Read and accept the disclaimer โ€” every checker opens with a short disclaimer. Scroll to the bottom, tick the box, and tap Accept to unlock the tool.
3
Describe your situation โ€” type what happened in your own words. The more detail the better. Or tap one of the quick-start chips if your situation matches.
4
Read your results โ€” you'll get colour-coded guidance. ๐ŸŸข Green = rights you have. ๐Ÿ”ด Red = urgent issues. ๐ŸŸก Amber = uncertain or coming soon. ๐Ÿ”ต Blue = useful context.
5
Download or share โ€” tap the download button to save your result as a report. Tap share to send it. You can also read the in-depth guide for your topic using the Guides link.
๐Ÿ” Using the AI Checkers

๐Ÿ–Š How to describe your situation

โšก Top tip

The AI works best when you give it specific details. Include: how long you've worked there, what was said or done, when it happened, and what you want to know. Vague questions get vague answers.

Good example: "I've worked here 3 years, was dismissed yesterday for gross misconduct after one verbal warning, and wasn't given a chance to respond."

Less useful: "My employer is being unfair."

๐Ÿƒ Quick-start chips

Don't want to type? Tap any of the coloured chips at the top of the checker โ€” they pre-fill a common scenario so you can get started in one tap. You can edit the text after it's filled in.

๐ŸŽจ What the colours mean

โฑ How many checks do I get?

You get 5 free checks every 24 hours. The counter is shown at the top of each checker page as dots โ€” filled dots are checks remaining. The counter resets 24 hours after your first check. Switching accounts or browsers does not reset it โ€” it's tied to your connection.

๐Ÿ’พ Downloading and sharing your result

Once you have a result, two buttons appear โ€” Download saves your guidance as a formatted report you can keep, print or share with a solicitor. Share copies a link or lets you send it directly. Downloads require a free account.

๐Ÿ—บ Which checker should I use?

Not sure? Start with Employee Rights โ€” it covers the widest range. Or go to the homepage and search by topic.

๐Ÿ“– Reading the Guides

๐Ÿ“– What are the guides?

The guides are in-depth written articles on each topic โ€” verified against UK law as of July 2026. They cover everything from unfair dismissal to PIP appeals, eviction rights to wills and LPAs. No AI, no rate limit โ€” just detailed, plain-English information you can read any time.

Access all guides at guides.html โ€” they're organised by topic. Each guide includes a Know Your Rights summary, step-by-step actions, FAQs and free helplines.

๐Ÿ”— Guides + Checkers together

โœ… Best approach

Read the guide first to understand the law, then use the checker to get guidance specific to your situation. Each guide has a direct link to its matching checker at the bottom.

๐Ÿ‘ค Your Account

๐Ÿ‘ค Do I need an account?

No. All checkers are completely free with no account needed. You get 5 checks per 24 hours without logging in.

A free account unlocks: PDF downloads of your results, and the Letters generator โ€” pre-written customisable letters for common situations (dismissal appeals, flexible working requests, grievances, etc.).

๐Ÿ” Is my information safe?

Yes. The situation you type is sent to the AI to generate your result and then immediately discarded โ€” we don't store, log or share what you type. If you register, your name and email stay in your browser's local storage โ€” not on any external server. See our Privacy Policy for the full details.

โš– About UK Work Rights
Yes โ€” completely free. Running any checker and reading your full results costs nothing. No account, no subscription, no hidden charges. Registration is also free and unlocks PDF downloads and the Letters generator.
No. UK Work Rights provides general legal information, not legal advice. Legal advice is tailored to your specific circumstances by a qualified solicitor. What we provide is accurate, up-to-date information to help you understand your rights. Always seek professional advice before taking formal action โ€” especially for tribunal claims, court proceedings or anything with a tight deadline.
All AI responses are generated against a verified list of current UK legal facts โ€” updated when laws change. Our guides are last verified July 2026. That said, AI can make mistakes and laws change. Always double-check anything important with ACAS, Citizens Advice or a qualified solicitor before taking action.
UK Work Rights was built by Matthew Thompson โ€” someone who kept seeing people around him being treated unfairly at work and having no idea what rights they had. It's run independently, not by a law firm or government body. Read more on the About page.
AI can make mistakes. If something doesn't look right, don't act on it โ€” verify with ACAS (0300 123 1100), Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848), or GOV.UK. You can also report the issue using the bug report button โ€” we review every report and take them seriously.
Yes โ€” fully optimised for mobile, tablet and desktop. All checkers, guides and downloads work on any modern browser. No app required.
Most of our content covers England and Wales. Some topics (employment law, benefits) apply across the whole UK. Some checkers have a nation selector โ€” tap your location for guidance specific to Scotland or Northern Ireland. Where law differs significantly by nation, we flag it clearly.
๐Ÿ’ผ Employment Rights
3 months less one day from the date of dismissal โ€” this extends to 6 months from 1 October 2026 under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Before submitting a tribunal claim you must contact ACAS for Early Conciliation first โ€” this pauses the clock for up to 12 weeks. Miss the deadline and your claim will almost certainly be rejected. Use our Employee Rights checker for personalised guidance.
From 6 April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is ยฃ12.71 per hour. For 18โ€“20 year olds it's ยฃ10.85/hour. For under 18s and apprentices it's ยฃ8.00/hour. Your employer cannot legally pay below these rates. Report underpayment to the Fair Work Agency at gov.uk.
Yes โ€” if you have worked for your employer for at least 2 continuous years and been genuinely made redundant. The amount depends on your age, length of service and weekly pay (capped at ยฃ751/week). The maximum statutory redundancy pay is ยฃ22,530. Use the Employee Rights checker for your specific entitlement.
Yes โ€” from 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a day-one right. No waiting days and no minimum earnings threshold. The rate is ยฃ123.25 per week for up to 28 weeks. Your employer may pay more if your contract provides for it.
Yes โ€” but only if they follow a fair capability process, give you a fair hearing, and genuinely consider your medical situation. Dismissing someone purely for being off sick without proper process is very likely unfair dismissal. If your condition is a disability, additional Equality Act protections apply. Get advice from ACAS before doing anything.
More than you might think. Exclusivity clauses (stopping you working elsewhere) are void by law since 2015. You're entitled to the National Minimum Wage and holiday pay (12.07% of hours worked). You cannot be penalised for asserting these rights. See our Zero Hours guide for full detail.
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) is a free, impartial government-funded service that helps with employment disputes. They must be contacted before you can bring most tribunal claims (Early Conciliation). Call 0300 123 1100 or visit acas.org.uk.
๐Ÿ’ฐ Benefits & Financial Support
The standard allowance for a single person aged 25+ is ยฃ424.90 per month (April 2026). Additional elements are added for children, housing costs, childcare, disability and caring responsibilities. Use the Benefits checker for your specific entitlement.
Yes โ€” 66% of PIP appeals succeed at tribunal. First request a Mandatory Reconsideration (within 1 month of the decision). If that fails, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Get detailed evidence from your GP or specialist. See our full PIP Appeals guide for step-by-step help.
Yes. Request a Mandatory Reconsideration within 1 month of the sanction decision. Keep records of your job search activities and any appointments attended โ€” this is your key evidence. If the MR fails, you can appeal to the Social Security Tribunal. Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) can help with this process.
Carer's Allowance is ยฃ86.45 per week if you provide at least 35 hours of care per week to someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit (such as PIP daily living at standard or enhanced rate). Your net earnings must be no more than ยฃ204 per week. Use our Benefits checker for your specific situation.
๐Ÿ  Housing Rights
Not in England since 1 May 2026. Section 21 "no fault" evictions were abolished by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Your landlord must now use a specific Section 8 ground and prove it to a court. See our Eviction Rights guide for full detail.
Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. If they haven't, you can apply to the county court for a penalty of 1 to 3 times the deposit amount. They also cannot serve a valid Section 8 rent arrears notice until the deposit is protected. Use our Housing checker for guidance.
No. A notice is not a possession order. Your landlord must apply to court and get a possession order before you are legally required to leave. Do not move out just because a notice has expired โ€” always wait for a court order. Contact Shelter (0808 800 4444) immediately if you receive an eviction notice.
๐Ÿ“‹ Other Rights
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have a 30-day short-term right to reject faulty goods for a full refund. Between 30 days and 6 months, the retailer gets one chance to repair or replace. Your rights are against the retailer โ€” not the manufacturer. If you paid by credit card (ยฃ100โ€“ยฃ30,000), Section 75 also makes your card provider jointly liable. Use our Consumer Rights checker.
Under UK GDPR, a Subject Access Request (SAR) lets you ask any organisation for a copy of all personal data they hold about you โ€” including your employer. This can include emails, meeting notes, performance records and disciplinary files. It must be provided free within 1 month. See our Data Protection guide.
The officer must tell you their name, station, reason for the search, and what they're looking for. You can ask for a written receipt. You cannot physically resist a lawful stop and search, but you can challenge it later. You also have the right to remain silent โ€” always request a solicitor before answering questions at a police station. See our Crime & Justice guide.
Free sources of help:

ACAS: 0300 123 1100 โ€” employment disputes
Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848 โ€” wide range of issues
Shelter: 0808 800 4444 โ€” housing emergencies
National Debtline: 0808 808 4000 โ€” debt problems
Victim Support: 0808 168 9111 โ€” crime victims
Community Legal Advice: 0845 345 4345 โ€” some legal aid matters

See our full Helplines directory for more.

Still need help?

If you can't find the answer here, use one of the AI checkers for personalised guidance on your situation โ€” or contact a free helpline directly.

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Understanding Your Rights in the UK

UK workers and residents have significant legal protections covering employment, housing, benefits, consumer rights and more. These rights are enshrined in legislation including the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Equality Act 2010, the Housing Act 1988, and the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Free Guidance โ€” No Lawyers Needed

UK Work Rights provides free, plain English guidance to help you understand where you stand. Our AI-powered checkers are regularly updated against GOV.UK, ACAS, Shelter, and Citizens Advice to ensure accuracy. We cover over 70 free AI rights checkers and 36 guides across employment, housing, benefits, consumer, driving, family and more.

When to Seek Further Help

While our guidance covers the vast majority of common situations, complex or high-stakes cases may benefit from professional advice. For employment issues contact ACAS (free) or the Citizens Advice helpline on 0800 144 8848. For housing, Shelter can help on 0808 800 4444.

This guidance is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. UK Work Rights โ€” About us ยท Privacy ยท Free letter templates