Am I entitled to redundancy pay?

You are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have worked for your employer for at least 2 continuous years. The amount depends on your age, length of service and weekly pay, capped at £751 per week.

What is unfair dismissal?

Unfair dismissal occurs when your employer dismisses you without a fair reason or without following a fair procedure. You need 2 years of service to claim, reducing to 6 months from January 2027.

When is statutory sick pay paid?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now paid from Day 1 of illness following the Employment Rights Act 2025. The current rate is £123.25 per week for up to 28 weeks.

⚖ Important — Please Read Before Continuing

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1. This is guidance — and only ever guidance

Everything produced by ukworkrights.co.uk is general guidance. It is not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified solicitor. Never treat it as the final word — use it as a starting point, then check and take responsibility for any action you take.

2. AI can make mistakes

The guidance is generated by artificial intelligence. AI can and does make mistakes — wrong dates, wrong figures, wrong legal references, missed nuances. Read everything carefully. If the matter is serious, get it checked by ACAS, Citizens Advice, or a qualified solicitor before acting on it.

3. Verified figures and guidance sources

Statutory figures (such as rates for minimum wage, SSP, redundancy, pension contributions, council tax bands, flight compensation amounts, and benefit rates) are verified against GOV.UK, ACAS, Citizens Advice, and relevant regulatory bodies. Laws and rates change regularly. Always verify important figures at gov.uk before making decisions or taking action.

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6. Useful Official Resources

ACAS — Free employment advice: 0300 123 1100 — acas.org.uk
Citizens Advice — Free legal guidance: 0800 144 8848 — citizensadvice.org.uk
GOV.UK — Official UK government guidance: gov.uk
ICO — Data protection queries: 0303 123 1113 — ico.org.uk
Financial Ombudsman — Financial disputes: 0800 023 4567 — financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Energy Ombudsman — Energy disputes: ombudsman-services.org/energy
NHS — Healthcare guidance: nhs.uk
Veterans UK: 0808 1914 218
Benefits helpline: 0800 169 0310

For personal injury claims, immigration advice, criminal matters, or complex legal situations — always consult a regulated solicitor. Find one at solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk or gov.uk/find-a-solicitor.

7. Scope of this service

This service covers a wide range of UK rights topics including employment, housing, benefits, consumer rights, driving, NHS complaints, data protection, tax, school rights, wills and probate, energy, travel, and more. For all topics, the guidance is general in nature. For regulated activities — including personal injury claims, immigration applications, criminal defence, and financial advice — you must use a regulated professional.

📣 Complaints & Public Bodies Guide

How to Complain About Public Services & Get Results in 2026

Not getting the service you're entitled to from the NHS, your council, DWP or another public body? This guide explains the formal complaints process, ombudsman routes, and your rights when things go wrong.

✅ Last verified: July 2026📚 Sources: GOV.UK, Citizens Advice🇬🇧 Applies across the UK

⚖ Know Your Rights at a Glance

Every public body must have a formal complaints procedure — you have the right to use it.
NHS complaints: Raise with the provider first. If unresolved, escalate to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
Local government complaints: Escalate to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) if your council doesn't resolve your complaint.
DWP/benefits complaints: Use the formal complaints procedure, then escalate to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE).
Time limits: Most ombudsman schemes require you to have completed the internal complaints process first, usually within 12 months.
Your MP can help: MPs can raise complaints on your behalf and refer cases to ombudsmen — particularly for central government bodies.

NHS complaints

If you're unhappy with NHS care, you have the right to complain. The NHS complaints procedure in England has two stages:

Local resolution: Complain to the provider (GP surgery, hospital trust) directly. They must acknowledge within 3 working days and respond fully within 25 working days (or agree a longer timescale with you).
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO): If local resolution fails or you're unhappy with the response, escalate to the PHSO at phso.org.uk. You must usually do this within 12 months of the incident.

NHS bodies must take complaints seriously. If patient safety may be at risk, the provider should also consider referring to the CQC.

Local government complaints

For complaints about council services — housing allocations, social care, planning, SEND, parking — the process is:

Use the council's formal complaints procedure first
If unresolved or you're unhappy with the outcome, escalate to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) at lgsco.org.uk

The LGSCO can investigate maladministration, injustice and service failure. It can recommend apologies, financial remedies, and changes to service. You usually must have exhausted the council's complaints process first.

DWP and benefits complaints

If you're unhappy with how DWP has handled your claim or complaint:

Use DWP's formal complaints procedure
If unresolved, escalate to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE)
If still unresolved, the Parliamentary Ombudsman (via your MP) is the final stage

Separately, if you disagree with a benefits decision, you should request a Mandatory Reconsideration and then appeal to the Social Security Tribunal — this is a different route from the complaints process.

Using your MP to escalate complaints

MPs can be powerful allies when dealing with public bodies. They can:

Write to DWP, HMRC or other government departments on your behalf
Refer cases to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (you cannot refer directly to PHSO yourself — it must go through an MP)
Raise issues in Parliament

Find your MP and contact them via writetothem.com or theyworkforyou.com. Keep your message factual, concise and explain what you've already tried.

Use the internal complaints process first

Most ombudsmen won't look at your case until you've exhausted the internal process. Go through the formal procedure even if you think it's pointless.

Write everything down and keep copies

Date every complaint, note who you spoke to and when, and keep copies of all responses. A clear paper trail is essential for escalation.

Be clear about what you want

State what went wrong, how it affected you, and what you want as an outcome — an apology, a financial remedy, a service change, or all three.

Escalate to the ombudsman if the internal process fails

Most ombudsman services are free to complainants. They have real powers to investigate and direct remedies.

Contact your MP for central government complaints

For HMRC, DWP, Home Office or other central government matters that aren't resolved, your MP can refer you to the PHSO.

Know your time limits

Most ombudsman schemes require referral within 12 months of the incident or the final response. Don't sit on an unresolved complaint.

📣 Check Your Rights Against Public Bodies

Describe your complaint and get guidance on the right route to escalate it.

Use the Free Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Can I complain to the ombudsman directly?

For the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (central government and NHS), referrals must come from an MP — you cannot self-refer. For the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and most sector-specific ombudsmen, you can refer directly after exhausting the internal process.

How long do NHS complaints take?

The NHS should acknowledge within 3 working days and respond within 25 working days. Complex complaints may take longer by agreement. PHSO investigations typically take several months.

What can the ombudsman actually do?

Ombudsmen can: recommend apologies, financial payments for distress and inconvenience, reimbursement of costs, service improvements, and changes to policies. They cannot award damages in the same way as a court, but their recommendations carry significant weight.

I missed the 12-month ombudsman deadline — is it too late?

Most schemes have discretion to accept late referrals in exceptional circumstances. Explain your reason for delay and ask whether they can still investigate. Don't assume it's too late without checking.

Can I also take legal action?

Yes — making a formal complaint does not prevent you from taking legal action, and vice versa. However, compensation from a court claim and an ombudsman remedy may overlap.

What is a "super-complaint"?

Designated bodies such as Citizens Advice and Which? can make super-complaints about systemic market failures to regulators. As an individual, you make a regular complaint — but you can support organisations that make super-complaints by providing evidence.

My council has ignored my complaint for months — what can I do?

If the council hasn't responded within a reasonable time (8–12 weeks for most complaints), you can escalate to the LGSCO without waiting any longer for a response.

📞 Free help and support

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman: 0345 015 4033 | phso.org.uk

Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman: 0300 061 0614 | lgsco.org.uk

Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848

Write to your MP: writetothem.com

⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers complaints about public bodies in England as at July 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate ombudsman arrangements. General legal information only — not legal advice. Verify with ACAS, GOV.UK or Citizens Advice before acting. ukworkrights.co.uk — Not a law firm.