Thinking about making an employment tribunal claim? Describe your situation and get instant guidance on the process, time limits and what to expect.
↓ Try the Checker NowIn England, Wales and Scotland, the employment tribunal time limit for most claims is 3 months less 1 day from the act complained of (rising to six months less one day where the act complained of falls on or after 1 October 2026). You must contact ACAS for Early Conciliation before filing — this pauses the clock. For redundancy pay claims the limit is 6 months. In Northern Ireland, claims go to an industrial tribunal, most time limits are 3 months less 1 day, and early conciliation is through the Labour Relations Agency.
In England, Wales and Scotland, the compensatory award for unfair dismissal is capped at £123,543 (2026/27) or 52 weeks' pay, whichever is lower. Discrimination awards are uncapped. Tribunal fees were abolished in 2017.
Key areas covered: employment tribunal, time limit, ACAS Early Conciliation, compensation cap, unfair dismissal, discrimination. Checked against official sources.
In England, Wales and Scotland, before lodging most claims you must contact ACAS (in Northern Ireland, the Labour Relations Agency) — a tribunal will generally reject a claim submitted without this step. Starting early conciliation pauses your time limit clock for its duration, but it's important to understand exactly how the extension works so you don't miss your ultimate deadline once conciliation ends.
After a claim is submitted, both sides exchange information and evidence ahead of a hearing, with many cases settling before ever reaching that stage — understanding this process helps set realistic expectations for how long a claim might genuinely take to resolve.
This checker gives you a plain English read on your specific situation, answered only from its own guide for your part of the UK, checked against official sources. No login needed, and your answer is generated instantly based on what you tell us.
Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. For employment issues, contact ACAS in England, Wales and Scotland (0300 123 1100) or the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland (03300 555 300). For free general advice, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604). For urgent housing problems in England, Shelter can help on 0808 800 4444.
Further reading: our blog explains why ACAS Early Conciliation now runs for up to 12 weeks and how it changes your deadline.
Further reading: our blog explains how employment tribunal time limits change on 1 October 2026.
What you need to know
The checker below answers from the verified guide for your nation. These are the key points from each one.
Full guide: Employment Tribunal Claims in England, Wales and Scotland. Last verified: 24 September 2026.
Full guide: Industrial Tribunal Claims in Northern Ireland. Last verified: 24 September 2026.
This guidance is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current figures and legislation on GOV.UK or seek professional advice for your specific situation.
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Am I entitled to redundancy pay?
Employees with at least 2 years of continuous employment are entitled to statutory redundancy pay. The amount depends on age, length of service and weekly pay. For redundancies from 6 April 2026, a week of pay is capped at £751 in England, Wales and Scotland (maximum £22,530) and at £783 in Northern Ireland (maximum £23,490).
What is unfair dismissal?
Unfair dismissal is when an employer dismisses an employee without a fair reason or without acting fairly in how they do it. In England, Wales and Scotland you currently need at least 2 years of continuous employment to claim ordinary unfair dismissal, or at least 6 months where the employment ends on or after 1 January 2027. In Northern Ireland you need at least 1 year.
When is statutory sick pay paid?
From 6 April 2026, statutory sick pay (SSP) is paid from the first full day of sickness absence, in Northern Ireland as well as in England, Wales and Scotland. It is £123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings (normal weekly earnings in Northern Ireland) if that is lower. In England, Wales and Scotland it is paid for up to 28 weeks.
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✉️ Generate My Letter Free →The checker answers only from the guide for the nation you choose, plus what you tell it. If your question is not covered there, it says so instead of guessing. Each guide was checked against primary sources on 24 September 2026.
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Directed and published by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights. Guidance checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and legislation.gov.uk. This is general rights guidance, not legal advice.
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