Statutory redundancy pay in 2026/27: who gets it and how it is worked out
Published · 3 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
Statutory redundancy pay is a legal minimum for many employees who lose their job through redundancy. This guide explains who qualifies, how the amount is calculated, the 2026/27 weekly cap and the notice periods.
Who this guide applies to
This guide is for employees in Great Britain who have been told they are being made redundant, or who want to understand how the rules work. It does not cover self-employed people, agency workers who are not employees, or people who left for other reasons, such as being dismissed for misconduct. Northern Ireland has its own figures, covered below.
Who can get statutory redundancy pay
GOV.UK says you are normally entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you are an employee and have worked for your current employer for 2 years or more. You are not entitled if your employer offers you suitable alternative work and you refuse it without good reason. Some groups are excluded, including members of the armed forces and the police, Crown servants, and apprentices who are not employees at the end of their training.
Your contract or your employer may offer more than the legal minimum. Statutory pay is the floor, not the ceiling.
How the amount is worked out
The pay depends on your age, your length of service and your weekly pay. For each full year you worked for your employer, you get:
- Half a week's pay if you were under 22
- One week's pay if you were 22 or older but under 41
- One and a half weeks' pay if you were 41 or older
Only up to 20 years of service count. Your weekly pay is your average weekly pay over the 12 weeks before the day you received your redundancy notice. For redundancies on or after 6 April 2026, a week's pay is capped at £751 when doing the sum, even if you earned more. That makes the most anyone can get £22,530 (20 years at one and a half weeks, at £751 a week).
Notice periods
Separate from redundancy pay, you are entitled to a minimum period of notice. GOV.UK sets the statutory minimum as:
- One week if you have worked for 1 month to under 2 years
- One week for each year of service if you have worked for 2 to 12 years
- 12 weeks if you have worked for 12 years or more
Your contract can give you longer notice, but not shorter than these minimums.
Consultation
GOV.UK says there are no specific consultation rules for fewer than 20 redundancies at the same workplace. When 20 or more are proposed, collective rules apply: the employer must consult a trade union or elected employee representative, starting at least 30 days before dismissals take effect for 20 to 99 redundancies, and at least 45 days before for 100 or more. If an employer does not consult properly, you can make a claim to an employment tribunal.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The GOV.UK pages cover Great Britain. Northern Ireland sets its own limits. NI Direct currently shows a weekly pay cap of £783 and a maximum of £23,490, but it does not state the date those figures took effect, so check it before relying on them.
Where to get free help
Acas, Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper offer free, impartial information if you are facing redundancy. If money becomes tight, StepChange and Citizens Advice can talk through debt options at no cost.
Check before you act
Rates and limits are reviewed each year and individual cases vary. Please confirm the details on the official pages linked below before making any decisions.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
