Statutory redundancy pay is the legal minimum redundancy payment an eligible employee can receive when their job is made redundant. It is calculated from age, length of service and weekly pay, subject to statutory limits.
Who qualifies for statutory redundancy pay?
Employees usually qualify for statutory redundancy pay if they have worked continuously for the employer for at least 2 full years and are dismissed because of redundancy.
You may not qualify if you are not classed as an employee, if you have less than 2 full years of service, or if the ending of employment is not a redundancy situation.
Important: contractual redundancy schemes can be more generous than the statutory minimum, so always check your contract, staff handbook and redundancy letter.
How statutory redundancy pay is calculated
Statutory redundancy pay uses a weekly pay figure, your age during each full year of service, and the number of complete years worked. Only up to 20 years of service can count.
statutory redundancy pay =
eligible years of service × age-based weekly pay multiplier
weekly pay is capped
maximum service counted is 20 years
| Age during each full year of service | Redundancy pay multiplier |
|---|---|
| Under 22 | 0.5 week's pay |
| 22 to 40 | 1 week's pay |
| 41 and over | 1.5 weeks' pay |
Statutory redundancy pay limits for 2026/27
For redundancies on or after 6 April 2026 in Great Britain, weekly pay is capped at £751 and the maximum statutory redundancy pay is £22,530. Northern Ireland can have different limits.
Maximum weekly pay used in the statutory calculation in Great Britain.
The calculation can only count up to 20 full years of service.
Maximum statutory redundancy pay in Great Britain from 6 April 2026.
Statutory redundancy pay example
Suppose someone is aged 45, has 10 full years of service, and their weekly pay is £600. If all 10 years count as age 41 or over, the calculation would use 1.5 weeks' pay for each year.
10 years × 1.5 × £600 = £9,000 statutory redundancy pay.
If weekly pay is above the statutory weekly cap, the capped amount is used instead of the actual weekly pay.
Is statutory redundancy pay taxable?
Statutory redundancy pay under £30,000 is not taxable. Other payments made when employment ends, such as unpaid wages, holiday pay, bonuses or payments in lieu of notice, can be treated differently.
This is why a final payslip can include both tax-free and taxable items. Check the breakdown carefully, not just the total amount.
Statutory redundancy pay vs contractual redundancy pay
Statutory redundancy pay is the legal minimum. Some employers offer enhanced or contractual redundancy pay that is higher than the statutory minimum.
Statutory redundancy pay
The legal minimum amount for eligible employees, calculated using statutory rules and caps.
Contractual redundancy pay
A more generous amount offered by contract, policy, settlement, union agreement or employer discretion.
Redundancy pay, notice pay and final payslip
Redundancy pay is only one part of leaving employment. You may also need to check notice pay, payment in lieu of notice, holiday pay, unpaid wages, expenses, bonuses and deductions.
| Payment | What it means | Check carefully |
|---|---|---|
| Redundancy pay | Payment for eligible redundancy dismissal. | Statutory or enhanced calculation. |
| Notice pay | Payment for worked notice, garden leave or payment in lieu. | Tax and contract treatment. |
| Holiday pay | Unused holiday owed when employment ends. | Days owed and daily rate used. |
| Final salary | Wages up to leaving date. | Pay period and deductions. |
Need the full leaving-pay explanation?
Read the guide covering redundancy pay, notice pay and final payslip checks.
Time limit to claim statutory redundancy pay
If your employer does not pay statutory redundancy pay when you believe you qualify, there is a time limit. GOV.UK says employees have 6 months from the date their job ends to apply for statutory redundancy pay.
Do not delay: if you believe statutory redundancy pay is owed, check the rules and take action promptly.
Calculate statutory redundancy pay
The redundancy pay calculator estimates statutory redundancy pay from age, years of service and weekly pay. It can also help compare statutory and enhanced redundancy scenarios.
Estimate redundancy pay
Enter age, service and weekly pay to estimate statutory redundancy entitlement.
Statutory redundancy pay FAQs
What is statutory redundancy pay?
It is the legal minimum redundancy payment an eligible employee can receive when made redundant.
How many years do I need to qualify?
You usually need at least 2 full years of continuous employment with the employer.
What is the 2026/27 weekly pay cap?
For redundancies on or after 6 April 2026 in Great Britain, weekly pay is capped at £751.
Is statutory redundancy pay taxed?
Statutory redundancy pay under £30,000 is not taxable, but other final payments can have different tax treatment.