The Workers Rights

UK Redundancy Rules 2026: How to Calculate Your Severance Package Under the New £751 Weekly Pay Cap

uk redundancy rules

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Have you been sent a letter stating that your job is in jeopardy? Please don’t panic — but please read this first. The UK Redundancy Rules can make all the difference between walking away with thousands of pounds less than you deserve and getting your money’s worth.

All explained in simple terms.

What Changed in 2026?

The largest change to the UK Redundancy Rules for the year will be the new weekly pay cap of £751. This will apply to your statutory redundancy and not your real earnings.

So the government only counts £751 of your £1200 per week take home pay. ; that’s why. It’s the ceiling, and that’s a big deal.

The highest possible redundancy pay in 2026 is £22,530.

Who Qualifies for Redundancy Pay? 

Before picking up the Redundancy payment calculator, it is important to verify if you are eligible for redundancy payment:

  • uncheckedYou must have been employed by your employer for two or more years in a row.
  • uncheckedMust be an employee (not self-employed or a contractor)
  • uncheckedYour role needs to be truly redundant – not just a job change or change of location.

You will be entitled to statutory severance pay if they are ticked, according to UK employment rights redundancy law.

How to Calculate Your Redundancy Package 

The UK redundancy entitlement formula takes three factors into consideration: your age, the length of your service (up to 20 years) and your weekly pay (capped at £751).

Let’s look at how the multiplier works:

Age at Time of ServiceWeekly Pay Entitlement per Year of Service
Under 220.5 week’s pay
22 to 401 week’s pay
41 and over1.5 weeks’ pay

Step-by-Step: Calculate Redundancy Package UK 

Step 1 – Limit on your weekly pay If your gross pay is more than £751 a week, you’ll have your pay limited to £751 a week. If your pay is variable, average your last 12 weeks.

Step 2 – Calculate your weeks owed, divide your years of service into age brackets and then apply the multiplier to the age bracket. 

Step 3 – 20-year limit: Only your last 20 years count. Everything prior to that is out of the reckoning.

Step 4 – Calculate Capped Weekly Pay x Number of Weeks Owed.

Real Example: What Would You Actually Get? 

For example, you’re 45 years old, have been employed at your company for 15 years and make £800 a week.

  • The maximum amount you can pay per week is £751 (as £800 is above the limit).
  • Years aged 22–40: 14 years × 1 week = 14 weeks
  • Years aged 41+: 1 year × 1.5 weeks = 1.5 weeks
  • Total: 15.5 weeks × £751 = £11,640.50

It’s not a life-changing amount, but it’s yours, and the weekly pay cap 2026 rules may mean you should learn the formula to ensure your employer isn’t skimping.

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Will Redundancy Pay be taxed?

The great thing about statutory redundancy pay in the UK is that it is not subject to taxes up to £30,000. The maximum taxable amount at stake is £22,530, so this will not be taxed.

If you’re offered a higher than average redundancy package (using your actual salary, not the maximum), then anything over £30,000 would be taxable.

Always read your contract — enhanced schemes may be far more generous than the basic minimum.

What About Notice Pay?

The redundancy notice pay UK is not part of your redundancy payment. Your employer is required to provide you with at least a statutory notice period:

  • 10 days’ notice of service per year (to a max of 12 weeks)
  • Or by paying in lieu of notice (PILON) if they terminate your employment at once.

Your redundancy pay and notice pay are both included in your total UK job loss compensation, so don’t allow employers to include both compensation amounts in one package!

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my employer is paying less than the amount of the law? 

They are not allowed to pay you any less than the minimum wage. If they do, you will have the right to make a complaint or refer to an Employment Tribunal.

Then what if I have not worked for 2 years or less? 

Unfortunately, under current UK employment law 2026, you will not be entitled to statutory redundancy pay.  You may still have a notice period and any unearned holiday benefits, however.

Do agency workers have to be included in the UK worker rights redundancy rules? 

The rights of agency workers are much more restricted – they are only entitled to statutory redundancy payments if they have worked directly.

Know Your Rights Before You Sign Anything 

The new UK Redundancy Rules are in place to safeguard you – but only if you follow them. When considering signing a settlement agreement or accepting an offer:

  • Check the calculation yourself with the formula provided above.
  • Ensure the contract includes better redundancy options.
  • Ensure that your notice period entitlement is not excluded.
  • If the figures don’t add up, consult an employment solicitor.

UK workplace redundancy laws provide you with actual protection — don’t miss out on the money because it looks like a legitimate document.

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