Guides › Work and Employment › Unfair Dismissal: Your Rights, the 2 Year Rule and the 2027 Change
Unfair Dismissal: Your Rights, the 2 Year Rule and the 2027 Change
Most employees need 2 years with their employer to claim ordinary unfair dismissal. For dismissals on or after 1 January 2027 this drops to 6 months, and the cap on compensation is due to be removed. Some reasons are automatically unfair from day one, such as dismissal for whistleblowing, pregnancy or asking for the minimum wage, and discrimination claims never need a qualifying period. For dismissals from 1 October 2026 you usually have 6 months minus 1 day to claim, after telling Acas.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Who Can Claim
Qualifying Period
You need 2 years' service to claim ordinary unfair dismissal if your employment ends before 1 January 2027. From 1 January 2027 this drops to 6 months. The right to ask for written reasons for dismissal also drops to 6 months. source
Day One Protections
Protection against discrimination and against automatically unfair reasons for dismissal stays from day one. source
Compensation Cap
The cap on the compensatory award is due to be removed from 1 January 2027. From 6 April 2026 it is the lower of £123,543 or 52 weeks' gross pay. source
Making A Claim
Time Limit
Unfair dismissal claims usually must be made within 6 months of dismissal. If you were dismissed before 1 October 2026, you may need to claim within 3 months. source
Interim Relief
If you are claiming for some reasons, such as whistleblowing or trade union activity, and want to keep being paid until the case is decided, you must claim within 7 days of dismissal. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 6 monthsTime limit (minus 1 day)For dismissals on or after 1 October 2026
- 1 January 2027Qualifying period drops to 6 monthsFor dismissals from this date
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 4
Write down the date your job ended and why you were told you were dismissed.
Step 2 of 4
Appeal using your employer's procedure.
Step 3 of 4
Tell Acas you want to claim, before the time limit runs out.
Step 4 of 4
If it does not settle, make a tribunal claim with your Acas certificate number.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Acas Helpline
Free and confidential. 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Acas Early Conciliation
You must tell Acas before you make most tribunal claims. It is free.
Employment Tribunal (GOV.UK)
Make a claim online after early conciliation.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Tribunal time limits are strict. For problems on or after 1 October 2026 the usual limit is 6 months minus 1 day; before that it was 3 months minus 1 day. Tell Acas before the limit runs out.
Rules here are for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own employment law, the Labour Relations Agency and industrial tribunals; see nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- business.gov.uk/campaign/employment-changes/employee/unfair-dismissal-rights Checked 15 October 2026
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a049a3d22977ebc82cb3f1a/unfair-dismissal-factsheet.pdf Checked 15 October 2026
- gov.uk/dismissal/what-to-do-if-youre-dismissed Checked 15 October 2026
- gov.uk/employment-tribunals Checked 15 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/contact Checked 8 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/early-conciliation/how-early-conciliation-works Checked 8 October 2026