Setting up a case for redundancy payments
If you’re an insolvency practitioner, find out how to use the template for setting up a new case.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Setting up a case in England, Scotland and Wales
Use this guidance if you are an insolvency practitioner who needs to set up a case with the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS). RPS is part of the Insolvency Service (InsS), which operates in England, Scotland and Wales.
There is separate guidance for Northern Ireland. For questions about employees who have been made redundant in Northern Ireland, contact the Northern Ireland Insolvency Service.
Before you start
Contact us at rps.stakeholder@insolvency.gov.uk if the business has had previous insolvency proceedings. Tell us if there has been:
- a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) that failed or defaulted, followed by another insolvency such as a Winding Up Order (WUO) or Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)
- a completed CVA followed by another type of insolvency (for example the business completed the CVA but did not return to solvency)
- an administration or administrative receivership followed by a WUO
- a WUO followed by a receiver or manager appointment, then another WUO
Relevant caselaw is available on the Employment Cases Update website.
Advance notification of redundancies
If the employer has not let the government know about redundancies in advance, check if an HR1 form is required.
Requesting a new case to be set up
- Use the form for setting up a new case.
- The ‘relevant date’ is the date of the first insolvency event. If there is no previous insolvency event, complete the rest of the form and email it to us at rps.stakeholder@insolvency.gov.uk.
- Use the subject line: Case Set Up Request – Number of redundancies.
- Request a new case no more than 7 days before your appointment.
You will receive an email with a case reference number (CN) after your request has been processed.
After we have given you the case reference number, you need to submit forms RP14 and RP14A . Do not submit these forms without the case reference number.
If you have any questions, including help with deciding the ‘relevant date’, send us an email at rps.stakeholder@insolvency.gov.uk, along with information about the history of the business.
Providing employee information to the Insolvency Service
If required, there is a specific page for calculating holiday pay for workers without fixed hours or pay.
We will contact you separately to collect this information. Do not include the 52-week rate of pay data in the RP14A.
Providing information to employees
The RP1 factsheet explains what employees of insolvent businesses can claim for and how to claim. You must send the factsheet and case reference number to all employees that are eligible for a payment, as employees need the case reference number to submit a claim. You must help claimants to complete their claims wherever possible.
Do not issue the case number to dismissed employees until your appointment date.
If you have any questions, send us an email at rps.stakeholder@insolvency.gov.uk.
Complex cases
Complex cases involve complications or significant factors that affect how a case should be set up. Complete part four of the case set up template, providing as much relevant information as possible. A case is complex if there are:
- more than 250 redundancies
- TUPE transfers
- multiple insolvency events for the same company
- new sale negotiations
- further rounds of insolvencies
- significant updates to RP14 or RP14A information
- any other significant factor, such as if the insolvency is high-profile or likely to attract media interest
If you have a complex case, we will contact you to arrange a wage check. The CN will be issued after the wage check has been completed.
You can request a bespoke factsheet for any complex case or ask us to review any employee communications drafted by you or the insolvent employer. For these, or any other questions, send us an email at rps.stakeholder@insolvency.gov.uk.
When a business is sold
If there is a business sale after an RP14 form has been submitted, contact us immediately at rps.stakeholder@insolvency.gov.uk to confirm whether any employees will transfer to the new owner.
Updates to this page
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Complete update of page and restructure
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Typo - 14a to 14A
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More detail added to New case set up request, Providing employee information to the Insolvency Service, Complex cases or large number of expected redundancies.
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Link to furlough information removed.
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First published.