Being made redundant: finding work, claiming benefits and managing debts
Guidance on finding work, claiming benefits, managing debts and pensions if you’re being made redundant.
Help finding work and training
Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service
You can get help from the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service:
- if you suspect you’re going to be made redundant
- during your notice period
- up to 13 weeks after you’ve been made redundant
The service can help you to:
- write CVs and find jobs
- find information on benefits
- find the right training and learn new skills
- organise work trials (if you’re eligible)
- get any extra help at work if you’re disabled, for example Access to Work
- claim money if you’re eligible to help meet costs for travel, childcare, tools or equipment
Contact the Rapid Response Service by emailing rrs.enquiries@dwp.gov.uk. Please include your postcode in your email.
You can also get help from:
- PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) if you live in Scotland
- ReAct (Redundancy Action Scheme) if you live in Wales
There’s a different service if you’re in Northern Ireland
Finding work
You can:
- learn about job hunting and interviews on the JobHelp website
- use the Find a job service to search and apply for jobs
- search on other jobs websites and social media
- find out how to become an apprentice
- find out how to set up your own business
Skills and training
Find out about:
- careers advice, skills and training
- further education courses and funding
- how to build skills through voluntary work
Benefits you could get
If you’ve lost your job, including through voluntary redundancy, you might be able to get:
- New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if you’re under State Pension age, unemployed or are working less than 16 hours a week on average, and have made enough National Insurance contributions, usually over the last 2 to 3 years - your savings and partner’s income will not affect how much you get
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you’re under State Pension age, have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work, and have made enough National Insurance contributions, usually over the last 2 to 3 years - your savings and partner’s income will not affect how much you get
- Universal Credit if you or your partner are under State Pension age and you have £16,000 or less in savings - you might be able to get it at the same time as New Style JSA or New Style ESA
- Pension Credit if both you and your partner have reached State Pension age or one of you is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age
You might be able to get further help if you’re disabled, caring for someone, or looking after a family.
Help with finding and applying for benefits
Advice
You can get help finding and understanding information about benefits from:
You could also use a benefit calculator from an independent organisation.
Support visits if you need help to claim benefits
You may be able to get a home visit from a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officer if you need extra help to claim benefits, for example because you:
- have complex needs
- are disabled
- are a vulnerable young person making a claim for the first time
- have nobody else to support you
- cannot claim benefits in any other way
How to arrange a support visit
If you’re already getting benefits
You must report that you have lost your job, and declare any redundancy pay you get, if you’re getting:
Debt, budgeting and money advice
If you owe money, there are different ways to pay it back and get support, such as the Breathing Space scheme. Find out about:
Paying back benefits and Council Tax
If you’re paying back money because you were paid too much benefit, if you owe Council Tax, or if debts are being taken off your benefit payment, you can ask to repay less each week or month.
Find out what to do if you’re struggling with:
- money being taken off your Universal Credit payment
- tax credit repayments
- Housing Benefit repayments
- Council Tax arrears
- any other money you are repaying to DWP (Department of Work and Pensions)
Redundancy pay and notice pay
Read about redundancy pay, notice periods, notice pay and other rights if you’re made redundant.
If your employer is insolvent, you can apply to the government for money your employer owes you, including redundancy pay and notice pay. If you claim for notice pay, any money you get (or could have got) by claiming benefits during your notice period will be deducted from your payment.
Find out about applying for money your employer owes you if you were on furlough before being made redundant.
Get an Income Tax refund
You might be able to claim back some Income Tax if:
- you have had your final pay from your employer
- you’re not getting a pension from your employer
- you’re not getting taxable benefits
- you have not started a new job
Check if you can claim a tax refund.
Pensions
If you’ve reached or are approaching pension age, you may need advice about pensions or retirement.
Use the Check your State Pension forecast service to find out how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it and how to increase it, if you can. You might also be able to get Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.
To find out how redundancy affects your workplace pension, ask your previous employer or pension provider.
If you’re aged 50 or over and have a defined contribution pension you can get free, impartial pension guidance from MoneyHelper.
If your employer is insolvent, you can get information about how this might affect your pension from the Pension Protection Fund.
Coping with redundancy
If you need support to cope with redundancy, get in touch with:
- Mind
- Mental Health and Money Advice from Mental Health UK
- Relate for support with relationships
- Samaritans
Last updated 26 August 2021 + show all updates
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Clarified that you may be entitled to New Style Jobseeker's Allowance if you are currently working less than 16 hours a week. Clarified that any money you get (or could have got) by claiming benefits must be during your notice period for it to be deducted from your notice pay. Added link to guidance about being made redundant while on furlough.
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Updated the guidance and added information about what benefits you could get, how to get help claiming, help with managing debts and using the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service. Removed some sign posting links as these are included through the external links still featured in the guide.
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Added WhatJobs to list of other job search websites.
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Added Reed to the list of 'other job search websites'.
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Added 2 videos about the advice and support that Jobcentre Plus and partners can provide for employees and employers.
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First published.