Your rights if your employer is insolvent
Apply for money you're owed
You’re eligible to apply if:
- you were an employee
- you’re a UK or EEA national (or a foreign national with permission to work in the UK)
If you’re not eligible (for example you’re a contractor) register as a creditor instead.
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Apply for redundancy, unpaid wages and holiday within 6 months of being dismissed. You request to claim for loss of notice pay (‘statutory notice pay’) in your application.
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If you requested to claim statutory notice pay, you’ll get sent a letter telling you when you can apply.
Claiming for redundancy, unpaid wages and holiday pay
You can apply as soon as you’ve been made redundant. The person dealing with the insolvency (the ‘insolvency practitioner’ or ‘official receiver’) will give you a ‘CN’ (case reference) number. You cannot claim without the CN number.
You must apply for redundancy pay within 6 months of being dismissed.
The application will ask if you want to apply for statutory notice pay. Choosing ‘Yes’ does not mean you’ve applied. You’ll be told when to apply.
Apply for redundancy, unpaid wages and holiday online.
Claiming for loss of notice pay (‘statutory notice pay’)
You need an ‘LN’ reference number to make a claim. It’ll be sent after your notice period would have ended. This is usually no more than 12 weeks after you’re dismissed.
You must apply for redundancy first - even if you’re not owed any money.
Employees at the same business can have different notice periods.
Once you have the LN reference number, claim online for loss of notice.
Money you get (or could have got) by claiming benefits will be deducted from your payment.
Help completing the online forms
Contact the Redundancy Payments Service if you have queries about completing the online forms. You’ll need your case reference number or National Insurance number.
Redundancy Payments Service
redundancypaymentsonline@insolvency.gov.uk
Telephone: 0330 331 0020
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm
Friday, 9am to 3pm
Find out about call charges