Tribunal time limits

The law on time limits changed on 1 October 2026. You have 6 months minus 1 day for most claims. If a problem at work started before 1 October 2026, the 3-month limit might still apply.

When you notify Acas, your time limit will be paused until early conciliation ends. This only applies if you notify Acas within your employment tribunal time limit.

The change on 1 October 2026

Section 152 and Schedule 12 of the Employment Rights Act 2025 doubled most tribunal time limits from 3 months to 6 months. The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 brought this change into force on 1 October 2026. Acas confirms that time limits for most employment tribunal claims increased from 3 months to 6 months on that date.

The new limit applies to the most common claims. These include:

• unfair dismissal, under section 111 of the Employment Rights Act 1996
• unpaid wages and unlawful deductions, under section 23 of the Employment Rights Act 1996
• discrimination, harassment and victimisation, under section 123 of the Equality Act 2010

Which limit applies to you

The date that matters is the date of the act you are complaining about, not the date you found out about your rights or the date you decided to claim.

• For unfair dismissal, it is your effective date of termination. That is usually your last day of employment, or the date you were told you were dismissed if you were not given notice.
• For unpaid wages, it is the date the short payment was made. Where there is a series of deductions, it is the date of the last one.
• For discrimination or harassment, it is the date of the act. Where conduct extended over a period, it is the end of that period.

If that date is on or after 1 October 2026, the 6 month limit applies. If it is before 1 October 2026, the 3-month limit might still apply under the transitional rules. Where your complaint covers a series of events, the date of the last event usually decides which limit applies.

Acas early conciliation and Time limits

Before most claims can go to a tribunal, you must notify Acas and start Acas early conciliation. You must do this inside your time limit. Your claim form will ask for the certificate number Acas gives you.

Acas says conciliation can last up to 12 weeks. When it ends, Acas issues a certificate. Acas confirms you will have at least one month from receiving the certificate to submit your claim, and sometimes longer, depending on how much of your original time limit was left.

Note the date you notified Acas and the date you received the certificate. Work out your new deadline as soon as the certificate arrives, and keep a record of how you calculated it.

Breach of contract claims

In England and Wales, the 6 month limit for an employee's breach of contract claim applies where the effective date of termination is on or after 1 October 2026. Where there is no effective date of termination, the last day you worked in that employment is used instead.

Acas states: in Scotland, the time limit for breach of contract claims will not change until 9 November 2026.

This means if the breach of contract is:

• before 9 November: you have 3 months minus 1 day
• on or after 9 November: you have 6 months minus 1 day

Equal pay and redundancy pay

Equal pay and statutory redundancy pay were never on the 3 month limit, and the 2026 change does not alter them.

Under section 129 of the Equality Act 2010, an equal pay claim in a standard case must be brought within 6 months of the last day of your employment.

Under section 164 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, you lose the right to a statutory redundancy payment unless, within 6 months of the relevant date, the payment is agreed and paid, you make a written claim to your employer, or you bring a tribunal claim. If you miss that, the tribunal can still award the payment where you act within the next 6 months and it considers this just and equitable.

If you miss the deadline

Tribunal time limits are short and strictly applied. A claim brought one day late can be rejected without the tribunal ever looking at what happened to you. A tribunal can accept a late claim, but it is rare. The test depends on the claim.

For discrimination, section 123 of the Equality Act 2010 lets a tribunal accept a late claim within such further period as it thinks just and equitable. The tribunal weighs the reasons for the delay and the prejudice to each side.

For unfair dismissal and unpaid wages, the test is stricter. You must show it was not reasonably practicable to claim in time, and that you then claimed within a further reasonable period. Waiting for an internal appeal or a grievance outcome is not usually enough.

Acas states that time limits are strictly enforced in most cases. Do not rely on an extension.

Common mistakes

• Waiting for a grievance or appeal. An internal grievance, disciplinary procedure or appeal does not pause the deadline. Carry on with it, but start Acas early conciliation in time.
• Assuming earlier events are covered. Listing several events on one claim form does not make them a legal series. In a discrimination claim, whether conduct extended over a period is a separate legal question.
• Missing interim relief. In an eligible dismissal case, such as dismissal for whistleblowing or for trade union reasons, an application for interim relief must be made within seven days of the effective date of termination. Acas early conciliation does not pause this deadline.
• Counting from the wrong date. Your deadline runs from the act you are complaining about, not from when you received a letter confirming it or took advice.

The tribunal forms also changed on 1 October 2026. Read New ET1 and ET3 Questions before you submit a claim, and Reconsideration Does Not Pause Your Appeal Deadline if a decision has already been made.

What to do next

1. Write down the date of the act, the dismissal or the last payment you are complaining about.
2. Check whether that date falls before or after 1 October 2026, and work out your deadline.
3. Notify Acas to start Acas early conciliation well before that deadline.
4. Keep the certificate and note the date you received it.
5. Work out your new deadline from the certificate date and put it in your diary.
6. Carry on with any grievance or appeal, but do not let it delay the claim.

Check your deadline early and seek advice before you take action.

Belonge