There are strict time limits for making a claim to an employment tribunal.
If you're thinking about making a claim, the first step is to notify Acas. You should do this within your time limit.
The law on time limits changed on 1 October 2026. How long you have depends on when the problem happened.
If your problem happened before 1 October 2026
You have either:
- 3 months minus 1 day – for most claims
- 6 months minus 1 day – for a few claims
You have 6 months minus 1 day for:
- statutory redundancy pay claims
- equal pay claims
- certain claims made against a trade union
- certain claims if you're a member of the armed forces
If your problem happened on or after 1 October 2026
You have 6 months minus 1 day for most claims. Breach of contract claims in Scotland have a different time limit.
For example, you were paid the wrong amount on 1 October 2026. To work out your time limit, add on 6 calendar months then take off 1 day. Your time limit starts on 1 October 2026 and ends at 11:59pm on 31 March 2027.
Breach of contract claims in Scotland
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
When your time limit starts
In most cases, your time limit starts from the date the problem at work happened.
For example:
- unfair dismissal – in most cases the time limit starts from either the last day of your notice period, or the date you were dismissed if your employer did not give you notice
- pay and wages – the time limit starts from the date you were not paid correctly
- discrimination – your time limit starts from the most recent date of discrimination you're including in your claim
Working out time limits can be complex, especially if:
- your problem at work covers more than one type of claim, for example both unfair dismissal and discrimination
- there have been multiple incidents or the problem is still happening
Get help
For help with understanding how time limits work, or to talk through your options, contact the Acas helpline.
If you need to work out your exact time limit, you might need to get legal advice.
If your time limit has passed
If your time limit has passed, you can still make a claim to an employment tribunal.
It's up to the judge to decide whether they will accept your claim. However, in most cases time limits are strictly enforced.
To find out more about your options, contact the Acas helpline.
Grievance, disciplinary or appeal procedures
Going through grievance, disciplinary or appeal procedures does not change your time limit. If those procedures take a long time, you still need to notify Acas before your time limit runs out.
How early conciliation can pause your time limit
When you notify Acas that you're thinking about making a claim to an employment tribunal, we will offer you early conciliation. This is when a conciliator speaks with you and your employer separately to help you come to an agreement.
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.