Tribunal claims: 6-month time limit (Oct 2026)
1 October 2026 In force
Employment Rights Act 2025 s.152, Sch. 12. S.I. 2026/954 (Commencement No. 5). Applies to: Great Britain (Scottish breach of contract claims from 9 November 2026). Checked 25 October 2026.
The time limit for most employment tribunal claims — including unfair dismissal, discrimination and unlawful deductions — is now six months. It applies where the relevant date (for example the date employment ended) is on or after 1 October 2026; earlier events keep the three-month limit.
Who it affects
All employers. Former staff have longer to bring a claim, so documents need to be kept longer.
What changes
- Three months → six months for most claims where the relevant date is on or after 1 October 2026.
- Acas early conciliation still comes first and can extend the deadline.
What to do
- Keep dismissal, grievance and absence records for at least the new window plus early conciliation (we suggest 12 months minimum).
- Review settlement and exit timelines with the longer window in mind.
Documents to review
- Records retention schedule : Dismissal and grievance files kept beyond the 6-month claim window; Absence and pay records kept long enough to defend a claim.
Tick these off and export the dates to your calendar in the business plan tab.
Sources
- S.I. 2026/954 — Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Employment Rights Act 2025, section 152 — Increase in time limits for making claims
- Acas — Employment Rights Act 2025 (updated 20 October 2026)
A summary for employers, not legal advice. Where a change depends on regulations not yet made, details may differ from this page.
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