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ARTICLE · 02 OCTOBER 2026

Longer Time Limits For Bringing Tribunal Claims From October

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

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From 1 October 2026, employment tribunal claim time limits in England, Wales and Scotland will double from three to six months for most claims including unfair dismissal and discrimination. Combined with extended early conciliation periods, employers may face nearly 10 months before claims are submitted, creating challenges for evidence preservation and witness availability.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Charlotte Morgan
Charlotte Morgan
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From 1 October 2026, the time limit for bringing an employment tribunal claim will increase to six months for all claims, including unfair dismissal and discrimination claims.

As it stands, most employment tribunal claims in England, Wales and Scotland need to be brought within three months of the act complained. This includes claims for dismissal, discrimination and unlawful deduction from wages.

A small number of claims currently have a six-month time limit, such as claims for equal pay or a statutory redundancy payment.

This is set to change from 1 October 2026.

What is changing?

The Employment Rights Act 2025 extends the time limit to six months for all employment tribunal claims.

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