What changed on 1 October 2026
The Employment Rights Act 2025 doubled the time limit for most employment tribunal claims, including unfair dismissal, discrimination and unlawful deductions from wages. The new limit applies where the act you are complaining about happened on or after 1 October 2026. Claims about earlier events usually keep the old 3-month limit.
If you are complaining about a series of events, or conduct that carried on over a period, the clock usually starts from the last event or the end of that period. That can bring earlier events within the new limit, but it is one of the most argued points in tribunal, so do not rely on it without checking.
When does the clock start?
- Dismissal: the effective date of termination. That is usually your last day of employment, or the day you were told you were dismissed if you were dismissed without notice.
- Constructive dismissal: the date your resignation took effect.
- Discrimination: the date of the act, or the end of conduct that extended over a period.
- Unpaid wages: the date of the deduction, or the last deduction in a series.
How Acas early conciliation changes the deadline
Before you can submit an ET1 claim form you normally have to notify Acas. The day Acas receives your notification is Day A. The day you receive the early conciliation certificate is Day B.
The days between Day A and Day B are added to your deadline. If your deadline would then fall within one month after Day B, you get until one month after Day B instead. The extension only helps if you contact Acas before your original deadline passes.
Example: you were dismissed on 20 October 2026. Your basic deadline is 19 April 2027. You contacted Acas on 2 November and got your certificate on 9 November, so 7 days are added and your deadline becomes 26 April 2027.
You can work out your own dates with our employment tribunal time limit calculator.
What does not stop the clock
An internal appeal, a grievance, being off sick or waiting for your employer to reply does not extend the tribunal deadline. Many people lose claims because they wait for an appeal outcome. If an appeal is still going on, contact Acas anyway.
What if I have missed the deadline?
A late claim is not always over, but the tests are strict. For unfair dismissal and wages claims, the tribunal asks whether it was not reasonably practicable to claim in time, and whether you then claimed within a reasonable further period. For discrimination, it can allow a late claim if it is just and equitable, which is more flexible but never automatic. Act as soon as you realise, and keep evidence of why you were late.