Tribunal claim time limit: three months becomes six

Last checked 17 Oct 2026. Dates can change. Great Britain only.

When

1 October 2026

Status

In force

Who it affects

All employers in Great Britain

The time limit for bringing most Employment Tribunal claims increased from three months to six months on 1 October 2026. For breach of contract claims in Scotland, the change takes effect on 9 November 2026, according to GOV.UK.

What we have confirmed and what we have not

Confirmed from the GOV.UK timeline: the change itself and the two dates above.
Confirmed from the regulations (SI 2026/954): the longer limit does not apply where the relevant date is before 1 October 2026. The relevant date is usually the date of the act or failure complained of, or the last in a series. For unfair dismissal it is the effective date of termination. Check the position for any specific claim.

Why it matters to employers

A claim can arrive later than it used to. Records that were routinely cleared out after a few months, such as meeting notes, warning letters, emails about a decision and rota or timesheet data, may be needed for longer.

A checklist to help you prepare

Check how long you keep records of disciplinary, grievance, redundancy and dismissal decisions, and whether that period still makes sense.
Keep notes of meetings and decisions together with the date, who attended and what was decided.
Make sure managers record why a decision was made at the time, not months later.
Pair this with the six month qualifying period for unfair dismissal. See unfair dismissal from 1 January 2027.

This page is general information, not legal advice.

Get the free dates timeline

Free monthly updates on the Employment Rights Act, plus a note straight away when a date or status changes.

Sources

Last checked 17 Oct 2026. GOV.UK says all future dates remain subject to parliamentary processes and may change. General information only, not legal advice. Check GOV.UK before you act.