Where to find help if you’ve been laid off – or think you might be

Being made redundant, or fearing that you might be, can be a stressful time. You’re certainly not alone – over 600,000 fewer people were in work in May compared to two months earlier. And many more people are concerned about what will happen to their jobs when the furlough scheme ends.

Redundancy can be a big change in your life, but it’s not the end of the world. And the more you know about how being laid off works, the better you’ll be prepared to handle it. Here’s our round-up of where to find all the information you’ll need.

Your employment rights

Rights and redundancy can be complicated. To check that your employer has followed the right process to make you redundant, including giving you the notice period and redundancy pay you’re entitled to, read the articles under ‘Redundancy’ on the Citizens Advice website or the Money Advice Service, or speak to your trade union. If you’re not a member of a trade union, consider joining one: you can find the right union for you on the TUC website.

If you’re currently furloughed, here are a couple of things to remember:

• If you’re entitled to redundancy pay, it should be based on your usual full wage, not your furlough wage if that’s lower
• Your employer still has a responsibility to hold the same redundancy consultation period with you and your colleagues that they would have done if you were all at work.

If you don’t think your employer is carrying out redundancies fairly, speak to your trade union or call the Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service. You can also get support with legal and employment problems through the assistance programme available via our online service. Just login online, click on ‘Offers and Discounts’ and then go to the Assistance Programme. You’ll find details of the telephone support services there.

Your finances

To find out what support you’re entitled to while you’re looking for work, use our free, independent benefit checker.

Don’t forget to let us know, so we can make sure this change in your circumstances is factored into your debt solution. Depending on your situation we may be able to arrange a payment break or a reduction in your payments. And if you’re on an IVA, you may be able to put off paying redundancy payments into your IVA as additional monies.

Your job hunt

Looking for a job in the current climate can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time out of work for a while. But we’re on your side – that’s why we’ve scoured the internet for the best places to find both career opportunities and advice to boost your job search.

We hope this has been helpful. But we know that if you’ve read this article, it’s probably a financially stressful time for you right now. Don’t forget – we’re here for you. If you’re struggling with money worries, please just get in touch and let us know. We’ll do what we can to help.

 

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