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Benefit Check UK

Redundancy support

Your redundancy checklist: 7-day and 30-day steps

5 min read

When you've just been made redundant it's hard to know where to start. This is a short, ordered list of the things that genuinely matter in the first week and the first month — not a long to-do list designed to make you feel worse.

Reviewed against official guidance · 26 May 2026

Your first 7 days

  • Open a Universal Credit claim on GOV.UK on the day your job ends — the claim runs from the day you submit it.
  • Save your P45, last payslips, redundancy letter and bank statements somewhere safe.
  • Cancel non-essential subscriptions and pause direct debits you can.
  • Tell your mortgage lender or landlord if you may struggle to pay. Most have hardship processes that are easier before arrears build up.
  • List incoming money (final salary, redundancy, savings) and essential outgoings.

Your first 30 days

  • Apply for Council Tax Reduction through your local council's website.
  • Check your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK for any tax refund owed.
  • Speak to Citizens Advice or a welfare rights adviser for a full benefit check.
  • Update your CV and register with the National Careers Service.
  • Review income protection or mortgage payment protection insurance you may have forgotten about.
  • If applicable, claim New Style JSA — it's based on NI, not savings.

Documents to gather

  • P45 from your final employer
  • Last 3 payslips
  • Redundancy notice and pay calculation
  • Latest bank statements (all accounts)
  • Tenancy agreement or mortgage statement
  • Childcare costs if you have children

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Sources

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