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Benefit Check UK

Free tool

Redundancy timeline tool

Enter a few dates and we'll outline when you may be able to claim, what to gather and what to do week by week. All dates and outputs are indicative — not an official decision.

Your indicative timeline

Dates are estimated from what you entered. Confirm any deadlines with GOV.UK or Citizens Advice.

  1. 26 May 2026

    Redundancy announced

    Get your redundancy letter, notice period and pay calculation in writing. Save payslips, tenancy or mortgage paperwork — you may need these later.

  2. 26 May 2026 – 23 June 2026

    Notice period

    You can usually take reasonable paid time off to look for work. Update your CV and register with the National Careers Service.

  3. 23 June 2026

    Indicative date to apply for Universal Credit

    You can usually claim on GOV.UK on the day your job ends. The claim runs from the day you submit it. If you have enough NI, you may also be able to claim New Style JSA.

  4. 30 June 2026

    Week 1 — practical actions

    Tell your mortgage lender or landlord if you may struggle. Cancel non-essential direct debits. List incoming money and essential outgoings.

  5. 23 July 2026

    Month 1 — wider checks

    Apply for Council Tax Reduction. Check your Personal Tax Account for any refund. Book a full benefit check with Citizens Advice.

  6. ~28 July 2026

    Indicative first UC payment

    Universal Credit is normally paid monthly in arrears — about five weeks after claiming. You can request an advance if you need money sooner.

Documents to gather

Having these to hand makes any Universal Credit, Council Tax or advice appointment much easier.

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

Next actions

  1. Take the free 15-question benefit check for an indicative view of what you may be entitled to.
  2. Book a free Citizens Advice appointment for a full official check.
  3. Print this timeline and tick items off as you go.

See what you may be entitled to

The free 15-question check gives an indicative view in about five minutes.

Start your benefit check