Employment Tribunal limit doubles to six months from 1 October

Workers who believe they have not been paid at least National Minimum Wage rates will usually have six months, rather than three, to bring an Employment Tribunal claim where their employment ended, or the matter complained about happened, on or after 1 October 2026GOV. HMRC's National Minimum Wage manual now states the new six-month limit for those later datesGOV, with the previous three-month limit usually continuing where the relevant date falls before 1 October 2026GOV.

The manual page sits in the Acas-helpline context: callers are advised they can make their own tribunal claim, on the approved form, online or by post. Late claims are considered only in a narrow range of circumstances. Each claim gets a case number and is usually copied to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which may try to resolve the dispute without a hearing. Claims are heard at the tribunal covering the postcode where the claimant worked or applied to work, or otherwise where the matter complained about happened.

Acas confirms the change is general: from 1 October 2026 the time limit for most claims increases to 6 months minus 1 dayAcas, applying only where the time limit starts on or after that dateAcas. The clock usually starts from the date the problem happenedAcas — for pay claims, the date of the incorrect payment; for unfair dismissal, the effective date of termination; for discrimination, the last act complained of. Until now most claims carried 3 months minus 1 dayAcas, with only redundancy pay, equal pay, certain trade-union and armed-forces claims at 6 months minus 1 dayAcas. Going through grievance, disciplinary or appeal procedures does not change the limitAcas, and Acas early conciliation pauses it only if Acas is notified within the limitAcas.

The surrounding procedure is otherwise unchanged on this page: respondents have 28 days to respond, parties may use representatives, appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal must usually be on a point of law, and the respondent has 42 days from judgment to pay.

For advisers and payroll teams, the practical point is the cutover: for NMW and most other claims, check whether the triggering date falls on or after 1 October 2026 and diary six months (minus a day) rather than threeAcas, while keeping the old three-month assumption for earlier triggersGOV. Where the date is borderline — series of deductions, continuing acts, or notice-period questions — take advice rather than assuming the longer window applies.

Legal basis: Employment Tribunal time limits as stated in HMRC National Minimum Wage Manual NMWM02100 and Acas guidance 'Employment tribunal time limits' (change from 1 October 2026).