Protective Award Calculator UK
Calculate your potential compensation if your employer proposed 20 or more redundancies without collective consultation. Tribunals can award up to 90 days of gross pay.
Your Employment Details
Enter your salary and redundancy circumstances below.
Estimated gross entitlement based on 90 days (12.86 weeks) of remuneration.
Your employer typically contributes £350 to £750 + VAT to independent legal advice.
Strict 3-Month Tribunal Deadline
You must start ACAS Early Conciliation within 3 months minus 1 day from your date of dismissal. Missing this window means you lose the right to claim a protective award.
Solvent vs Insolvent Employer Claims
The amount you actually recover depends heavily on whether your employer is actively trading or has entered liquidation.
Claim Against a Solvent Company
When the company continues trading, the award is paid directly by your employer. The calculation uses your actual gross earnings without any statutory weekly cap.
- ✓Uncapped gross weekly pay applies
- ✓Up to full 90 days awarded by the tribunal
- ✓Paid directly by the employer's funds
Claim from the Insolvency Service
When a company enters liquidation or administration, payments come from the National Insurance Fund via the Redundancy Payments Service.
- ✓Capped at 8 weeks maximum (ERA 1996 s.184)
- ✓Capped at £751/week in GB (£783 in NI)
- ✓Guaranteed government payout up to £6,008
Have you been offered a settlement agreement?
Signing a settlement agreement waives your right to claim a protective award. If your employer failed to consult collectively on 20+ redundancies, you should factor this entitlement into your settlement negotiations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum protective award an Employment Tribunal can make in 2026?
An Employment Tribunal can award up to 90 days of gross pay per employee under Section 189 of TULRCA 1992. The tribunal assesses the seriousness of the employer’s failure to consult before deciding the number of days.
How much will I receive if my employer is insolvent or enters administration?
If your employer is insolvent, you claim from the government Insolvency Service. By law, payments from the National Insurance Fund are capped at 8 weeks of pay. In 2026, the statutory weekly cap is £751 in Great Britain (£783 in Northern Ireland), making the maximum government payout £6,008 in Great Britain (£6,264 in Northern Ireland).
Do I have to belong to a trade union to claim a protective award?
No. If a recognised trade union exists, they must submit the claim. If there is no recognised union, elected employee representatives can claim. If your employer failed to organise elections for representatives, affected employees can submit individual or group claims directly to the tribunal.
What is the strict time limit for claiming a protective award?
You must initiate ACAS Early Conciliation within 3 months minus 1 day from the date your dismissal took effect. If you miss this statutory deadline, the Employment Tribunal will almost certainly reject your claim.
Can I claim a protective award if I sign a settlement agreement?
No. Standard settlement agreements include an express waiver of all statutory claims, including claims under Section 189 of TULRCA 1992. However, knowing your potential protective award entitlement gives you vital leverage to negotiate a higher compensation payment before signing.
Is a protective award taxable in the UK?
Yes, but it qualifies for the £30,000 tax exemption under Section 403 of ITEPA 2003 as compensation for loss of employment. If your total termination compensation (including redundancy and ex-gratia payments) is under £30,000, your protective award is 100% tax-free with zero employee National Insurance deductions.