An RPS claim (Redundancy Payments Service) typically takes around 2 to 6 weeks to pay out once you have submitted a complete online claim, though straightforward cases are sometimes paid faster and complex ones can take longer. The Redundancy Payments Service pays statutory redundancy pay and other unpaid sums from the National Insurance Fund when your employer has become insolvent and cannot pay you itself.
How long your particular claim takes depends on when your employer's insolvency began, how quickly the insolvency practitioner supplies your employment details, and whether your own claim form is filled in accurately. This guide sets out the typical timescale, what can slow a claim down, and what to do if yours seems to be taking too long.
When you can submit an RPS claim
You can normally submit your claim to the Redundancy Payments Service once your employer has formally entered an insolvency process, such as liquidation, administration, or bankruptcy, and you have either been made redundant or your employment has otherwise ended without pay.
The appointed insolvency practitioner will usually write to employees with a claim reference and instructions for applying online. If you have not received this and believe your employer is insolvent, you can check the position with the office handling the case before applying.
- Your employer must be subject to a formal insolvency procedure — not simply struggling financially.
- You will usually need your National Insurance number, employment dates, and pay details to hand.
- Claims are made online through the government's redundancy payments service.
How long does an RPS claim take to pay out?
For a straightforward claim with no missing information, payment is typically made within 2 to 6 weeks of submission. This is a general guide rather than a guarantee, and timescales can vary between cases and at busier periods.
Claims that involve unusual pay arrangements, missing records, or a dispute over your length of service or final salary can take considerably longer to resolve, sometimes several months, while the additional information is checked.
What information the RPS needs to process a claim
The speed of your payment depends heavily on the quality of the information provided, both by you and by the insolvency practitioner managing your former employer's affairs.
- Full name, date of birth, and National Insurance number.
- Start and end dates of employment, and reason for the termination.
- Weekly pay and hours worked, ideally confirmed by payslips or a contract.
- Bank account details for payment.
- Any outstanding holiday pay, notice pay, or unpaid wages you are claiming.
If any of this is missing or inconsistent with the employer's own records, the Redundancy Payments Service will usually need to query it before your claim can proceed, which adds time.
Getting your employment details right first time
Where possible, gather your payslips, contract, and any redundancy or dismissal letter before you apply. Double-checking dates and figures against these documents reduces the chance of a query being raised later.
What commonly delays a claim
Most delays come down to a handful of recurring issues rather than anything unusual about an individual claim.
- Incomplete claim forms — missing dates, figures, or bank details mean the claim cannot progress until corrected.
- Employer records not yet available — the insolvency practitioner may still be gathering payroll data, particularly soon after appointment.
- High volumes of claims — large-scale redundancies from one insolvency can mean many claims are processed at once.
- Disputed eligibility — for example, uncertainty about continuous employment or self-employed status.
- Bank detail errors — incorrect account details can delay or bounce back a payment already approved.
How different payment types are timed
An RPS claim can cover more than statutory redundancy pay, and each element is assessed separately, which is why some payments can arrive before others.
- Statutory redundancy pay — based on age, weekly pay, and length of service, subject to the statutory weekly cap.
- Unpaid wages — for work done but not paid before the insolvency, usually capped at a set number of weeks.
- Holiday pay — accrued but untaken leave up to the date employment ended.
- Notice pay — if you were not given, or not paid, your statutory or contractual notice period.
Because each category has different rules and caps, the Redundancy Payments Service may pay elements separately as each is verified, rather than as a single combined sum.
What to do if your claim is taking too long
If it has been significantly longer than the typical 2 to 6 week window and you have heard nothing, there are practical steps you can take.
- Check your online claim account for any messages, queries, or requests for further information.
- Confirm your bank and contact details are correct and up to date.
- Contact the Redundancy Payments Service directly for an update on your reference number.
- Ask the insolvency practitioner's office whether employee records have been submitted yet.
Understanding what employees are owed when a company closes can help you check that the categories and amounts you have claimed for look complete before you chase a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can I chase my RPS claim if it's taking a long time?
Yes. You can contact the Redundancy Payments Service using your claim reference to ask for an update, and check your online account for any outstanding queries that may be holding up payment.
Is an RPS claim paid in one go?
Not always. Redundancy pay, unpaid wages, holiday pay, and notice pay are assessed under different rules, so they are sometimes paid as separate amounts rather than one combined payment.
Does the length of the insolvency process affect my claim?
It can. Your claim relies partly on employment records being confirmed by the insolvency practitioner, so a more complex liquidation or administration may take longer to supply this information.
What happens to my RPS claim if the company is liquidated?
Your right to claim from the National Insurance Fund arises once formal insolvency begins. The process for redundancy pay when a company is liquidated works in broadly the same way, whatever the type of insolvency procedure.
Can a claim be rejected?
A claim can be queried or reduced if the information provided does not match employer records, or if you do not meet the eligibility rules, such as minimum length of service for statutory redundancy pay.
This article is general information, not legal, financial or insolvency advice, and does not cover every circumstance. If you would like to understand your position or that of employees in a company you direct, Harbourfirst can introduce you to a regulated insolvency specialist — start an enquiry.