Can I get redundancy if I'm laid off in Ireland?
Yes, but only after a long enough lay-off and with 2 years' service — and the employer can block it. You can claim redundancy after a lay-off or short-time of at least 4 consecutive weeks, or 6 weeks within the last 13, if you have 2 years' (104 weeks) continuous service. "Short-time" means weekly pay or hours below half the normal. Statutory redundancy is 2 weeks' gross pay per year of service plus 1 week, tax-free, with weekly pay capped at €600. Crucially, the employer can serve a counter-notice within 7 days stating that at least 13 weeks' work will start within 4 weeks — and that defeats the claim. You also lose your notice entitlement, as it's treated like voluntary leaving. You give written notice via form RP9. In short: yes, with the timing and service — unless the employer promises work.
📋 The rules
- Lay-off/short-time of 4 weeks, or 6 in 13
- Need 2 years' (104 weeks) service
- Pay is 2 weeks per year + 1, capped at €600/week
- Give written notice via form RP9
- Employer can serve a 7-day counter-notice
🔓 Exceptions
- Counter-notice promising 13 weeks' work defeats the claim
- Lay-off weeks don't count as reckonable service
- Claiming off lay-off forfeits your notice entitlement
⚠️ Penalties & fines
You give written notice via Part B of form RP9; if the lay-off or short-time has ended, you must claim within 4 weeks of it ending. The employer pays the lump sum directly and must give a written calculation statement; if they refuse, use form RP77 and bring a complaint to the WRC within 1 year, and if the employer is insolvent the State pays from the Social Insurance Fund. The big catch is the employer's 7-day counter-notice: if they promise at least 13 weeks' work starting within 4 weeks, the claim fails (no response in 7 days is deemed acceptance). Beware a myth: "being laid off automatically makes me redundant with a payout" is false — a lay-off doesn't end your contract; you must actively serve notice, and the employer can still defeat the claim. To claim: serve RP9 at the right time.
📎 Official sources
- Citizens Information — lay-off, short-time and redundancy →
- Citizens Information — redundancy payments →
- Workplace Relations Commission →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I claim redundancy if I've been laid off?
Possibly. If you've been laid off or put on short-time for at least four consecutive weeks, or six weeks within the last 13, and you have two years' continuous service, you can serve notice claiming redundancy. However, your employer can defeat the claim by promising at least 13 weeks of work starting within four weeks.
What counts as short-time?
Short-time means your employer has reduced your work so that your weekly pay is less than half your normal weekly pay, or your weekly hours are less than half your normal hours, because there's not enough work. Like a lay-off, a long enough period of short-time can entitle you to claim redundancy if you qualify.
How much redundancy would I get?
Statutory redundancy is two weeks' gross pay for each year of service plus one additional week, and it's tax-free. Your gross weekly pay is capped at €600 for the calculation. Note that weeks spent on lay-off don't count as reckonable service, so a long lay-off can reduce the size of your lump sum.
Can my employer stop the claim?
Yes. Within seven days of your redundancy claim, your employer can serve a counter-notice stating that they'll be able to offer you at least 13 weeks of work, starting within four weeks, without lay-off or short-time. If they do this and the work materialises, it defeats your redundancy claim.
What if my employer won't pay?
First serve notice using form RP9 and, if needed, form RP77 to formally request payment. If the employer still won't pay, you can bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission within a year. If the employer is insolvent and can't pay, the redundancy is paid from the State's Social Insurance Fund.
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