Contact Us | 0800 211 8443

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 2 - Financial Advice

photo shows a blue piggy bank wearning glasses - he is providing financial advice to people facing redundancy

Redundancy is undoubtedly a difficult time during which there are many factors which need to be taken in to consideration. Last time we looked at Knowing Your Rights which should have provided you with most of the basic information you need to secure a redundancy package should you need it. In this follow on article we will offer you some hopefully helpful advice when it comes to taking care of the financial aspects of redundancy.

Financial Advice

At no time is it more important to take care of your finances than when your employment status is unsure. There are a number of key areas which we will look at in turn. We will explore what to do if your find redundancy has a massive negative impact on your finances or if you are fortunate enough to receive a large redundancy package.

What to do to stop redundancy leaving you in debt

You wouldn’t be alone to find yourself struggling on the redundancy package you receive. It is not uncommon for your redundancy pay to only cover you for a matter of weeks rather than months. The most important thing is not to panic; there are a number of steps you can take which can protect you from slipping into dept while you find another job:

  • Speak to your mortgage company. You won’t be the first or the last person to find themselves made redundant and mortgage providers can be very understanding if you contact them immediately. They may be able to offer you a ‘payment holiday’ whereby you need not make repayments until you find another job.
  • Check your mortgage paperwork. Did you take out Income Payment Protection Insurance? You may find that you are covered for loss of job. This is normally around 50% to 65% of your income up to a maximum benefit of £1K to £2K a month lasting approximately to 12 months (sometimes 24 months). Cover stops when you return to work. A waiting period of 30 or 60 days is typical. Some policies will backdate benefits to day one. Speak with your mortgage company or broker to check.
  • Call any companies that you have taken out credit with, this includes credit cards, store cards and loans and explain the situation to them. You may be able to work out a suitable repayment plan until you are back in employment.
  • It might also be worth putting on hold any payments you make into savings accounts until your steady income resumes.

Other financial aspects to consider upon redundancy

Upon leaving owing to redundancy here are some additional factors which might want to consider if relevant to you.

  • Exercise share options - Some share option schemes will lapse on the date you leave, but others will offer a limited time to exercise them. This is particularly relevant if you feel their value will increase substantially over the short to medium term. It is important to consider your options carefully and ensure you know what impact your redundancy will have on your share options.
  • Check your pension - Try to make sure any pension you have accrued is included in your redundancy pay, as this could add up to a significant sum.
  • You might also want to consider asking for part of your redundancy pay to be transferred directly into your pension. This will not attract National Insurance contributions, so you might be able to negotiate a higher payment being awarded without it costing your employer anything.
  • Try to retain benefits - Ask your employer whether transitional benefits can be included in your redundancy package. From the day you receive your P45 it is possible you might have six months or even more with no life cover, medical insurance or family income protection. It may be possible, however, to at least retain this cover until the normal renewal date. Ensure you discuss this fully with your employer.

These are meant as a guideline only and if you would like further advice speak to a professional (you can find some useful numbers in the resources boxes at the bottom of this page)

Make payouts tax-efficient

If you are fortunate enough to receive a large redundancy package it is vital to know the implications and how maximize your money. This is of particular importance for higher-rate taxpayers as only the first £30,000 of any payment is tax-free. Anything in excess of this figure is taxed at your highest rate so if you are still on your employer's payroll then full PAYE deductions will be made on payments over £30,000. However, if this money is paid after you have left the company and have received your P45, then only 20 per cent tax will be deducted immediately.

You will be required to account for the additional tax in your annual tax return, but this will not have to be made for another year, thus providing you with a temporary cash flow advantage in the interim.

What to do with your money

If you leave with a considerable amount of money it is important to take care of it wisely. It would be advisable to consult an Accountant for a full analysis of your individual situation (see the resource box below for helpful numbers) but here is a suggestion of what you might like to do in the mean time.

  • You might want to consider placing the redundancy payment into a high interest account while you review the situation including any debts and liabilities you may have. Normally savings after tax will pay you less than you will pay out on interest for your mortgage or credit cards so you should consider them your first port of call. If there is any money remaining you might want to look at Isas and unit trusts. It is advisable to keep some in a good high-rate internet or telephone-based deposit account.
  • We highly recommend that don’t rush into making any decisions. It is important to review your options and seek professional advice where necessary.

For more advice on what to do regarding the financial aspects of redundancy you may find the following numbers helpful:


  Please share this article with your friends on Facebook - thank you.


Additional resources related to this article

The following organisations are based in, or near to Cornwall and may be able to help you with some of the issues discussed in this article - we hope you find them to be useful.


Accountants covering Cornwall

  • Blackwell Goldsworthy & Co
    Victoria House
    9 Edward St
    Truro
    Cornwall
    Tel: 01872 260200
  • Hodgsons, Chartered Accountants
    12 Southgate Street
    Launceston
    Cornwall
    Tel: 01566 772177
  • Kelsall Steele Ltd
    Woodlands Court
    Truro Business Park
    Truro
    Cornwall
    Tel: 01872 271655

Additional resources related to this article


If you contact any of these organisations, please mention that you found their details on AllCornwallJobs.com - thank you.

Could you help our visitors? To have your organisation listed here (for free) - please send us a message

Much of the advice on our website has been kindly provided by local companies and organisations for which we are very grateful - could you offer some advice to our visitors in return for some free coverage on our website? If so please get in touch here as we'd love to hear from you.

Careers Advice

We work with experts in and around our local area to provide useful information relating to careers advice - we hope you will find these articles to be helpful. You can view our news news archive here


photo shows man in a suit jumping in the air celebrating getting his new job

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 5 - Finding a New Job

Once your redundancy is dealt with and any retraining has been undertaken you will probably need to find a new job. This can seem daunting, particularly if you have not had to look for a new

read more
photo shows close of up a man's feet on a tightrope high above office buildings

Redundancy - Advice for Employers and Businesses

When we hear the word 'redundancy' it is natural to think of the impact that it will have on the person being made redundant with out regard for the difficulties inflicted upon the employer

read more
photo shows a blue piggy bank wearning glasses - he is providing financial advice to people facing redundancy

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 2 - Financial Advice

Do you know the tax implications of receiving a redundancy package and how to avoid paying unnecessary tax? If you are going to find yourself struggling financially do you know how to lessen

read more
photo shows positive image of a surfer - surfing life's trials and tribulations such as redundancy

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 1 - Knowing Your Rights

Do you know what redundancy package you are likely to receive? Do you know what the government stipulated minimum package is? As well as detailing the legal and financial aspects we will

read more
photo shows small plant overcoming advertisty and growing through a crack in hard ground

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 3 - Psychological Impact

Do you feel like you’ve lost your identity and can’t stop feeling negative? It is not only the practicalities of redundancy that need to be addressed. Redundancy can also have a massive

read more
photo shows dismayed candidate who hasnt had much luck in her career

Top 10 things not to do in a job interview

We've been asking local employers for tips on what to do in an interview – and, of course, what not to do! Here are our top 10 not to do in that all-important job interview.

read more
photo shows woman leaping whilst holding flowing coloured streamers out behind her - to give the impression of moving forwards through re training after being made redundant

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 4 - Retraining and Development

Have you thought about a new career or improving upon the skills you currently have? In this article we will offers tips and advice on increasing your 'employability' through courses and

read more
photo shows ladder reaching up to the sky - the career ladder

10 Steps to Creating Career Opportunities

It's too easy to start looking in the job section of the paper and applying for everything that has an attractive salary, car or any other perks, before falling into this trap, be really

read more

Cornwall Employment & Business News

When attending interviews it's always good to be up to date with what's happening in the local business and employment sector - we hope you'll find these selected news articles interesting


Cornwall’s jobless claimant count is down by 147 in February

Cornwall's unemployment rate of 3.2% is lower than the UK’s average of 4.7% ..read more

Part time Jobs in Cornwall

It can seem challenging to find a job that fits in with your life commitments. We are aware that 9 to 5 from Monday to Friday does not suit everyone. In fact, statistics show that the number of employees working over 45 hours a ..read more

Nursing jobs in Cornwall

Nursing and care is one of the largest industries in Cornwall with several hospitals and lots care homes and care services in this area. All of these establishments need staffing but how can you go about looking for the perfect ..read more

What not to do in your Cornwall job interview

As well as preparing for what you should do when attending a job interview, whether it's a part time job in Cornwall or that perfect next step on the career ladder, it is just as ..read more

Top 4 questions asked at job interviews for Cornwall job seekers

1. Describe your strengths You can be fairly confident that on most Cornwall job interviews you will be asked what you think your strengths are (and sometimes what you think your weaknesses / ..read more


Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this information is not intended to be exhaustive or be a substitute for legal advice. The application of the law in this area will often depend upon the specific facts and you are advised to seek specific advice on any given scenario.