Have you received the dreaded brown envelope informing you that you’ve been made redundant? Whether you are now ‘surplus to the current business plan’ or ‘an inevitable part of the economic downturn’, that little brown envelope has brought unwelcome news.

You may be feeling down, but don’t get too discouraged-there’s light at the end of the tunnel! Go through the Information sheet  Redundancy-making the best of it , use the websites and links.

There's useful advice about what you're entitled to and doing a skills health check together with links to free courses on the Open University's Outsmart the recession . There is also lots of advice about CV writing available from the Open University's Career's Advisory Service and the National Careers Service.

Read about how Roger is dealing with the process in "My firm is laying staff off and I am thinking of a career change, but am I too old at 45?"

Get your facts and figures right

If you’ve worked for an employer for at least 2 years you have the right to receive redundancy pay. Up to £30,000 will be tax free. Exactly how much redundancy pay you are due can be calculated on the ‘ready reckoner’ websites below.
• What benefits are you entitled to?

• Check your pension, and if necessary make arrangements.

• What regular financial commitments do you have? Could any be reduced or terms changed? For example: mortgages, direct debits, credit cards, loans, hire purchase, life and/or health insurance, subscriptions and memberships.

• Do you qualify for benefits? This might either be ‘The Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance’ for those who have been credited with Class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions, or the ‘Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. The current rate for someone aged 16-24: £47.95, aged 25 and over: £60.50 For couples or those with children see the Job Centre Plus information. You may also qualify for Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) or Child Tax Credit 

You can claim online, or ring 0800 055 6688 (8.00am-6.00pm Monday-Friday)