Overview
- HMRC used its app and social channels to nudge workers to review their wages after the April 1 increase to the UK minimum and living wage.
- The new legal hourly rates are £12.71 for ages 21 and over, £10.85 for ages 18 to 20, and £8.00 for under‑18s and apprentices.
- The government accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations, and reports estimate about 2.7 million workers benefit, with typical annual gains of about £900 for full‑time adults and £1,500 for full‑time 18–20‑year‑olds.
- Workers can check pay in the HMRC app and with the GOV.UK minimum wage calculator, raise issues with employers, seek help from Acas, and report underpayment to HMRC, which can order arrears, levy fines, and take cases to court.
- Failing to pay the legal minimum or faking records is a criminal offence, and the minimum applies to salaried roles too by working out the equivalent hourly rate.