Overview
- Regulated rail fares in England are now frozen from 1 March through March 2027, and eligibility for the Disabled Persons Railcard widened the same day to include groups such as Blue Badge and Disabled Persons Bus Pass holders.
- The Spring Statement is set for 3 March and is expected to be a lower‑key update without major tax or policy changes.
- The Bank of England will announce its next interest‑rate decision on 19 March, with Governor Andrew Bailey calling the case for a cut a “genuinely open question.”
- From 19 March the £100 statutory contactless cap is removed, allowing banks to set their own single‑transaction limits and offer customer‑set caps.
- End‑month deadlines include the 31 March stop to legacy benefits as claimants move to Universal Credit, the Winter Fuel Payment claim cut‑off, and the closure of schemes such as the Household Support Fund, Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments.