[UK] Details of April minimum wage and living wage rises

Across the UK, millions of people are facing soaring bills as the cost of living crisis continues to take hold. And things are only going to get worse. Fuel prices have hit a record high; on Monday a litre of petrol reached an average of £149.22, Wales Online reports.

National Insurance is poised to rise in April, so too are bills for mobile phones and satellite televison and massive gas and electricity price increases are due on April 1. Inflation is also pushing up the price of food while an interest rate rise is impacting mortgages for many people.

The UK Government has announced measures to cope with the expected £693 a year increase on average energy bills. These include council tax rebates for some people and a 'loan' to reduce the impact of this year's bills. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also likely to have a further impact on the costs of fuel and other goods.

How the National Minimum Wage works

The National Minimum Wage is the minimum amount hourly pay workers are legally entitled to be paid, regardless of whether they are temporary or permanent staff. It does not apply to people who are self-employed.

The minimum wage payable is dependent on the person's age and whether they are an apprentice. The government website states that someone must be of school leaving age (16) to receive the minimum wage. A new system introduced in 2021 means those aged 23 and over now receive a National Living Wage.

The guidance says, "It does not matter how small an employer is, they still have to pay the correct minimum wage."

The National Living Wage and when it increases

National Living Wage was introduced in 2016 but until April 2021 it was only available to those aged 25 and over. It is now payable to anyone aged 23 or over. Those between 21 and 22 are paid the minimum wage amount.

The amount workers receive is higher than the National Minimum Wage pay, and it will be rising on April 1, 2022. The increase was announced as part of Rishi Sunak's Autumn 2021 Budget plans.

At that time the chancellor also predicted a rise in inflation rates. However, few were prepared for the news that the rise would be the highest in 30 years; to 5.4 per cent in January.

How much will the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increase by?

From April 1, 2022, the National Living Wage will be increasing by 59 pence from £8.91 to £9.50 per hour. This represents an extra £1,000 annually for full-time workers in the UK. People on the National Minimum Wage will get a pay increase of 82 pence from £8.36 to £9.18 and apprentices will be paid £4.81 per hour, a 51 pence increase.

The new minimum wage is in line with what the Living Wage Foundation believes allows for people receiving it to live comfortably in the UK. Labour Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves expressed disappointment in the amount put forward by Mr Sunak and said the government should have raised the rate to at least £10 an hour.

Across the UK, millions of people are facing soaring bills as the cost of living crisis continues to take hold. And things are only going to get worse. Fuel prices have hit a record high; on Monday a litre of petrol reached an average of £149.22, Wales Online reports.

National Insurance is poised to rise in April, so too are bills for mobile phones and satellite televison and massive gas and electricity price increases are due on April 1. Inflation is also pushing up the price of food while an interest rate rise is impacting mortgages for many people.

The UK Government has announced measures to cope with the expected £693 a year increase on average energy bills. These include council tax rebates for some people and a 'loan' to reduce the impact of this year's bills. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also likely to have a further impact on the costs of fuel and other goods.

How the National Minimum Wage works

The National Minimum Wage is the minimum amount hourly pay workers are legally entitled to be paid, regardless of whether they are temporary or permanent staff. It does not apply to people who are self-employed.

The minimum wage payable is dependent on the person's age and whether they are an apprentice. The government website states that someone must be of school leaving age (16) to receive the minimum wage. A new system introduced in 2021 means those aged 23 and over now receive a National Living Wage.

The guidance says, "It does not matter how small an employer is, they still have to pay the correct minimum wage."

The National Living Wage and when it increases

National Living Wage was introduced in 2016 but until April 2021 it was only available to those aged 25 and over. It is now payable to anyone aged 23 or over. Those between 21 and 22 are paid the minimum wage amount.

The amount workers receive is higher than the National Minimum Wage pay, and it will be rising on April 1, 2022. The increase was announced as part of Rishi Sunak's Autumn 2021 Budget plans.

At that time the chancellor also predicted a rise in inflation rates. However, few were prepared for the news that the rise would be the highest in 30 years; to 5.4 per cent in January.

How much will the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increase by?

From April 1, 2022, the National Living Wage will be increasing by 59 pence from £8.91 to £9.50 per hour. This represents an extra £1,000 annually for full-time workers in the UK. People on the National Minimum Wage will get a pay increase of 82 pence from £8.36 to £9.18 and apprentices will be paid £4.81 per hour, a 51 pence increase.

The new minimum wage is in line with what the Living Wage Foundation believes allows for people receiving it to live comfortably in the UK. Labour Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves expressed disappointment in the amount put forward by Mr Sunak and said the government should have raised the rate to at least £10 an hour.