https://workterms.co.uk/news What changes for your payslip, pension and rights at work — pay awards, tax, benefits and the bills a wage has to meet — for everyone who works in the UK. en-GB Work Terms Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:46:39 GMT https://workterms.co.uk/news-logo-square.png https://workterms.co.uk/news https://workterms.co.uk/news/public-sector-pay-rose-6-3-the-nhs-award-was-3-3 https://workterms.co.uk/news/public-sector-pay-rose-6-3-the-nhs-award-was-3-3 The ONS put public sector regular pay growth at 6.3% in the year to July 2026, against 2.9% in the private sector — the gap is mostly timing. Pay and wages Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:46:39 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/housing-benefit-now-ignores-up-to-119-70-a-week-of-your-wages https://workterms.co.uk/news/housing-benefit-now-ignores-up-to-119-70-a-week-of-your-wages From 5 October 2026, Housing Benefit in supported and temporary accommodation ignores up to £119.70 a week of a resident's earnings. Benefits and statutory pay Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:49:21 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/glasgow-offers-pay-protection-to-2030-unison-says-4-600-have-no-grade https://workterms.co.uk/news/glasgow-offers-pay-protection-to-2030-unison-says-4-600-have-no-grade Glasgow City Council's final offer includes pay protection to March 2030 and drops fire and rehire, but Unison says 4,600 staff have no grade yet. NJC local government Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:07:43 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/vape-liquid-now-carries-2-20-duty-per-10ml-old-stock-until-march https://workterms.co.uk/news/vape-liquid-now-carries-2-20-duty-per-10ml-old-stock-until-march Vaping Products Duty started on 1 October 2026 at £2.20 per 10ml, and shops can sell stock they already held until 31 March 2027. Tax and National Insurance Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:35:23 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/triple-lock-keeps-its-2-5-floor-the-ratchet-goes-in-april-2030 https://workterms.co.uk/news/triple-lock-keeps-its-2-5-floor-the-ratchet-goes-in-april-2030 From April 2030 the state pension rises by prices or 2.5%, with earnings kept only as a catch-up, ending the yearly pick of the highest of three. Pensions Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:45:40 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/electricity-vat-hits-0-tomorrow-5-stays-in-northern-ireland https://workterms.co.uk/news/electricity-vat-hits-0-tomorrow-5-stays-in-northern-ireland VAT on electricity used at home is 0% in Great Britain from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, while Northern Ireland keeps the 5% reduced rate. Household money Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:46:30 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/dwp-can-ask-a-court-for-your-driving-licence-from-1-october https://workterms.co.uk/news/dwp-can-ask-a-court-for-your-driving-licence-from-1-october From 1 October 2026 DWP begins asking courts to disqualify people who owe £1,000 or more and refuse to repay, with immediate bans capped at two years. Benefits and statutory pay Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:46:53 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-two-child-limit-ended-in-april-58-000-families-hit-the-cap-instead https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-two-child-limit-ended-in-april-58-000-families-hit-the-cap-instead DWP figures published on 22 September show 58,000 households newly hit by the benefit cap between March and May, the most in any quarter since the pandemic. Benefits and statutory pay Sat, 26 Sep 2026 02:28:52 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/glasgow-pauses-fire-and-rehire-the-new-contracts-still-start-1-january https://workterms.co.uk/news/glasgow-pauses-fire-and-rehire-the-new-contracts-still-start-1-january Glasgow City Council paused its dismissal plan on 25 September, but the new pay and grading structure is still dated 1 January 2027. NJC local government Sat, 26 Sep 2026 02:29:33 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-cash-isa-limit-falls-to-12-000-on-6-april-2027-unless-you-are-65 https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-cash-isa-limit-falls-to-12-000-on-6-april-2027-unless-you-are-65 From 6 April 2027 the cash ISA limit falls to £12,000 for under-65s, and cash left in a stocks and shares ISA faces a 22% charge on interest. Household money Fri, 25 Sep 2026 03:51:04 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/gp-nurses-3-5-rise-comes-with-no-duty-on-the-practice-to-pay-it https://workterms.co.uk/news/gp-nurses-3-5-rise-comes-with-no-duty-on-the-practice-to-pay-it The general practice minister says GP contracts place no obligation on practices over nurse pay — and 34% of practice nurses got no rise for 2025/26. NHS Agenda for Change Fri, 25 Sep 2026 13:49:33 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-savings-tax-letter-lands-by-december-do-not-pay-it-twice https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-savings-tax-letter-lands-by-december-do-not-pay-it-twice HMRC's savings interest Simple Assessment letters go out from October to December 2026, and each one restates the whole year's tax, not just the new amount. Tax and National Insurance Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:47:43 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/nhs-employers-prints-one-2026-27-hourly-rate-as-55-65 https://workterms.co.uk/news/nhs-employers-prints-one-2026-27-hourly-rate-as-55-65 NHS Employers' 2026/27 pay scales page prints the band 8d top hourly rate as £55,65 — the only hourly figure on it written with a comma, not a decimal point. NHS Agenda for Change Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:47:57 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/divorce-ends-a-marriage-it-does-not-end-the-claim-on-your-pension https://workterms.co.uk/news/divorce-ends-a-marriage-it-does-not-end-the-claim-on-your-pension The ONS counted 105,961 divorces and dissolutions in 2025, with marriages lasting a record median 13.0 years — and pensions still mostly untouched. Pensions Thu, 24 Sep 2026 02:27:26 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/827-000-child-trust-funds-are-unclaimed-the-average-is-2-310 https://workterms.co.uk/news/827-000-child-trust-funds-are-unclaimed-the-average-is-2-310 HM Revenue and Customs says 827,000 matured Child Trust Fund accounts are unclaimed, holding an average of £2,310, and there is no deadline to claim one. Household money Thu, 24 Sep 2026 02:27:49 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/two-weeks-off-for-pregnancy-loss-from-april-2027-and-it-is-unpaid https://workterms.co.uk/news/two-weeks-off-for-pregnancy-loss-from-april-2027-and-it-is-unpaid The government confirmed on 22 September that pregnancy loss before 24 weeks will bring two weeks of leave from April 2027, with no statutory pay attached. Jobs and rights at work Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:19:49 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-health-pay-is-a-year-behind-band-5-is-512-short https://workterms.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-health-pay-is-a-year-behind-band-5-is-512-short The Northern Ireland Fiscal Council published its public sector pay paper on 22 September, and health staff there are still paid 2025/26 rates. NHS Agenda for Change Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:53:22 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/making-tax-digital-hits-30-000-in-april-it-counts-turnover-not-profit https://workterms.co.uk/news/making-tax-digital-hits-30-000-in-april-it-counts-turnover-not-profit From 6 April 2027 Making Tax Digital for Income Tax covers self-employment and property income over £30,000 measured before expenses come off. Tax and National Insurance Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:54:39 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/hmrc-has-paid-300m-in-help-to-save-bonuses-the-bar-is-1 https://workterms.co.uk/news/hmrc-has-paid-300m-in-help-to-save-bonuses-the-bar-is-1 HMRC said on 21 September that Help to Save has paid out more than £300 million; the earnings test to get in is £1 of take-home pay. Benefits and statutory pay Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:55:34 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/sick-pay-now-starts-on-day-one-below-154-a-week-you-get-80-of-pay https://workterms.co.uk/news/sick-pay-now-starts-on-day-one-below-154-a-week-you-get-80-of-pay Statutory sick pay has run from the first day of illness since 6 April 2026, and the £125 earnings floor is gone. Benefits and statutory pay Tue, 22 Sep 2026 03:14:08 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-pension-tax-letter-arrives-6-october-sign-up-with-hmrc-by-the-5th https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-pension-tax-letter-arrives-6-october-sign-up-with-hmrc-by-the-5th Pension savings statements are due by 6 October 2026, but anyone who must tell HMRC about the tax charge has to register a day earlier. Pensions Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:22:26 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-dwp-letters-went-out-in-june-bank-deductions-start-in-october https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-dwp-letters-went-out-in-june-bank-deductions-start-in-october From October the Department for Work and Pensions can order your bank to hand over benefit debt without a court order, and a driving ban can follow. Benefits and statutory pay Mon, 21 Sep 2026 03:53:17 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-pension-unlocks-at-57-from-april-2028-some-people-keep-55 https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-pension-unlocks-at-57-from-april-2028-some-people-keep-55 The minimum age for taking a private or workplace pension rises from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028, and whether you keep 55 turns on two dates in 2021. Pensions Sun, 20 Sep 2026 05:29:54 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/one-department-moved-42-contractors-inside-ir35-in-a-single-year https://workterms.co.uk/news/one-department-moved-42-contractors-inside-ir35-in-a-single-year The Foreign Office reassessed 50 contractor engagements in 2025-26 and changed 42, and anyone told they are inside the rules has 45 days to challenge it. Tax and National Insurance Sun, 20 Sep 2026 05:31:29 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-lifetime-isa-charge-is-25-it-costs-you-6-25-of-your-own-money https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-lifetime-isa-charge-is-25-it-costs-you-6-25-of-your-own-money HMRC figures published on 16 September 2026 show 154,100 savers paid about £119m in Lifetime ISA exit charges in the year to March 2026. Household money Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:46:10 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/hmrc-will-refund-3-2-million-pensioners-the-average-is-6 https://workterms.co.uk/news/hmrc-will-refund-3-2-million-pensioners-the-average-is-6 HMRC has admitted taxing the State Pension on 52 weeks instead of 51, and will repay 3.2 million people an average of £6 each. Tax and National Insurance Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:39:01 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/bank-holds-at-3-75-it-expects-the-energy-cap-to-rise-again-in-2027 https://workterms.co.uk/news/bank-holds-at-3-75-it-expects-the-energy-cap-to-rise-again-in-2027 The Bank held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 17 September 2026, and its minutes expect Ofgem's price cap to rise substantially further in early 2027. Household money Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:39:33 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-school-s-pension-bill-fell-4-9-points-your-pension-did-not https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-school-s-pension-bill-fell-4-9-points-your-pension-did-not A 4.9-point average cut in employer pension contributions for school support staff will fund the teachers' 3.5% rise, but their benefits are unchanged. Pensions Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:53:38 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/brewdog-staff-get-nothing-the-state-pays-8-weeks-capped-at-751 https://workterms.co.uk/news/brewdog-staff-get-nothing-the-state-pays-8-weeks-capped-at-751 Administrators say there is no money for £489,000 of unpaid BrewDog wages, so staff must claim from the state instead — capped at £751 a week. Jobs and rights at work Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:53:58 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-payslip-shows-tax-deducted-hmrc-may-never-have-got-it https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-payslip-shows-tax-deducted-hmrc-may-never-have-got-it HMRC warned on 15 September that payroll firms are taking tax and National Insurance off payslips and never passing the money on. Tax and National Insurance Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:02:10 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/rents-rose-3-8-in-a-year-the-april-pay-award-was-3-3 https://workterms.co.uk/news/rents-rose-3-8-in-a-year-the-april-pay-award-was-3-3 UK private rents rose 3.8% in the year to August 2026, outpacing inflation at 3.1% and the 3.3% council pay award. Household money Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:13:07 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/council-tax-in-wandsworth-would-rise-958-above-5-needs-a-vote https://workterms.co.uk/news/council-tax-in-wandsworth-would-rise-958-above-5-needs-a-vote Wandsworth says a band D bill must rise £958. Ministers already removed its council tax referendum limit for 2027-28, so no vote is required. Household money Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:08:28 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/amazon-s-floor-hits-15-10-on-27-september-nhs-band-2-is-12-92 https://workterms.co.uk/news/amazon-s-floor-hits-15-10-on-27-september-nhs-band-2-is-12-92 Amazon's UK minimum rises to £15.10 an hour on 27 September, £2.18 above the bottom of the NHS pay scale — but on a 40-hour week, not 37.5. Pay and wages Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:03:04 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-gas-bill-rises-8-on-1-october-your-electricity-bill-does-not https://workterms.co.uk/news/your-gas-bill-rises-8-on-1-october-your-electricity-bill-does-not The energy price cap rises 4% on 1 October 2026, but gas bills go up 8% while electricity stays flat because VAT on it drops to zero. Household money Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:39:00 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/inflation-is-3-1-the-figure-that-sets-your-benefits-comes-on-21-octobe https://workterms.co.uk/news/inflation-is-3-1-the-figure-that-sets-your-benefits-comes-on-21-octobe Inflation rose to 3.1% in August 2026, but April 2027 benefit rates are set by the September figure, published on 21 October 2026. Benefits and statutory pay Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:39:18 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/holiday-pay-records-the-six-year-duty-and-a-deadline-on-22-september https://workterms.co.uk/news/holiday-pay-records-the-six-year-duty-and-a-deadline-on-22-september Employers must keep holiday pay records for six years from 6 April 2026, and the consultation on who enforces them closes on 22 September 2026. Jobs and rights at work Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:51:01 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/13-million-small-pension-pots-to-be-merged-but-not-until-2030 https://workterms.co.uk/news/13-million-small-pension-pots-to-be-merged-but-not-until-2030 The DWP opened a consultation on 15 September on merging 13 million pension pots worth £1,000 or less, with the system due to start in April 2030. Pensions Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:54:00 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-state-pension-gaps-you-can-still-fill-and-the-ones-now-closed https://workterms.co.uk/news/the-state-pension-gaps-you-can-still-fill-and-the-ones-now-closed HMRC says almost 7 million adults have never checked their forecast, and voluntary contributions now reach back only six years, not to 2006. Pensions Tue, 15 Sep 2026 03:31:11 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/state-pension-crosses-the-tax-threshold-and-hmrc-sends-a-bill https://workterms.co.uk/news/state-pension-crosses-the-tax-threshold-and-hmrc-sends-a-bill Wage growth of 3.9% points to a State Pension £467 over the frozen personal allowance from April 2027, taxed by letter, not at source. Tax and National Insurance Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:57:17 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/hmrc-is-posting-a-million-pension-top-up-letters-that-look-like-scams https://workterms.co.uk/news/hmrc-is-posting-a-million-pension-top-up-letters-that-look-like-scams From August 2026 HMRC is writing to around a million low earners about missed pension tax relief, and higher-rate savers get no letter at all. Pensions Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:00:20 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/1-069-bereaved-families-have-waited-over-100-days-for-a-pension https://workterms.co.uk/news/1-069-bereaved-families-have-waited-over-100-days-for-a-pension A Cabinet Office update on 7 September counts 1,677 Civil Service pension cases open over 100 days, 1,069 of them bereavements. Pensions Tue, 15 Sep 2026 03:36:31 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/tribunal-claims-get-six-months-from-1-october-but-not-for-september https://workterms.co.uk/news/tribunal-claims-get-six-months-from-1-october-but-not-for-september The Employment Rights Act doubles most tribunal time limits to six months on 1 October 2026 — but only for acts that happen on or after that date. Jobs and rights at work Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:04:53 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/nhs-employers-2026-27-pay-page-prints-a-band-8d-hourly-rate-as-55-65 https://workterms.co.uk/news/nhs-employers-2026-27-pay-page-prints-a-band-8d-hourly-rate-as-55-65 NHS Employers' 2026/27 table prints the band 8d top-step hourly rate with a comma where the decimal point belongs, so that one cell corroborates nothing. NHS Agenda for Change Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:40:30 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/nhs-band-reform-was-promised-backdated-to-april-five-months-on-nothing https://workterms.co.uk/news/nhs-band-reform-was-promised-backdated-to-april-five-months-on-nothing NHS pay band reform was promised backdated to 1 April 2026, and five months on nothing is agreed — 14 unions want the talks restarted. NHS Agenda for Change Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:52:51 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/winter-fuel-opt-out-by-20-september-or-let-hmrc-take-it-back https://workterms.co.uk/news/winter-fuel-opt-out-by-20-september-or-let-hmrc-take-it-back Pensioners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have until 11.59pm on 20 September to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment; Scotland has until 19 October. Benefits and statutory pay Sun, 13 Sep 2026 09:47:58 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/tell-hmrc-by-5-october-if-you-had-untaxed-income-last-year https://workterms.co.uk/news/tell-hmrc-by-5-october-if-you-had-untaxed-income-last-year First-time filers must tell HMRC by 5 October 2026 that they need a tax return for 2025 to 2026, or face a penalty set as a share of the tax owed. Tax and National Insurance Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:44:23 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/pip-assessments-in-person-to-rise-from-6-to-30-says-dwp https://workterms.co.uk/news/pip-assessments-in-person-to-rise-from-6-to-30-says-dwp The DWP is raising PIP assessments held in person from 6% to 30%, and most new awards for claimants aged 25 and over run three years before review. Benefits and statutory pay Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:53:01 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/gmb-opens-an-equal-pay-ballot-at-leeds-council-on-18-september https://workterms.co.uk/news/gmb-opens-an-equal-pay-ballot-at-leeds-council-on-18-september More than 4,000 women have joined an equal pay claim at Leeds City Council, and GMB's indicative industrial action ballot opens on 18 September 2026. NJC local government Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:56:35 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/claimed-child-benefit-before-2000-your-pension-record-may-have-gaps https://workterms.co.uk/news/claimed-child-benefit-before-2000-your-pension-record-may-have-gaps Parents who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 without giving a National Insurance number may have missing state pension years, and claiming is free. Pensions Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:57:49 GMT Rakesh Choudhary https://workterms.co.uk/news/bank-rate-vote-on-17-september-three-of-nine-already-want-4 https://workterms.co.uk/news/bank-rate-vote-on-17-september-three-of-nine-already-want-4 The Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 3.75% but three of its nine members voted for 4% in July, and the next decision comes on 17 September. Household money Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:59:36 GMT Rakesh Choudhary