A number of key rules are changing in April and while some benefits and minimum wages will increase, there are also planned increases in everything from gas and electricity bills to water, council tax and broadband.
Income tax is changing, as are maternity leave rules and there will be a payment for people who need help with the cost of living.
Here is a roundup of the key rule changes and date you need to know about in April 2023.
April 1 - Help to Buy scheme ends
Some elements of the government loan scheme which aims to help first-time house buyers will come to an end in England, though elements of it still continue in Wales. It was introduced as a way to tackle house prices and interest rates which deterred many first-time buyers by providing some extra financial help. In Wales, you can get a loan to help with the cost of a new-build home if you're a first-time buyer and this scheme has been extended to 2025.
April 1 - increase in energy bills
The energy bill support scheme will come to an end meaning the payment of almost £70 a month that has been taken off your bills will disappear. The actual price of electricity and gas will not go up as the price guarantee stays in place, but your £70 a month discount will end.
April 1 - council tax goes up
A large proportion of councils across the UK are increasing council tax by at least 5% - some by much more. An average Band D property will now cost you £100 more.
April 1 - increases in living wage and minimum wage
The National Living Wage and National Minimum wage will rise for workers across the country. Depending on your age and work status, you will receive one of the following increases:
- National Living Wage - Increased to £10.42 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
- 21-22-year-old rate - Increased to £10.18 (annual increase of 10.9 per cent)
- 18-20-year-old rate - Increased to £7.49 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
- 16-17-year-old rate - Increased to £5.28 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
- Apprentice Rate - Increased to £5.28 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
- Accommodation Offset - Increased to £9.10 (annual increase of 4.6 per cent)
April 1 - water bills rise
Households will see the largest increase to their water bills in almost 20 years from April. Industry body Water UK said the 7.5% increase would mean bills rise to an average £448 a year.
The rise means customers will pay around £1.23 per day on average – an increase of 8p per day or an average £31 more on last year's charges.
April 1 - Broadband and mobile phone bills go up
Millions of broadband and mobile phone customers can expect to face monthly bill increases of at least 14% from April.
Providers link their annual price rises to January’s consumer price index (CPI) or the retail price index (RPI) which was 10.5% and 13.4%.
BT, EE, Plusnet and Vodafone broadband contracts allow prices to go up by CPI plus 3.9%. At TalkTalk, it is CPI plus 3.7%, while Shell Energy can add CPI plus 3%. Sky and Virgin Media contracts allow mid-contract price increases but they do not stipulate a pricing formula in the same way as rivals.
April 2 - Maternity Pay, paternity pay, statutory pay changes
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that it will increase pay rates for several statutory entitlements. Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and parental bereavement pay will increase from £156.66 per week to £172.48 per week.
Meanwhile, statutory sick pay will increase from £99.35 per week to £109.40 per week.
April 4 - Gender Pay Gap report
Organisations with a headcount of 250 or more are required to publish their gender pay gap information, together with a written statement, on an official reporting website by April 4. Businesses are encouraged to provide a supporting narrative explaining the causes of any pay differences and an action plan on how they intend to address those issues, reports CIPD.
April 6 - Income Tax changes
The 45% additional rate of income tax threshold is being cut from £150,000 to £125,140, which means more higher earners will pay higher tax.
The personal allowance will remain frozen at £12,570, as will the 20% tax threshold from £12,571 to £50,270. The inheritance tax nil rate band remains at £325,000, and the residential nil rate band £175,000.
Everything else from National Insurance to ISA rates also stays the same.
April 6 - Employment Tribunal changes
The limit on compensatory awards for unfair dismissal rises from £93,878 to £105,707.
April 10 - Benefits including Universal Credit, PIP and pension to increase
Inflation-linked benefits and tax credits will rise by 10.1% from April 2023, in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation in September 2022. Jeremy Hunt said the 'expensive commitment' worth £11 billion means 10 million working-age families will see a much-needed increase next year and, on average, a family on universal credit will benefit next year by around £600.
The benefit cap will rise from £23,000 to £25,323 for families in Greater London and from £20,000 to £22,020 for families nationally. Lower caps for single households without children will rise from £15,410 to £16,967 in Greater London and from £13,400 to £14,753 nationally.
Benefits which will rise by 10.1% include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, Disability Allowance and Personal Independence Payment.
April 25 - Cost of living payment
The first of three cost-of-living payments will arrive in accounts between April 25 and May 17. The £301 payment is to help people on benefits including Universal Credit and Jobseekers Allowance with the cost of living.
If you are eligible the money will automatically appear in your account with the reference DWP COLP
