Overview
- The £12.71 hourly rate applies to workers aged 21 and over, with an estimated 2.4 million people set to benefit.
- Rates for 16–17 year olds and apprentices will rise to £8 per hour from £7.55.
- Reports differ on the 18–20 rate, with Wales Online citing £10.85 while the Liverpool Echo and Chronicle Live report £10.50.
- Full-time workers aged over 21 are projected to gain roughly £900 to £975 a year, reflecting different calculation assumptions.
- The changes take effect at the start of the new tax year in April 2026, implementing the Low Pay Commission's recommendations.