National Living Wage Set to Rise Again in 2027 — Here's How to Check You're Being Paid Right

The National Living Wage — the legal minimum hourly rate for workers aged 21 and over — is on track to rise again from April 2027, though the exact figure won't be confirmed until autumn 2026. Here's what's forecast, and how to make sure you're being paid what you're legally owed right now.

What's forecast

The Low Pay Commission's central estimate for the National Living Wage from 1 April 2027 is £13.18 an hour, with a projected range of £13.02 to £13.34 — an increase of between 2.4% and 5.0% on the current rate. The formal recommendation and government announcement are expected in autumn 2026, following the usual Low Pay Commission review process, so treat these figures as a planning estimate rather than a confirmed rate.

This builds on the current rate of £12.71 an hour, which took effect in April 2026 as a 4.1% rise.

Don't confuse this with the real Living Wage

The National Living Wage is the legal minimum. The separate, voluntary real Living Wage, calculated by the Living Wage Foundation based on actual cost of living, is higher and only paid by employers who choose to sign up — the two are easy to mix up, so check which one applies to your employer if you're unsure.

Checklist: are you being paid correctly right now?

• Check your age band applies correctly — the National Living Wage only applies to workers aged 21 and over; those aged 18–20 and under-18s are on lower statutory minimum rates.
• Use the government's minimum wage calculator to check your actual hourly rate, factoring in any deductions for uniforms, tools, or accommodation that can legally reduce your effective pay.
• Review your payslip for total hours worked versus total pay — unpaid trial shifts, unpaid travel time between sites, and unrecorded overtime are common sources of underpayment.
• Report suspected underpayment to HMRC's National Minimum Wage team, which can investigate and force employers to repay arrears plus penalties.
• Contact Acas for free, confidential advice if you're unsure whether a deduction or unpaid period is lawful.

Why employers should watch this too

Businesses budgeting for 2027 should build in a working assumption around the £13.02–£13.34 range now, particularly in sectors like hospitality, retail and social care where a large share of the workforce sits close to the wage floor. Waiting for the autumn announcement to start planning payroll costs leaves little runway to adjust pricing or staffing models.

Key Numbers

• £12.71 — current National Living Wage (21+), effective April 2026
• £13.02–£13.34 — Low Pay Commission's forecast range for April 2027
• £13.18 — central estimate within that range

Sources

• Personnel Today: National living wage rises today as April 2027 estimate released
• PocketWise: National Living Wage April 2027 — Rates, Ages and What Changes
• Living Wage Foundation: Living Wage Foundation responds to the Government's increase
• GOV.UK: The National Minimum Wage in 2026

Educational content only — not financial advice.