The Budget announcements include various key dates for upcoming changes. Alcohol prices will increase by 3.66% in February 2026, affecting products like Prosecco, red wine, and gin. Rail fares in England will remain frozen until 2027, while the two-child benefit cap under Universal Credit will be lifted in April 2026.
State pension will rise by 4.8% in April 2026, and DWP benefits will also increase in line with inflation. Car tax rates will go up in April 2026, and energy bills are set to decrease by £150 from the same month. Additionally, the minimum wage will rise to £12.71 an hour in April 2026.
Other changes include the freezing of NHS prescription costs, the end of the 5p fuel duty cut in September 2026, and a reduction in the cash ISA limit to £12,000 for under-65s. Taxes on savings interest and property interest will increase from April 2027, along with new charges for expensive homes and electric vehicle drivers.
The Help to Save scheme for Universal Credit recipients will become permanent from 2028, and the tax thresholds freeze will end in April 2031. This extended freeze may lead to more individuals moving into higher tax brackets as their income rises, resulting in increased tax revenue for the government.