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October will see a big change to the household budgets of everyone across the country, with gas and electricity prices changing again while a number of HMRC and SWP benefits roll out, There are also key dates for taxes, changes to travel rules and new rules for takeaways.
The Mirror has rounded up the key DWP, HMRC, tax and benefit rules and dates you need to know for October 2023 with details on cost of living payments and the Warm Home Discount.
Ofgem price cap – October 1
The Ofgem price cap will drop from £2,074 to £1,923 from October 1, for the typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit. But energy bills are still far higher than what they used to be, and households won’t be getting the £400 discount this winter.
This puts a limit on how much you can be charged for unit rates and standing charges – but the more you use, the more you pay.
This means your energy bill can be higher or lower than the Ofgem headline figure, depending on how much gas and electricity you use. How you pay for your energy bill – for example, by direct debit or on receipt of bill – also affects your overall bill.
You should read your has and electricity meters before October 1, to make sure you are charged the right amount for the energy you are using.
Cost of stamps – October 2
Royal Mail first-class stamps are set to rise by 14% from 2 October, meaning the cost will be hiked to £1.25, up 15p.
Royal Mail has attributed its recent price increases to the cost of living crisis and the ongoing commitment to the universal service obligation, which currently mandates delivering letters to every UK address six days a week.
To effectively inflation-proof your Royal Mail stamps for the foreseeable future, you should try to buy and stock up on as many stamps at the current price as possible. You will still be able to use these stamps following the price increase on 2 October.
Which Stamps Will Increase in Cost in October?
First Class Stamp, Standard Size Letter: From £1.10 to £1.25 (14% increase/15p hike)
First Class Stamp, Large Letter: From £1.60 to £1.95 (22% increase/35p hike)
Second Class Stamp, Large Letter: From £1.15 to £1.55 (40% increase/35p hike)
Ban on single-use plastic – October 1
A ban on some single-use plastics will come into force in England from October 1. It means businesses including takeaways, restaurants and cafes will no longer be able to use single-use plastic cutlery, plates and bowls.
However, there are some exceptions to the ban depending on whether the item is already packaged or is being supplied to another business. It follows rules already in place in Scotland and Wales, which introduced similar legislation in 2021.
You will no longer get takeaway food and drink in plastic or polystyrene trays and cus – and there is also a ban on plastic knives and forks as well as plastic balloon sticks.
Applications open for Winter Fuel Payment – October 4
State pensioners who need to submit a claim to receive a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £600 can put in their online application from October 4. The postal application opened on September 18.
Most people receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically, but there are some people who need to physically apply for it. The Winter Fuel Payment itself is worth up to £300, depending on your living arrangements and circumstances.
The Government is then topping this up with an extra £300 pensioner cost of living payment – meaning some households will get up to £600 this winter.
New visa fees – October 4
UK visa fees are increasing from October 4. The price of a visiting visa, for a stay lasting up to six months, is rising by £15 to £115.
For longer stays lasting up to two years, the price is increasing by £24 to £400, and for a five-year visa, the price is going up by £101 to £771. The price for a student visa will increase by by £127 to £490. This is a change for anyone not resident to the UK who is coming to stay in the UK for a time.
Self-assessment register deadline – October 5
If you’ve never submitted a self-assessment tax return before, you must register with HMRC by October 5. This is for the 2022/23 tax year. You can check if you need to complete a tax return by using the free online tool on Gov.uk.
Tax returns are normally due if you’re self-employed and your income hasn’t had tax automatically deducted, or if you’ve earned extra cash outside of your normal employment that has not been taxed.
Some common examples where you may need to fill out a self-assessment tax return include if your self-employed income is over £1,000, you had a total taxable income of more than £100,000, or you had to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge. See more examples on the Money Helper website.
Inflation – October 18
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will release the inflation rate for the 12 months to September on October 18 20. This is a particularly crucial figure, as the September rate of inflation is normally used to decide how much benefits will rise by next April.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is a figure used to explain how much the prices of goods and services have increased over time. When inflation is high, it means prices have risen more sharply and you’re getting less for your money than before.
CPI inflation fell to 6.7% in the 12 months to August. At its worst point, inflation hit a 41-year high of 11.1% in October last year.
£300 cost of living payment – October 31
The next cost of living payment, worth £300, will be paid between October 31 and November 19 to those claiming benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). For those claiming HMRC Tax Credits only, they will be paid between November 10 and November 19.
To get the payment, you need to be claiming one of the following benefits during the qualifying period. The benefits are:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Tax Credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
You need to have been entitled to a payment between August 18 and September 17 , or entitled to a payment for an assessment period ending between these dates.
Self-assessment paper deadline – October 31
The deadline for filing your self-assessment tax return by post is October 31. If you miss the deadline, you’ll be charged a late filing penalty of £100 if your tax return is up to three months late.
You can be charged more on top of this if it is later – plus interest – or if you pay your tax bill late. If you don’t send your paper form on time, you can instead fill out your tax return online. The deadline for this is January 31, 2024.
The deadline for paying the tax you owe is also January 31, 2024.
Warm Home Discount – October
The Warm Home Discount scheme, which gives eligible households £150 off their electricity bill, is due to reopen in October – although no set date has been announced. The money is paid directly into your energy account, by your supplier, instead of cash directly into your bank account.
If you’re on a prepay meter, you’ll usually be sent a top-up voucher. You should get the payment automatically if you, or your partner, receive the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit.
This is known as “Core Group 1” in England and Wales and “Core Group” in Scotland. You may also be able to claim the Warm Home Discount if you are on a low income, claiming certain benefits and have high energy costs.
This is known as being in the “Core Group 2” if you live in England and Wales. Your supplier needs to be signed up to the Warm Home Discount scheme for you to be eligible for the money.
