Millions of Britons are bracing for an onslaught of rising bills today in the most brutal cost-of-living crisis since the 1950s.
April 1 is marked by skyrocketing costs of council tax, water, prescriptions, broadband and mobile bills in a move that economists warn could put families £700 worse off each year.
Those with an annual income of £12,570 will see their taxes and bills increase by at least £348 a year, while those with an income of £50,270 will see £684 increases, according to the Center for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).
Families taking in £125,140 annually are also hit with nearly £1,000 in extra costs each year, the study published by The Guardian found.
In the meantime, average council tax bills will exceed £2,000 for the first time after a £99 increase from today.
Many others will juggle even more rising rates at a rate of at least 14 per cent for mobile and broadband services, with Virgin Media raising some charges by 17.3 per cent and, in extreme cases, 25 per cent.
Water bills are seeing their biggest increase for around 20 years, with the annual cost to an average household of £448. The 7.5 per cent increase means customers will have to pay an average of £31 more.
Revealed: How the bill rises in ‘Awful April’ could affect you
And the price of an NHS prescription rises by 30 pence, from £9.35 to £9.65, while the cost of prepaid prescriptions rises.
These cover multiple NHS regulations for a fixed price.
A three-month PPC rises from £30.25 to £31.25 and a 12-month PPC rises from £108.10 to £111.60.
The cost of wigs and fabric props will also rise, while the recently introduced Hormone Replacement Therapy PPC will cost £19.30.
These rising prices come when the government’s winter discount for bill payers ends.
Ministers have extended the Energy Price Guarantee until June, which will see an average household pay £2,500 for energy each year.
However, energy prices are expected to rise this month before the heat of summer sets in.
According to the consumer group Which?
Which? consumer expert Emily Seymour said: ‘Our research shows that as the cost of living crisis continues, millions of households are missing out on essential payments – such as mortgage, rent and credit card bills – every month.
“As this new wave of price hikes takes effect, it is more critical than ever that the government and essential companies – such as telecoms and energy companies – do everything they can to support consumers and provide clear information about what support is available. ‘
Here MailOnline charts the rising bills from today, scroll down to see how price increases could affect you.
council taxes
+ 5 per cent (£100 more)
Most local authorities are raising council tax by 5 per cent, raising the typical figure for a Band D property by £100, bringing the total bill above £2,000 for the first time.
The largest annual percentage increase will be in London, where bills for an average Band D property will rise by 6.2 per cent. But the average £1,789 bill in the capital remains cheaper than other areas.
Households in metropolitan areas outside the capital will see their bills rise 5.1 per cent to an average of £2,059, while largely rural parts of the country will see a 5 per cent increase to just under £2,140.
Figures from the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities show the average cost for a Band D property will be £2,065 for 2023-24
The Conservative-led County Councils Network, which represents local authorities providing services to nearly half the population in England, said the combination of a 4.8 per cent increase in direct local government funding and flexibility in council taxation in 2023 -24 is not enough to handle rising costs and growing demand.
It added that these pressures mean county councils will have to collectively save £1bn, double that of a ‘normal’ year, and use £350m in reserves to meet their legal requirement to set a balanced budget. set.
Some groups may be able to apply for a discount, including students, those living alone (or only with those under the age of 18), those with a severe intellectual disability (SMI), those on low incomes or low benefits, and those with pension points.
To apply for discounts you have to go to the government website.
water bills
+ 7.5 percent (£31 more)
Water bills will see the biggest increase in about 20 years, with annual costs for an average household set at £448.
The 7.5 per cent increase means customers will pay an average of £31 more.
However, the amounts that households actually pay will vary considerably depending on their water company, their type of home and whether they have a water meter.
Consumer groups say the increases will hit customers hard as rising food and energy prices push up the average annual household bill by a further £500 from April.
Water bills will rise at a faster rate in nearly 20 years, with some companies imposing increases of more than 10 percent
Southern Water, which was fined a record £90 million for dumping wastewater into the seas off the south coast, will increase bills by around 10.8 per cent. On average, the annual bill increases by £43 to £439.
The second highest increase is for Anglian with bills rising by an average of 10.5 per cent – £47 – to £492.
Thames Water, which has sparked controversy for polluting rivers and failing to address leaks, will increase bills by 9.3 per cent. The average will increase by £39 to £456.
The highest bills in England and Wales come from Wessex Water, which covers much of the south coast. Bills rise by 9 per cent – £42 – to £504.
South West Water, which covers Cornwall and Devon, would charge £527 more, but customers benefit from a £50 annual rebate funded by the government.
NHS regulations
+ 30 p.m
The price of an NHS prescription increases by 30 pence, from £9.35 to £9.65.
At the same time, the cost of prescription prepayment certificates – which cover multiple NHS prescriptions for a fixed price – will also rise.
The price of an NHS prescription rises by 30 pence, from £9.35 to £9.65
A three-month PPC rises from £30.25 to £31.25 and a 12-month PPC rises from £108.10 to £111.60.
The cost of wigs and fabric props will also rise, while the recently introduced Hormone Replacement Therapy PPC will cost £19.30.
Broadband
+ about 14 percent
Most broadband and mobile phones will increase rates by 14 percent from April due to cost-of-living tightness.
Still, as of today, some Virgin Media customers are facing punishing increases of 17.3 percent and, in more extreme cases, 25 percent.
While Virgin Media will be taking this approach from 1 April, it will not apply to all suppliers who may make changes after that.
The increases come despite pleas from watchdog Ofcom and consumer groups for companies to give them up due to cost-of-living pressures.
Policy director at Which?, Rocio Concha, told the BBC: “Millions of broadband and mobile customers are caught in a Catch-22 situation where they must either accept exorbitant – and hard to justify – mid-contract price increases, or pay expensive exit fees to end their contract early and find a better deal .’
Ofcom has responded by launching an investigation into major price increases in the middle of the contracts.
Postage stamps
+ up to 16 percent (15p more for first class)
Stamp prices rise by up to 16 percent
Stamp prices will rise by up to 16 per cent as Royal Mail has announced it is raising the price of a first class stamp from 95 pence to £1.10 from 3 April.
Meanwhile, second class stamps are increasing by 7 pence, from 68 pence to 75 pence.
The cost of posting large letters is also increasing, with the first class option going from £1.45 to £1.60, and the second class costing an extra 10, an increase of £1.05.
Royal Mail said the increase was due to a “25 per cent drop in letters since the pandemic, rising costs and the highest inflation rates for a generation”.
Car tax
+ 10.1 percent
To top it off, the car tax – also known as the motor vehicle tax – will rise 10.1 percent from today, in line with inflation.
The amount to be paid depends on when the vehicle was registered and on the emissions.
The price increase was announced earlier this month by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Budget.
Minimum wage
Despite cost increases, the minimum wage will be raised this month to support the lowest paid workers.
Annual rates for 21 to 22 year olds will be increased by 10.9 per cent, equivalent to a £1 increase, while those aged 23 and over will see a 9.7 per cent increase.
The amount to be received varies according to age and position as shown below:
National living wage (23 years and older): £10.42 (up 9.7 per cent)
Rate 21-22 years old: £10.18 (up 10.9 per cent)
Rate 18-20 years old: £7.49 (up 9.7 per cent)
Rate 16-17 years old: £5.28 (up 9.7 per cent)
Student rate: £5.28 (up 9.7 per cent)