
The Plan 1 student loan interest rate reduced to 6% (from 6.25%) from 30 August. This rate change applies across the UK with the Department for Education (DfE), the Welsh Government and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland (DfE NI) all confirming the change.
The reduction follows the Bank of England Base Rate changing to 5% earlier in August.
Those running payrolls and payroll bureaus should notice a reduction in student loan deductions for relevant employees in their September payrolls. If not, you may need to confirm that your payroll software has correctly updated.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-to-plan-1-student-loan-interest-rate-announcement

It appears that the government has backtracked on plans to require workers to register with its new digital ID programme to prove their right to work in the UK.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that all key auto-enrolment pension thresholds will remain unchanged for 2026/27.



