Despite minimum wage going up at the start of the month, Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert (MSE) has revealed that workers still might be missing out on unpaid earnings.
The money advice website has warned workers to carefully check their payslips as approximately 445,000 minimum wage grafters were underpaid in April 2025, according to the Low Pay Commission
As of 1 April 2026, the minimum wage for people aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour, £10.85 an hour for 18-20 year olds, £8.00 for 16-17 year olds and £8.00 for apprentices.
Around two million are paid minimum wage in the UK, and MSE says even small mistakes can leave workers earning less than they should.
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MSE also reckons that most earnings errors are done by mistake and here are things people need to look out for:
Extra costs
If a job involves extra costs like paying for a uniform or using certain tools, employers need to make sure it doesn't mean wages drop below the legal minimum.
Basically, the costs should not be deducted from salaries without compensation.
Overtime shifts
It might sound like an obvious one, but people working overtime need to make sure they're getting paid for it.
This includes training, travelling and time spent preparing for the job.
Minimum wage increase
So, minimum wage is supposed to go up at the start of every April and employers are required to pay the new limit.
Pay also goes up when workers reach certain age milestones, like from 18 to 21.
Accomodation
Employers can currently deduct £77.70 a week from payslips if they provide accommodation, but anything more than that they need to pay compensation.
Tips and commission workers
Tips must be paid on top of minimum wage, not as a replacement.
Employers will sometimes try and use tips to make up for the rest of the weekly or monthly salary.
The same goes for commision-based jobs and the importance of being paid minimum wage first, no matter what.
Apprenticeships
The minimum wage for apprentices is £8.00 an hour, and companies will sometimes think this is flexible for inexperienced workers.
If the role itself doesn't involve proper training, however, workers should still receive the full minimum wage.
What underpaid workers need to do
Workers who think they have been underpaid should check their wages using the government’s minimum wage calculator or seek advice from ACAS.
If there's a chance of underpayment, employees can speak to their boss or ask HMRC to investigate anonymously.
HMRC can recover unpaid wages, issue fines, or take legal action against employers.
"The Living Wage Foundation each year announces its REAL living wage, which is a voluntary employers' wage scheme, based on an assessment of the actual cost of living. From May 2026, it's set at £13.45/hour for the UK (except London), and £14.80/hour in London," Lewis said.
"Over 16,000 UK employers have pledged to pay the real living wage. You can check whether yours is one of them on the Living Wage Foundation website.
"So when we refer to the living wage on the site, we mean the real living wage, not the attempt at spinning the national minimum wage.
"If you're a member of a trade union, you can also get in touch with it for support. You may be able to bring a trade union representative with you to meetings with your boss, if you'd like the extra support."
Topics: Martin Lewis, Money
Anish Vij