Energy bills are changing in the tenth month of the year, with UK households urged to act.
Nine money and DWP changes coming in October from state pension to current accounts
Nine big money and Department for Work and Pensions changes coming in October 2025 have been revealed. Energy bills are changing in the tenth month of the year, with UK households urged to act.
The shake-up impacts British Gas, EDF Energy, E ON Next, Ovo and Octopus customers. There are also changes to DWP benefits, with more schemes and payments set to be rolled out as the government tries to keep people warm through autumn and winter.
With the Budget now a month away, households are told to ensure they are in the know as a whole host of financial changes and new rules are introduced. The changes affect current accounts, high street banks and the state pension.
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Birmingham Live has rounded up all the details you need to know below. Make sure you make a note of the key dates which impact you.
October 1 – Meter reading week
Those who don’t take their electricity and gas bill readings as close to October 1 as possible, and are on a standard variable tariff as opposed to a fixed deal, could be faced with higher bills.
It comes as the UK faces a new Ofgem energy price cap on October 1. Ofgem director general of markets Tim Jarvis said: “While there is still more to do, we are seeing signs of a healthier market.
“There are more people on fixed tariffs saving themselves money, switching is rising as options for consumers increase, and we’ve seen increases in customer satisfaction, alongside a reduction in complaints.
“While today’s change is below inflation, we know customers might not be feeling it in their pockets. There are things you can do though – consider a fixed tariff as this could save more than £200 against the new cap.
“Paying by direct debit or smart pay-as-you-go could also save you money. In the longer term, we will continue to see fluctuations in our energy prices until we are insulated from volatile international gas markets.”
October 1 – New Ofgem energy price cap
Households are to see their energy bills hiked by 2% to £1,755 this autumn. The new price cap, confirmed by regulator Ofgem today, comes in from October 1.
It will see bills rise by £35.14 per year for households using a typical amount of energy – up from the current rate of £1,720, which came into effect in July.
This is a hike of £2.93 a month, leaving a home on a default tariff paying £102 for what currently costs £100 per month.
The figure is higher than the 1% rise predicted by industry experts last week.
October 1 – Halifax accounts
Halifax is making a huge change to a popular bank account used by thousands of customers. The bank is introducing credit interest on Reward Current Account balances from October 1.
Halifax will pay interest on balances between £1 and £5,000, with two tiers of rates available.
You’ll earn 1% AER on balances between £1 and £3,999.99, while balances between £4,000 and £5,000 will attract a higher rate of 3% AER.
October 5 – Deadline to register for self-assessment
If you need to file a tax return then the deadline to register with HMRC is October 5. You may need to do a tax return if you are self-employed and earned more than £1,000 last year or if you are in a business partnership.
To register visit the Gov.uk website. To register, follow the instructions on the government’s website.
October 13 – Winter Fuel Payment claims
From Monday, October 13, 2025, you can call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160 to make a claim over the phone. Have your National Insurance number and bank details ready to provide.
While most eligible people receive the payment automatically, phone claims are open for those who need to apply, or for people who have deferred their state pension and don’t receive other benefits.
October 20 – Warm Home Discount letters begin
Households will start getting letters about the £150 warm home discount scheme in October. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that eligibility letters will begin landing on doorsteps from October 20.
The Warm Home Discount has expanded this year, removing the “hard-to-heat” rule for England and Wales. Low-income families on certain benefits no longer need to live in energy-inefficient homes to qualify.
This change means 2.7million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will receive the £150 rebate, bringing total eligible homes to six million.
October 22 – Co-op bank accounts
The Co-operative Bank is cutting interest rates on 36 savings accounts. The Co-op previously confirmed that interest rates on dozens of accounts will be reduced starting on August 14 and October 22.
From October 22, various other accounts will experience cuts, including the Future Fund, which will see its rate fall from 1.53% to 1.46%, and the Online Saver, dropping from 2.12% to 2.06%.
Other affected accounts include the Smart Saver, Select Access Saver 5, and Privilege Premier Savings, with reductions ranging from 4.15% to 3.9% and 3.53% to 3.4%.
October 22 – September inflation figure published
On October 22 the inflation figure for September will be published. This figure is used to calculate how much benefits, the state pension and tax credits will rise.
The September inflation figure is used as part of the triple lock guarantee. If it is higher than the wage figures published on September 16 and 2.5% then it will be used in the calculations.
The government usually confirms the exact amount that the state pension will rise at a later date.
October 31 – Paper tax return deadline
The deadline to submit a paper tax return is usually midnight on October 31 every year. You can download the form via the Labour Party government website – or ring HMRC and ask them to send you one.
If you miss the deadline, you should submit as soon as possible. If you’re able to file digitally, there is a later deadline of January 31.