The Mirror looks at how different rules compare on everything from free school meals to stamp duty, depending on if you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
There are different rules on everything from free school meals to stamp duty, depending on if you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
This is because political powers were transferred from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in a process known as devolution, which is the decentralisation of governmental power. Here we round up how the changes affect you – and if it is likely to be costing you more money.
Free school meals
If you’re in England and your child goes to a state school, they’ll get free school meals if they’re in reception class, year 1 or year 2. After that, they are eligible only if you claim certain benefits, including Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit. The only exception is in London, where all primary school children up to the age of 11 at state-funded schools qualify for free school meals in the 2024/25 academic year.
In Scotland , all state school children from primary one to primary five get free school meals. If you’re in Wales , all reception pupils in state schools get free school meals. This is being extended to all primary school students by September 2024, with some councils already offering free school meals to older primary school children. The rules are different again in Northern Ireland , where free school meals are not given automatically – instead all parents claiming benefits have to apply.
Stamp duty
In England and Northern Ireland , you currently have to pay stamp duty if your property is your only residence and is worth over £250,000. This is due to be reduced to £125,000 from April 2025. If you’re a first-time buyer, you currently only start to pay stamp duty if the property you’re buying is worth over £425,000 – but this will go down to £300,000.
Stamp duty is known as land and buildings transaction tax in Scotland and you have to pay this if your property is worth over £145,000. For first-time buyers, stamp duty is applicable if the property is worth over £175,000. In Wales , stamp duty is known as transaction tax. You pay stamp duty in Wales on properties that are worth over £225,000.
Student loans
Scottish students who are “ordinarily resident” in Scotland can get free tuition at universities in Scotland – although you may still need to take out a maintenance loan. Elsewhere, how much you pay back of your student loan depends on when you started studying university and where you studied If you started your course before September 1, 2012 in England and Wales, or after September 1, 1998 Northern Ireland, then you’ll be on Plan 1.
Plan 2 is if you started your course between September 1, 2012 and July 31, 2023 in England, or after September 1, 2012 in Wales. You’ll be on Plan 4 if you started your course after September 1, 1998 and you’re a Scottish student. Plan 5 is if you started your course after August 1, 2023 in England. If you’re a postgraduate student from Northern Ireland, you will be on Plan 1, or for postgraduate courses in Scotland, you’re on Plan 4.
You repay 9% of your income over the threshold if you’re on Plan 1, 2, 4 or 5, or 6% of your income over the threshold if you took out a postgraduate loan. You’re also charged interest on your student loan. You’re charged 4.3% if you’re on a Plan 1, Plan 4 or Plan 5 loan. If you’re on a Plan 2 loan and still studying, you’ll be charged up to 7.3% interest.
Cold Weather Payments
You can get a Cold Weather Payment of £25 if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland when temperatures drop below zero degrees for seven consecutive days. To get the cash, you have to claiming certain benefits, including Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland anymore – but instead, you may be able to claim an annual Winter Heating Payment worth £58.75 instead. You will get Winter Heating Payment automatically if you claim certain benefits – regardless of the temperature.
NHS prescriptions
NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England, there is a charge of £9.90 per item. You’re entitled to free prescriptions if you’re aged 60 or over, under 16, or under 18 if you’re in full-time education, if you’re pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months.
You may also qualify for a medical exemption certificate or NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate if you have certain conditions, or the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) if you’re on a low income.