From today, hundreds of thousands of Scottish workers are getting a pay rise — and for many, it's one they'll feel in their weekly shop.

The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over rises from £12.21 to £12.71 an hour from 1 April, a 4.1% increase that puts an extra £975 a year into the pocket of someone working full-time. For younger workers aged 18 to 20, the minimum wage jumps from £10.00 to £10.85 — an 8.5% boost.

When similar rates took effect last April, the UK Government estimated up to 220,000 workers in Scotland benefited directly. A comparable number are expected to see their pay rise this time around.

What it means in real terms

For a part-time retail worker in Glasgow doing 25 hours a week on the minimum, the new rate means an extra £12.50 a week — roughly £650 a year before tax. For an 18-year-old hospitality worker in Clydebank on the youth rate, the 85p hourly increase adds up to over £1,650 a year on a full-time contract.

The new statutory minimum of £12.71 now exceeds the voluntary real Living Wage, set at £12.60 an hour by the Living Wage Foundation last October. It marks the first time the government-mandated rate has overtaken the independently calculated figure — a milestone for campaigners who have spent more than a decade pushing for higher pay floors.

Peter Kelly, CEO of the Poverty Alliance, which coordinates the Living Wage campaign in Scotland, has said that "too many workers in Scotland are struggling to stay afloat" and called on more employers to go beyond the minimum to protect staff from in-work poverty.

A boost for young workers

The 18-to-20 rate has seen particularly sharp increases in recent years as the Government works towards aligning it with the adult rate. Two years ago, the youth minimum stood at just £8.60. Today it reaches £10.85 — a 26% rise in two years, giving younger workers significantly more spending power.

The apprentice rate also rises, from £7.55 to £8.00 an hour.

Other financial changes this April

The wage rise isn't the only financial change this month. Here's what else is changing:

State Pension: The full new State Pension rises by 4.7% to £241.30 a week under the triple lock — worth an extra £575 a year for retirees.

Carer's Allowance: Up £3.15 a week to £86.45. The earnings threshold for carers also rises to £204 a week.

Child Benefit: The rate for a first child increases from £26.05 to £27.05 a week; additional children from £17.25 to £17.90.

Universal Credit: The standard allowance for a single person aged 25 or over rises from £400.14 to £424.90 a month.

Council tax: Every local authority in Scotland has approved above-inflation increases, ranging from 4% in Edinburgh to 10% in Aberdeenshire and Moray. Glasgow's council tax rises by 5.9%.

The bigger picture

The Scottish Government has championed the real Living Wage since 2015, making it a requirement for organisations receiving public grant funding to pay at least the voluntary rate. Scotland has the highest proportion of workers paid the real Living Wage or above of any UK nation.

But campaigners warn there is still work to do. The Living Wage Foundation found that 42% of Britain's lowest-paid workers had less than £10 left each week after covering essentials, and 39% had used a food bank in the past year.

Today's pay rise won't solve everything — but for hundreds of thousands of Scottish workers clocking in this morning, the extra money is real, immediate, and welcome.