Worker guide
What to do if you may be paid below minimum wage
If your effective hourly pay looks too low, the next step is to collect the facts for the pay reference period before you challenge the result.
Check the period, not just the headline rate
A payslip hourly rate can look legal while the minimum wage calculation still fails. The check depends on the pay reference period, hours worked, age band, apprenticeship status, accommodation, and job-related deductions or payments.
Start by matching your payslip to the period you are checking. Then list your hours, gross pay, uniform or equipment costs, and any accommodation charge connected to the job.
Evidence to keep
- Payslips for the affected pay periods
- Rota, timesheet, clock-in, or app records showing hours worked
- Receipts for required clothing, tools, or equipment
- Messages or contract terms about accommodation or deductions
- Your date of birth and apprenticeship start date, if relevant
How official complaints now work
From 7 April 2026, the Fair Work Agency became the single body for a wider set of labour market enforcement functions. For National Minimum Wage complaints, HMRC enforces minimum wage law on behalf of the Fair Work Agency.
GOV.UK has an online pay and work rights complaint form for concerns about National Minimum Wage, employment agencies, gangmasters, and working time limits. You can report an employer even if you no longer work there.
Before you submit
If you have already started Employment Tribunal action for a National Minimum Wage issue, GOV.UK says HMRC cannot take the complaint forward through that form. If you are unsure, contact Acas before choosing a route.
Arrears and enforcement
If a qualifying worker is paid below the minimum wage for a pay reference period, the Fair Work Agency enforcement statement explains that the worker is legally entitled to arrears from the employer.
Arrears can be based on the difference between what was paid and the minimum wage rate at the time, or on the current minimum wage rate if the current rate is higher. This is why old underpayments should not be estimated only from the historic hourly rate.
Use the calculator before raising it
Run the numbers once with only gross pay and hours, then again with any accommodation or uniform costs. This helps separate a simple rate issue from a deduction or pay reference period issue.