Help to Save: who qualifies and how the 50% bonus works

Help to Save is a government-backed savings account for eligible people on Universal Credit. You can save a little at a time and receive tax-free government bonuses based on the highest balance you reach. This guide reflects official guidance checked on 9 October 2026.

Who can open an account

You can apply if you receive Universal Credit and you, or you and your partner if you make a joint claim, had take-home pay of at least £1 in your last monthly assessment period. Take-home pay means pay after deductions such as tax and National Insurance. You must normally live in the UK, with limited exceptions for some Crown servants and members of the armed forces living overseas.

Each eligible partner can open their own account, but must apply separately. If you stop receiving benefits after opening an account, you can keep using it.

How the bonus works

You can receive two bonuses, after years two and four. The first is 50% of the highest balance you reached in the first two years. The final bonus is 50% of the increase, if any, between your highest balance in years one and two and your highest balance in years three and four. To earn the final bonus, your highest balance must increase during the second half of the account term.

For example, if you reach a highest balance of £600 in the first two years, your first bonus would be £300. If your highest balance later rises to £800 in years three or four, the additional £200 could earn a final £100 bonus. Bonuses are paid into your bank account, not into Help to Save.

Withdrawals and closing the account

You can withdraw money, but doing so can make it harder to increase your highest balance and may reduce the bonus you earn. The account closes four years after you open it and cannot be reopened or replaced with another Help to Save account. If you close it early, you will miss your next bonus and cannot open another account.

How savings can affect benefits

GOV.UK says that if you or your partner have £6,000 or less in personal savings, this will not affect your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit; Help to Save savings are included in that total, and Help to Save bonuses do not affect those payments. If your total savings are near or above £6,000, check the latest benefit capital rules and your circumstances before deciding how much to save or withdraw.

A change planned for 2028

The government has confirmed that Help to Save will become permanent and that eligibility is planned to expand from April 2028 to include Universal Credit households with children or caring responsibilities. The reformed scheme is intended to be offered through multiple providers, including banks, building societies and credit unions. This is a future change, not the current eligibility test; the government says implementation details are still being developed.

How to apply

Apply through the official GOV.UK Help to Save service. You will need to sign in or create sign-in details and provide identity and bank details. Check the current eligibility page before applying, especially if your Universal Credit claim or take-home pay has recently changed.

Check before you act

The £50 monthly cap applies per calendar month, not per rolling 30-day period. You do not have to pay in every month. The bonus depends on your highest balance, so withdrawals and the timing of deposits can matter. Check the official pages linked below for the current rules and any changes before making a decision.

Sources

• GOV.UK, Help to Save: how it works
• GOV.UK, Help to Save eligibility
• GOV.UK, Help to Save bonuses and limits
• GOV.UK, How Help to Save affects benefits
• GOV.UK, How to apply for Help to Save
• HMRC and HM Treasury, Help to Save reform delivery consultation response (updated 23 June 2026)
• GOV.UK, More than £300 million paid out through Help to Save (21 September 2026)
• MoneyHelper, More people on Universal Credit eligible for savings boost (updated 31 July 2026)