Help to Save UK: The 50% Government Savings Bonus
Quick answer
Help to Save is a government savings account for people on Universal Credit. You can save GBP 1 to GBP 50 a month, and the government adds a 50% bonus on your highest balance, paid after two years and again after four. Save the full GBP 50 a month and you can get up to GBP 1,200 free over four years.
Help to Save at a glance (2026)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | People on Universal Credit with take-home pay of GBP 1 or more in their last monthly assessment period |
| How much you can save | GBP 1 to GBP 50 each calendar month (you can skip months) |
| The bonus | 50% of your highest balance, paid after 2 years, and again after 4 years on any further growth |
| Maximum bonus | GBP 1,200 (saving the full GBP 50 a month for 4 years is GBP 2,400) |
| Term | 4 years, then the account closes |
| Withdrawals | Allowed any time, but they lower your highest balance and so your bonus |
| Effect on benefits | Universal Credit ignores savings under GBP 6,000, and the bonus is not counted as income for it |
| Scheme status | Confirmed permanent; guaranteed on current terms until April 2027 |
Step by step
- 1
Check you are eligible
You need to be getting Universal Credit and have had take-home pay of GBP 1 or more in your last monthly assessment period.
- 2
Open the account
Apply online through gov.uk or in the HMRC app. It takes a few minutes and you manage it from your phone.
- 3
Pay in each month
Add anything from GBP 1 to GBP 50 a calendar month by debit card or standing order. You do not have to pay in every month.
- 4
Keep the balance high
The bonus is calculated on the highest balance you reach, so try not to dip into it, because a withdrawal lowers the bonus you earn.
- 5
Collect the bonus
You get a 50% bonus after two years, and a further 50% bonus after four years on any amount you save above that first high point.
Help to Save is the most generous savings deal in the country, and it is aimed squarely at the people the rest of the savings market tends to ignore. If you are on Universal Credit, the government will add a 50% bonus to what you put away, up to GBP 1,200 over four years. No bank account and no investment comes close to a guaranteed 50%, and there is no risk, because the money is held by the government.
The mechanics are simple. You save between GBP 1 and GBP 50 in a calendar month, as often or as rarely as you can manage, and the bonus is worked out on the highest balance you reach. After two years you get 50% of that high point, and after four years you get another 50% on anything you have saved above it. Put away the full GBP 50 every month and you turn GBP 2,400 of your own money into GBP 3,600.
The one thing to watch is withdrawals: because the bonus tracks your highest balance, taking money out lowers what you earn, so treat it as money you lock away if you possibly can. If a Help to Save pot is the start of your safety net, our guide to building an emergency fund explains where it fits, and how to build a budget can help you find the few pounds a month to feed it. Once the four years are up, move the money to the best savings account you can find. This is general information, not financial advice; benefit and scheme rules can change, so check gov.uk for your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Help to Save worth it?
For anyone eligible, yes. A guaranteed 50% bonus is a return no savings account or investment in the country can match, and your money is safe because it is held by the government. If you can spare even a few pounds a month, it is the best-value savings product in Britain.
How much is the Help to Save bonus?
Up to GBP 1,200 over four years. You earn 50% of your highest balance after two years, then another 50% after four years on any further savings. Saving the maximum GBP 50 a month builds GBP 2,400, which earns the full GBP 1,200 bonus.
Who is eligible for Help to Save?
You qualify if you are receiving Universal Credit and had take-home pay of GBP 1 or more in your last monthly assessment period. Eligibility was widened to all working Universal Credit claimants from 6 April 2025.
Can I withdraw money from Help to Save?
Yes, you can take money out at any time to your bank account. The catch is that the bonus is based on your highest balance, so a withdrawal reduces the bonus you will earn. Only dip in if you genuinely need to.
Does Help to Save affect my benefits?
Universal Credit ignores savings under GBP 6,000, and the Help to Save bonus is not treated as income for it. For other means-tested benefits, savings above certain limits can count, so check your specific benefits if you are building a large balance.
Sources
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General information, not financial advice. Tax rules and figures can change; check the current position on gov.uk before acting.