Help to Save UK: The 50% Government Savings Bonus

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