Guides › Public Services › Help to Save: Get 50p for Every £1 You Save on Universal Credit
Help to Save: Get 50p for Every £1 You Save on Universal Credit
Help to Save lets working people on Universal Credit save between £1 and £50 a month and get a 50% bonus from the government: 50p for every £1 saved. Accounts last up to 4 years, with bonuses at year 2 and year 4, up to £1,200 in total. Since April 2025 all working Universal Credit claimants can open one, and the scheme has been made permanent.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Help to Save
How It Works
Save between £1 and £50 a month. The government adds 50p for every £1 saved. The account can stay open for up to 4 years and savings are capped at £2,400, so the maximum bonus is £1,200. source
Bonuses
The first bonus is paid at the end of year 2, based on your highest balance. A final bonus is paid at year 4 if your savings have grown, into your bank account. source
Who Can Open One
Since April 2025, all working Universal Credit claimants. From 2028, the scheme will open to all Universal Credit claimants, including people with caring responsibilities. The scheme has been made permanent. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- Year 2First bonus paidBased on your highest balance
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check you get Universal Credit and are working.
Step 2 of 5
Open an account on GOV.UK or the HMRC app.
Step 3 of 5
Save what you can each month.
Step 4 of 5
Avoid withdrawing before year 2 if you can.
Step 5 of 5
Check your bonus dates in your account.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
HMRC
Contact HMRC through your personal tax account, the HMRC app or the phone and post details on GOV.UK.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Withdrawals lower your highest balance for the bonus, so try to leave savings in.
Rules here are for England and Wales. Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits from Social Security Scotland, and Northern Ireland benefits are run through nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.