How to get a government savings bonus if you work and claim Universal Credit

If you work and claim Universal Credit (UC), the government has a savings scheme that could hand you up to £1,200 in free bonuses. It is called Help to Save.

What is Help to Save?

Help to Save is an official savings account. You put in your own money each month, and the government adds a 50% bonus on top.

For every £1 you save, you get 50p back as a tax-free bonus. That is a much better return than any normal savings account.

How much can you save and earn?

You can pay between £1 and £50 into your account each calendar month. You do not have to pay in every single month — so you will not lose access if money is tight one month.

The account runs for four years and pays out two bonuses.

After two years, the government pays 50% of the highest balance you have saved in that period. If you saved £50 every month for two years, your savings reach £1,200 and your first bonus would be £600.

After four years, you get a second bonus — 50% of any extra you saved beyond your first two years' peak.

If you saved the full £50 every month across all four years, your total bonuses add up to £1,200. That money goes straight into your bank account, not your Help to Save account, so you can spend it however you choose — including on a deposit, moving costs, or building an emergency fund.

Who can apply?

You can open a Help to Save account if:

• you are claiming Universal Credit, and
• you (or you and your partner on a joint claim) had take-home pay of at least £1 in your last UC assessment period.

You do not need to work full-time. Even a small number of paid hours each week may be enough to qualify.

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How do you sign up?

You apply online through GOV.UK using your Government Gateway login. Your savings are held by NS&I (National Savings and Investments), which is backed by the government, so your money is completely safe.

When do you need to act?

The scheme runs until April 2027. You can open a new account at any point before then. If you open an account today, your four-year savings period could take you well into 2030, meaning you have time to earn both bonus payments.

Many people on UC who do some paid work do not realise they qualify for this scheme. The sooner you open an account, the longer your savings window — and the more free bonus money you can earn.