The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is changing a £1 rule for Universal Credit claimants, a move that will affect more than 1.5 million people. The Help to Save scheme is expanding its remit, with claimants being urged to take advantage of the extra support on offer.
Help to Save is a savings account that offers up to £1,200 in bonuses. Currently, applicants must be in work and have take-home pay of at least £1 in their past assessment period. From 2028, this requirement will be removed, meaning all Universal Credit claimants will qualify for the support.
How the scheme works
The BBC's Money Box programme explained how the expansion works. Reporter Dan Whitworth said: "It's a savings account for people on Universal Credit who also work, but they only have to have earned at least £1 in the month before they apply."
He added: "They can save up to £50 a month, and the Government adds a bonus of half of what you put in. You can save for four years, so if you pay the maximum, you could get £1,200 in Government bonuses over that time."
Savers receive a 50 per cent bonus on top of what they put in. If someone saves the maximum £50 over four years, they would accrue £2,400, with the Government paying a £1,200 bonus.
Take-up and payouts
More than 650,000 people across the UK have signed up to Help to Save since it launched in 2018. According to DWP figures released in September 2026, the programme has paid out more than £300 million in bonus cash to date.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby, said: "Help to Save is a really beneficial scheme that offers a 50 per cent Government bonus on whatever you are able to save. We want more eligible people to take advantage of it."
In another change opening up the scheme, the Government has said it will switch to a "multi-provider model". Currently, accounts must be set up through the Government website. Under the expanded model, banks, building societies and credit unions will be able to offer the scheme directly to their eligible customers.
Qualifying criteria and take-up figures
To open an account today, claimants must meet the following criteria:
- Income: Earned take-home pay of at least £1 (after deductions such as tax and National Insurance) during the last Universal Credit assessment period.
- Residency: Live in the UK. Those living abroad can still apply if they are a crown servant, a member of the British armed forces, or the spouse or civil partner of either.
- Couples: Both members of a couple on Universal Credit can open their own individual accounts, but each person must apply separately.
The number of Help to Save accounts opened to date by region:
- UK total - 656,700
- England - 562,300
- North East - 27,900
- North West - 83,750
- Yorkshire and The Humber - 60,900
- East Midlands - 53,800
- West Midlands - 62,350
- East of England - 58,150
- London - 76,950
- South East - 79,500
- South West - 58,950
- Wales - 30,450
- Scotland - 44,950
- Northern Ireland - 18,550
