Help to Save scheme off to a "slow start" helping less than one in 40 low income earners so far

Launched after a five-month delay in September 2018 with the aim of helping 3.5 million eligible people in receipt of Universal Credit to save a rainy day fund, just 80,810 had been opened by the end of 2018, according to a House of Commons answer to written questions, published today (see note below).

The scheme was first announced in March 2016 by David Cameron.

Help to Save offers 50p for every £1 saved, on savings up to a maximum of £50 a month, for four years. The maximum government bonus available to a saver is £1,200.

Becky O’Connor, personal finance specialist for Royal London, said:

“It’s not surprising that Help-to-Save is off to a slow start given the issues that claimants have had with Universal Credit itself. In theory it’s a good idea as people on low incomes would benefit a lot from a small savings fund, as it could help them avoid costly payday loans and other forms of high cost credit. However in practice, if you are on a low income, the problem is that you have very little, if anything, to set aside, in the first place.”