Help to Save

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Help to Save guide.


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Comments

  • Topmore
    Topmore Forumite Posts: 1 Newbie
    Hi
    To be eligible for Help to Save if receiving Universal Credit it says:
    “Claiming universal credit and have an individual/household income from employment of £542.88 or more for the last monthly assessment period.”

    Does that mean only in the month you apply for HtoS account do you have to earn over that and then you could earn nothing for the 4 years. Or does it mean for every month you save you must earn over £542.88?
    Thanks
  • killerkaterina
    killerkaterina Forumite Posts: 33
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    I have a similar question - does the £542.88 have to be strictly EMPLOYMENT income, or can it be self-employment? If it counts all earnings I'm fine, but if it's only employment earnings, I'm ineligible.

    I suspect SE might be excluded 🙁 Universal Credit seems to loathe self-employment and want to push us all into 'proper' employment by fair means or foul.
  • Chrismcm86
    Chrismcm86 Forumite Posts: 3
    First Anniversary
    Newbie
    Could I pay £1,200 into the account, then withdraw it a week later, then at the end of the 2 years get the £600 bonus as technically £1,200 was the highest balance in the account?
  • Ed-1
    Ed-1 Forumite Posts: 3,825
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
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    Chrismcm86 wrote: »
    Could I pay £1,200 into the account, then withdraw it a week later, then at the end of the 2 years get the £600 bonus as technically £1,200 was the highest balance in the account?

    No as the limit is £50 per month
  • xajcx
    xajcx Forumite Posts: 2 Newbie
    Hi if you withdraw funds can you pay this back in or limited to the £50 per month ?
    Thanks
  • NedS
    NedS Forumite Posts: 3,417
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    Forumite
    xajcx wrote: »
    Hi if you withdraw funds can you pay this back in or limited to the £50 per month ?
    Thanks


    No, contributions are limited to £50/month. The bonus is paid at 50% of your highest balance during the 2 year period. So if you want to achieve the maximum bonus, you need to pay in £50 every month and not withdraw anything.
  • Andronyme
    Andronyme Forumite Posts: 33 Forumite
    Good morning,



    My circumstance have changed. I am no longer in receipt of benefits apart from child benefit. I can still put money in the account. But I am still elligible for the bonus ? I have been saving for over a year now. It doesn't say anything in my account or the thread about the bonus itself.
  • stehouk
    stehouk Forumite Posts: 411
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts
    Forumite
    Andronyme wrote: »
    Good morning,



    My circumstance have changed. I am no longer in receipt of benefits apart from child benefit. I can still put money in the account. But I am still elligible for the bonus ? I have been saving for over a year now. It doesn't say anything in my account or the thread about the bonus itself.

    What happens if I stop being eligible for Tax Credits or Universal Credit?

    Nothing. If you were eligible and opened a Help to Save account, it will stay open for the full four-year period. You only have to be eligible on the day you apply.

    Qoute from the money advice service website, so i assume the bonus will be paid.
  • stehouk
    stehouk Forumite Posts: 411
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts
    Forumite
    Anyone else had their bonus email yet ?
    Our bonus payment £600 each to be paid 1st february into our accounts, nice start to 2020.
  • Afraid_of_Kittens
    Afraid_of_Kittens Forumite Posts: 342
    100 Posts Second Anniversary Combo Breaker
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    stehouk wrote: »
    Anyone else had their bonus email yet ?
    Our bonus payment £600 each to be paid 1st february into our accounts, nice start to 2020.

    You must have been one of the lucky 45,000 who took part in the pilot scheme before it was rolled out nationwide in September 2018. Won't get my bonus until September 2020.
    I enjoy flower arranging, kittens, devil worship, the study of serial killers and their methods and road kill jigsaws.
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