Help to save government scheme, am I able to get it?

Dol987

I’ve just seen a clip of Martin Lewis explaining the help to save scheme where you can put a maximum of £50 a month and at the end of two years you get 50% of the maximum you’ve held in the account. He says it’s not just for people on benefits but for people on a low income. I do work, self employed and I am earning less than £9,000 a year and do not pay tax. I looked on the government website and looked at the list of who was eligible but it was only stating people who claimed some sort of benefits. Would I be able to apply for this savings account? 

wmb194

Dol987 said:

I’ve just seen a clip of Martin Lewis explaining the help to save scheme where you can put a maximum of £50 a month and at the end of two years you get 50% of the maximum you’ve held in the account. He says it’s not just for people on benefits but for people on a low income. I do work, self employed and I am earning less than £9,000 a year and do not pay tax. I looked on the government website and looked at the list of who was eligible but it was only stating people who claimed some sort of benefits. Would I be able to apply for this savings account? 

Nope, there doesn't appear to be any ambiguity to me.

https://www.gov.uk/get-help-savings-low-income/eligibility

Petriix

If you're earnings are that low, why aren't you claiming one of the benefits that would make you eligible? 

Bazzalona13295

Dol987 said:

I’ve just seen a clip of Martin Lewis explaining the help to save scheme where you can put a maximum of £50 a month and at the end of two years you get 50% of the maximum you’ve held in the account. He says it’s not just for people on benefits but for people on a low income. I do work, self employed and I am earning less than £9,000 a year and do not pay tax. I looked on the government website and looked at the list of who was eligible but it was only stating people who claimed some sort of benefits. Would I be able to apply for this savings account? 

I can't definitively say one way or the other, but its worth looking into. I get paid 4 weekly which naturally means once a year I get 2 wages in a qualifying period (this seems to absolutely mystify the benefits system who once a year think I've changed my job for a better paid one.......strangely one with precisely double the wage - thick isn't the word).

But conversely I also knew it was the one time during the year that I would qualify so this time last year I applied and got it - you only need to be eligible at the time you apply so hopefully you manage it soon.

Dol987

Petriix said:

If your earnings are that low, why aren't you claiming one of the benefits that would make you eligible? 

What benefits would I be eligible for? I have no children and still live at home with parents 

Bazzalona13295

Dol987 said:

Petriix said:

If your earnings are that low, why aren't you claiming one of the benefits that would make you eligible? 

What benefits would I be eligible for? I have no children and still live at home with parents 

You should be able to find a benefits checking tool (there may be one on here?) but places like Gov.uk might have one and Citizens Advice definitely have one.

If you type in benefits checker on Google or whatever your browser is you'll find something.

It is a very useful savings scheme BUT its only £50 a month so if you don't get it just open one of the better RS, Nationwide or YBS for example. You can put more in those as well.

db3745

Sorry. I skimmed down the topics and mis-read this headline as "Help to save the Government." Immediate thought; it's too late and they wouldn't listen anyway.

Petriix

Dol987 said:

Petriix said:

If your earnings are that low, why aren't you claiming one of the benefits that would make you eligible? 

What benefits would I be eligible for? I have no children and still live at home with parents 

Presumably Universal Credit. Living with your parents doesn't prevent you from claiming, you just won't get the same housing element as someone renting.