Get help with savings if you’re on a low income (Help to Save)

How it works

Help to Save is a type of savings account. It allows certain people entitled to Working Tax Credit or receiving Universal Credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over 4 years.

Help to Save is backed by the government so all savings in the scheme are secure.

How payments work

You can save between £1 and £50 each calendar month. You do not have to pay money in every month.

You can pay money into your Help to Save account by debit card, standing order or bank transfer.

You can pay in as many times as you like, but the most you can pay in each calendar month is £50. For example, if you have saved £50 by 8 January you will not be able to pay in again until 1 February.

You can only withdraw money from your Help to Save account to your bank account.

How bonuses work

You get bonuses at the end of the second and fourth years. They’re based on how much you’ve saved.

What happens after 4 years
Your Help to Save account will close 4 years after you open it. You will not be able to reopen it or open another Help to Save account. You’ll be able to keep the money from your account.

You can close your account at any time. If you close your account early you’ll miss your next bonus and you will not be able to open another one.

Friends of the Elderly’s Grants for Older People in Financial Need

Severn Trent Water, Big difference scheme. 

Help to reduce the amount you pay for your bill.

Who can apply

The Big Difference Scheme can offer a reduction of water bills to any Severn Trent customer with a household income below £18,278.

Households with child dependants may be eligible for an additional income allowance in excess of this amount.

The support you could get

You could get up to 90% off the average Severn Trent bill.

The Big Difference Scheme will assess your household income when you apply.

That assessment determines how big a reduction you're able to get.

Your Big Difference Scheme payment plan

If your application is successful, you'll get a new payment plan.

The Big Difference Scheme design a payment plan especially for you.

Your new plan will include payments towards any debt on your account.

The scheme ends after a year

The scheme runs for 12 months at a time.

You'll have to apply again at the end of each year-long period.

Applying for the Big Difference Scheme

There are two ways you can apply for help from the Big Difference Scheme.

Whichever way you apply, you'll need to provide evidence of your household income.

This could include:

payslips from within the last 3 months

benefit award letters from the Department for Work and Pensions

https://bigdiff.co.uk/login.php

We know people are worried so the government is offering help for households. See what cost of living support you could be eligible for.

https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/

Please explore the website and see if your family can benefit from anything on offer. The website is for everyone.

British Gas energy trust. 

If you’re struggling with money and energy debt, you are not alone. The British Gas Energy Trust is a charitable trust set up to support families and individuals who are struggling to pay their bills across England, Wales and Scotland, no matter which energy company you are with.

How they help
Free resources to help make sure you’re getting the support and benefits you may be entitled to
They fund frontline advice services in local communities providing free 1-2-1 money, benefits, and energy efficiency advice.
They also run a direct access energy debt programme – awarding grants to households that remove energy debt and fund emergency fuel credit

https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/