What is a Lifetime Individual Savings Account (Lifetime ISA)?
The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is a tax-free savings account to help first time home buyers aged 18-39 get on the property ladder and/or save money towards retirement.
Capital at risk. All Cushon ISA products are Stocks and Shares ISAs. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get less than the full amount you invest. If you withdraw money before the age of 60 for any reason other than the purchase of your first home, you will pay a 25% withdrawal charge.
How does it work?
Save money into a LISA and the government will give you a 25% bonus on the money you put in - that's a bonus of up to £1,000 a year! You need to have saved into your LISA for at least 12 months before using the money to buy your first home.
You can save up to £4,000 in the 2024/25 tax year.
A bonus of up to £1,000 a year! But it doesn't stop there. Once you've bought your first home you can continue to save into the Lifetime ISA for retirement, and still receive the 25% government bonus up to age 50.
Behind the scenes, we’ll set up your account as a Stocks and Shares LISA even if you choose to only hold cash within it. You can choose to invest some or all of your money, rather than having to switch accounts, making it easier for you to control your savings.
You can withdraw your money without charge if you’re using it to buy your first home for £450,000 or less, and you’ve had the account for at least 12 months. If you’re saving for retirement you can take out your money once you’ve reached the age of 60.
The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get less than the full amount you invest. If you withdraw money before the age of 60 for any reason other than the purchase of your first home, you will pay a 25% withdrawal charge. You can only use this product for a house purchase 12 months after your first payment.
The government had temporarily reduced the penalty to 20% for any funds withdrawn between 6th March 2020 and 5th April 2021.
Although we aim to make everything about saving and investing easy, there might be times when you need a bit more information or have a question about your account. Whatever you need, we’re here to support you.
Frequently asked questions
If you’ve got a general question, you might be able to find it easier and quicker by having a look at our frequently asked questions. We are constantly adding to this resource so it’s a great place to start.
In app
If you’ve downloaded our app, you can easily access our frequently asked questions or get hold of the team by sending an in-app message with or without attachments.
Email
If you prefer, you can email us at help@cushon.co.uk. and one of the team will get back to you.
Telephone
If you prefer to speak to someone, give us a call on 020 3926 0333 and one of the team will be ready to help you. Our operating hours are 9am to 5pm.
All Cushon ISAs are investment-based. Capital at risk.