Quick guide to financial well-being score ranges
The financial well-being score allows you to accurately and consistently quantify the extent to which a person’s financial situation and financial capability have provided them with security and freedom of choice.
Once you’ve calculated the score for a person, you can use the score to understand the person’s current state of financial well-being and compare the person’s score to others.
The score ranges below are designed to give you a sense of whether a person has high, medium, or low financial well-being. The chart also describes financial experiences common to people with these scores. Within each range, financial experiences vary widely, so a person might or might not encounter the challenges or successes shown in the chart.
Consider whether, and how, to share the score with the people you serve
While the score is a valuable tool, it might not always be useful to show a person their score right away. It could make them anxious or upset. Or, it could motivate them. Before sharing the score, consider how the person might react. Think about how to listen to the person’s feelings and continue into a supportive and productive conversation.
Financial well-being score ranges and common experiences
| CATEGORY | SCORE | WHAT PEOPLE COULD EXPERIENCE | AND | AND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VERY LOW |
0-29 |
Just 5% are certain they could come up with $2,000 for an emergency. |
Most (82%) sometimes or often experience food insecurity or food hardship. |
Almost all (96%) find it somewhat or very difficult to make ends meet. |
LOW |
30-37 |
Few (23%) habitually save and only some (38%) have more than $250 in liquid savings. |
Just 12% always stay on budget. |
Nearly half (45%) have experience with debt collectors. |
MEDIUM LOW |
38-49 |
Most (60%) have minimal savings of $250 or more, but only 30% have $2,000 or more. |
Almost all (80%) find it somewhat or very difficult to make ends meet. |
Some (32%) have had a credit application rejected or are concerned about credit rejection. |
MEDIUM HIGH |
50-57 |
More than half (55%) have automated deposits into a savings or retirement account. |
A minority (32%) always pay off credit cards in full. |
Few (16%) sometimes or often experience food insecurity or hardship. |
HIGH |
58-67 |
The vast majority (81%) are certain they could come up with $2,000 for an emergency. |
Just 35% always stay on budget. |
Very few (6%) have experienced a credit rejection or are concerned about credit rejection. |
VERY HIGH |
68-100 |
Most have high levels of savings; 80% have $10,000 or more in liquid savings. |
The majority (69%) make automated deposits into a savings or retirement account. |
Most (81%) have health insurance. |
Source: Analysis of the National Financial Well-Being Survey, a large, national survey of adults ages 18 and older in the United States. The survey included the Financial Well-Being Scale and questions about demographics, financial situation, financial skill, and behaviors. Key break points formed the end points of score ranges.
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