What is the starting rate for savings?
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In short: Up to £5,000 of savings interest is taxed at 0% — but the band is reduced £-for-£ by other non-savings income above the £12,570 Personal Allowance, so it mostly benefits people with low earnings.
The starting rate for savings sits between the Personal Allowance and the basic-rate band. The £5,000 starting band is reduced by every £1 of taxable non-savings income (earnings, pension, rent) above £12,570 — so it disappears completely once non-savings income reaches £17,570.
Anyone with earned income below £17,570 may have part or all of the £5,000 band available, on top of the £1,000 Personal Savings Allowance for basic-rate taxpayers (£500 for higher-rate, £0 for additional-rate).
The starting rate is most useful for people living mainly off savings interest, low-income pensioners, or in a gap year between jobs.
Primary source: gov.uk/apply-tax-free-interest-on-savings