Nationwide launches new service which could reward Britons with £550 a month cash boost

Nationwide has launched a new support service which could reward customers with a significant £550 a month boost.The building society is offering financial assistance to Britons via a free telephone benefits calculator service to assist people in understanding and claiming support they are eligible for.Thanks to "Better Off’ calculator", which non-customers can also use, Britons can unlock an estimated £23billion in unclaimed benefits, according to social policy data experts Policy in Practice.Notably, Nationwide is providing a dedicated phone lone to ensure those who prefer not to use digital services can continue to access the support.According to the building society, 2,229 households discovered they were eligible for an average of £554 extra per month in the four weeks since the calculator's launch.This totals £1.2 million with the monthly figure being roughly equivalent to a typical UK household’s monthly bills for energy, council tax, water, insurance, and basic digital services.With the calculator's success, Nationwide is pushing for the Government to make access to unclaimed benefit support simpler for everyday people.In collaboration with Policy in Practice, the UK’s largest building society is noted the three main barriers preventing access to benefits.Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.These included a lack of awareness of what support is available, the complexity of the benefit system and stigma around getting financial assistance from charities or the state.Kathryn Townsend, Nationwide's head of Customer Vulnerability & Accessibility, said: “Millions of people across the UK are missing out on vital financial support they are entitled to simply because the system is too complex to understand and access. "Our partnership with Policy in Practice means more people, including those who perhaps can’t or prefer not to use digital services, can get the help they need to increase their income. "By offering the choice of an online process and a telephone call, we are hopefully making what can be a daunting and confusing experience that little bit simpler."Deven Ghelani from Policy in Practice, added: "Every year £23 billion in benefits and support goes unclaimed because people don't know what they're eligible for, or they struggle to access online services. "Digital exclusion often goes hand in hand with wider social and economic disadvantage. By partnering with Policy in Practice to offer an inclusive service, Nationwide is not only helping those most in need, it’s also meeting the growing expectation of customers and setting a benchmark for responsible banking."LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Nationwide Building Society cuts mortgage rates ahead of Bank of England decisionFull list of the best savings accounts of the week: 'Snap up the top interest rates!'Nationwide Building Society: How to check if eligible for free £100 bonus if waiting for paymentHere is a list of the estimated monthly cost for each utility bill in the UK, based on research conducted by Nationwide and Policy in Practice:Energy (gas + electricity) - £143.25Water & sewerage - £50.25Council Tax (Band D average) - £190.00Home insurance (combined) - £20.00TV licence (colour) - £14.54Broadband - £30.84Mobile phone contract - £26.36Waste collection & recycling - £5.95Streaming / landline services - £47.98.