High street building society Nationwide has launched a powerful new tool that could provide a significant financial boost to thousands of households across the United Kingdom. The organisation's innovative 'Better Off' calculator is designed to help people identify whether they are entitled to benefits they might currently be missing out on, with remarkable results already emerging.
Substantial Financial Discovery
Since its introduction in June 2025, the calculator has revealed substantial unclaimed support. Nationwide reports that over 11,000 households have discovered they could be entitled to an average of £560 extra per month through various benefits. This translates to an impressive £75.3 million annually in potential financial support that was previously going unclaimed.
Addressing Digital Exclusion
What makes Nationwide's approach particularly noteworthy is its commitment to accessibility. The building society has become the first financial provider to offer this service both online and over the telephone, directly addressing concerns about digital exclusion. This dual approach ensures that people who cannot or prefer not to use digital services can still access vital financial guidance.
The calculator, developed in partnership with social policy data experts Policy in Practice, is available to anyone - not just Nationwide customers. This comes at a critical time when research suggests an estimated £24 billion in benefits goes unclaimed across the UK each year, often because people are unaware of their eligibility or find the system too complex to navigate.
Breaking Down Barriers
Kathryn Townsend, Head of Customer Vulnerability for Nationwide, highlighted the persistent challenges facing many households. "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," she explained.
Nationwide is now calling on the government to address three main barriers preventing people from accessing benefits they're entitled to:
- Awareness: Many people remain unaware they might be eligible for various forms of support
- Complexity: Navigating application forms, eligibility criteria and multiple processes can be daunting and time-consuming
- Stigma: Negative perceptions persist around claiming benefits, despite the fact that 40 per cent of benefit payments go to people in work
Who Might Be Eligible?
Contrary to common assumptions, benefit eligibility extends far beyond those who cannot work. Many people who might qualify for support simply don't realise they meet the criteria. You could be eligible for benefits if you:
- Are currently out of work or your partner is unemployed
- Rent your home rather than own it
- Have children or caring responsibilities
- Have a disability or care for someone with a disability
- Are receiving the state pension
Since the calculator's launch, over 18,000 people have submitted calculations, demonstrating significant public interest in understanding what financial support might be available to them. Nationwide encourages everyone to take a moment to explore what they may be entitled to, emphasising that this support could make a meaningful difference to household finances.
The initiative comes alongside research from the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute that surfaces the various barriers preventing millions from checking their eligibility for benefits. By making this process more accessible and less intimidating, Nationwide hopes to ensure that vital financial help reaches every household that needs it, making the social safety net function as originally intended.
