SCOTS can now check for any unclaimed benefits they could be entitled to through a new bank app service.
Customers with Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Halifax can now carry out the checks after Lloyds Bank launched a new feature in its app.
Lloyds Bank launched the new feature[/caption]
Halifax customers can use the new tool on their app[/caption]
It is also available to Bank of Scotland customers[/caption]
The three banks are a part of the same banking group, so the new calculator is available on all of the brand’s apps.
The tool helps Scots identify if they might be eligible for any other financial support or benefits that they could claim.
This includes any Council Tax discounts and energy grants, as well as Winter Fuel Payments and Pension Credit.
The firm began testing the new feature a few weeks ago.
And already it has helped thousands of customers apply for further support.
It works by asking people to provide information about themselves, such as their living situation, household income, and how many lids they have.
It provides an initial estimate of the amount of benefits they could possibly be eligible for based on the answers.
The tool works quickly and within minutes customers are given a list of potential benefits.
For more details, customers can then use an in-depth calculator which provides a final summary.
This provides customers with links to specific pages on Government websites as well as links on how to make a claim.
The information that is provided is only used to calculate potential benefits customers could be eligible for and is not used or shared elsewhere.
According to the Daily Record, bosses at Lloyds have revealed that three benefits are among the most common that has been identified by the new feature.
These include Universal Credit, Council Tax discounts and Child Benefit.
The feature is completely confidential and free to use, so customers are being urged to try it because they have nothing to lose.
As well as helping identify what benefits people could be entitled to and how to claim them, it also reveals how the benefits could be affected if they start work.
Tamara van den Ban, customer propositions director at Lloyds, explained the tool is perfect to help those who are unsure about how to go about making a benefits claim.
Who should check for unclaimed benefits/discounts?
ALL customers are being urged to use the new calculator on their banking apps.
However, some people who are dealing with specific situations are more likely to get more results back on the feature.
Customers should use the tool to check if:
- They are temporarily unable to work (including because of ill health)
- They are of working age on a low-income
- They are over the State Pension age and on a low income
- They have been made redundant
- They are looking for work
- They are raising a family
- They have a child who is disabled or has a health condition
- They are disabled or have a health condition
- They are caring for someone
- They have lost a loved one
She said: “Billions of pounds of support is provided for those who need it through benefits.
“But many customers don’t know how to navigate the system or how to make a claim.”
It comes after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that around £19billion of state support went unclaimed over the last year.
Most benefits need to be claimed from the DWP or Social Security Scotland and most take up to 16 weeks to process applications.
However, some benefits process claims a lot quicker.
