Roll-out of a nurse-led welfare benefits screening service throughout the largest Local Health Care Co-operative in Glasgow: an evaluation study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the roll-out of a nurse-led Attendance Allowance (AA) screening programme in 24 general practices located within the largest Local Health Care Co-operative in Glasgow.

STUDY DESIGN

Evaluation study

METHODS

Six hundred and thirty participants aged over 64 years who, in the nurses' clinical judgement, appeared to have care needs were recruited opportunistically by community nurses over a 15-month period. A money advice worker contacted all potential underclaimers offering a home visit to assess for unclaimed benefits. The main outcome measured was the total amount of unclaimed AA, linked benefits and grants.

RESULTS

Three hundred and sixty-three participants and 13 relatives were awarded a total of 1,136,424.10 pounds. Of this, 1,016,908.70 pounds was on a recurrent annual basis and 119,515.44 pounds was awarded as lump sums.

CONCLUSIONS

This method of benefits assessment (community-nurse-led pre-AA screening followed by a home visit from a money advice worker) would appear to be an efficient and effective method of income maximization that could be rolled out nationally within primary care settings located in deprived areas.