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Can welfare-rights advice targeted at older people reduce social exclusion?

Moffatt, S; Scambler, G; (2008) Can welfare-rights advice targeted at older people reduce social exclusion? Ageing and Society , 28 (6) 875 - 899. 10.1017/S0144686X08007253. Green open access

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Abstract

It is known that, in general, people of pensionable age have gained in income compared to other age groups in the British population over the last two decades, but that a substantial minority still experience relative poverty. This paper reports a small qualitative study into the effectiveness of a welfare-rights advice and acquisition service for men and women aged 60 or more years that was provided through a local primary health-care service. Additional financial and non-financial resources were obtained by accessing previously unclaimed state-welfare benefits. It was found that these significantly improved the participants' quality of life. Fourteen of the 25 participants received some type of financial award as a result of the service offered, with the median income gain being £57 (€84 or US $101) per week. The impact of additional resources was considerable and included: increased affordability of necessities and occasional expenses; increased capacity to cope with emergencies; and reduced stress related to financial worries. Knowledge of and access to welfare-rights services also appeared to have a positive effect. It is argued that a level of material resources above a basic level is necessary for social relations and for accessing services and civic activities, and can reduce social exclusion among older people.

Type: Article
Title: Can welfare-rights advice targeted at older people reduce social exclusion?
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X08007253
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X08007253
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press
Keywords: social exclusion, welfare rights, poverty, quality of life
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health > Infection and Population Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/127162
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