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Background to the Benefits Awareness and Help scheme

Professor Gary Craig, who advised the Northern Fells Rural Project Steering Group and worked with the Project Co-ordinator from 2000 to 2002, studied the “In receipt of Benefits” data from Cumbria County Council for the Wards relevant to the NFRP area, and noted that there was apparent underclaiming on a significant scale. This was borne out by the experience of Primary Health Care Nurses and Doctors, and Social Workers, locally.

The Project Co-ordinator drew upon Professor Craig’s and her own experience, and discussed the issue with local Citizen’s Advice Bureau workers.

The Project Steering Group agreed that we should research all ways to identify and assist people eligible for, but not claiming benefits. With a total population of approximately 3,500 we decided that the numbers of people likely to need assistance could be managed within the Project Co-ordinator’s work at the time.

For details of the research and development of the Scheme see Reports:

Under the Stones. Hidden need in Rural Cumbria.

The Northern Fells Rural Project ended in November 2003 but the Northern Fells Group was awarded three years funding from the Cumbria Rural Development Programme to set up a Benefits Awareness and Help scheme locally. This scheme will run until at least November 2005, and we hope to obtain funding to keep it going after that.

Scheme

There are a variety of ways in which people in this very rural area are being reached:

  • Through the health checks for housebound people offered by Practice Nurses. A leaflet (originally designed by NFRP but adapted since) detailing eligibility for Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, Council Tax and Housing Benefits is sent with the letter offering the health check. Anyone identified is helped to complete claim forms by either the Practice Nurse, the Northern Fells Benefits Awareness Scheme Co-ordinator, Age Concern or the Citizens Advice Bureau – whichever the client chooses.
  • Through Awareness notices in the parish and community newsletters, with the Northern Fells Group’s telephone number
  • Advertising the service in the Group’s leaflets
  • On the Group’s website
  • Via the local grapevine – person to person contact