I'm currently writing a book, which has been commissioned, about welfare rights practice. I recall seeing some research about the local economic multiplier effect of benefit take-up.

Can anyone point me in the direction of these reserach reports? I think there was research in Dundee and Gateshead in the 1980s and a more recent study in Glasgow. Even better can anyone send me a copy?

All contributions will be acknowledged in the book.

I've already got the New Economics Foundation's publications on this subject.

Thanks

Hi
At Age Concern England through our Income Maximisation Project we're looking at developing ways of measuring 'quality of life outcomes' as a result of advice for older people, as well as recording benefits gains/debts written off. These outcomes will be along the lines of maintaining independence, prevention of ill-health and improved social contacts, and we're doing it partly because funders are increasingly asking for it, but also because it does give a better picture of the overall impact of the service.

... anyway to answer your question - Brighton & Hove CAB commissioned a report in November 2003 from the Health and Social Policy Research Centre, University of Brighton, on the economic impact of their advice. The results mention using the New Economic Foundations mutiplier to quantify financial amounts. I don't know if its on the net but I can email you an electronic copy if you like

alban

Thanks, a copy of the Brighton findings would be helpful and when ACE's work on quality of life outcomes is ready to go in the public doamin, I'd be interested in seeing that too. My address is 11 Corder Road, Ipswich, IP4 2XD.

One thing which would be useful is a standardised method of recording benefit gains across all advice agencies. Currently there are 57 varieties.

Makes me wonder if there's a place for this sort of analytical information in a discrete place on Rightsnet somewhere?

Hi Neil, the following have done research on the economic impact of benefit take up - Gary Craig Professor of Social Justice - university of Hull and Paul Dornan PHD student and Jonathan Bradshaw Professor of social policy - university of York.
I'll send an article it's maybe not exactly 100% what you are after but they appear to be definitely worth contacting.

see ya andy

Thanks - all offers gratefully received (and you get a mention in the acknowldgements section of the book!).

In that case i hope it's a best seller booker prize winner.

Just completed a report on our benefit take up campaign and 2 of the references we used were:

The Money Trail - New Economics Foundation - on their website
Extended Scottish Input - Output Systems - Strathclyde University and Scottish Enterprise (1992)