Do UK patients with complications of diabetes mellitus receive the financial State benefits to which they are entitled?

Abstract

AbstractWe interviewed 48 patients with complications of diabetes, assessing uptake of financial State benefits, eligibility for further benefits, demographic factors and clinical features. Forty seven (98%) of the patients satisfied criteria for financial State benefits, of whom 39 received less than their full entitlement, or no benefits at all. Patients not in receipt of full benefit entitlement tended to be older, of lower social class, more disabled and more likely to live alone than those who received their full entitlement. Patients most in need of benefits therefore appear least able to access these. A wide range of professional groups and contacts were quoted when patients were asked whom they would approach for more information about benefits.Patients with complicated diabetes generally appear to have low levels of awareness about, and uptake of, benefits to which they are entitled. Access to greater information for such patients is required, and this might, at least in part, be facilitated by increased availability of information in diabetes clinics.