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RealBenefits

An Effective Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

RealBenefits, a web-based information service and tool set, was developed to provide private and public sector organizations with the capacity to perform sophisticated benefit eligibility screening, counseling and advocacy for eligible low income families, easily and at low cost. RealBenefits helps health and human service organizations ensure that they are informing their clients about all the programs they may be eligible for. RealBenefits simplifies the system by helping workers determine which program a client is eligible for and by using the automated system to complete applications. Subscribers (front line health and human service workers) conduct a standardized interview with a client (family), inputting basic information into the system. RealBenefits analyzes the client's information and calculates eligibility for multiple public benefit programs.

Goal / Mission

The goals of RealBenefits are to allow users to 1) maximize benefits designed to promote self-sufficiency and stability for low-income families and their communities; 2) create capacity in public and private health and human service agencies that increases services offered to low-income families and maximizes revenues; and 3) promote change in public benefit application systems.

Results / Accomplishments

In the first five months following the availability of the final version of RealBenefits approximately 1800 households were screened for eligibility and 3,500 applications for various public programs were generated.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Boston Public Health Commission
Topics
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Economy / Poverty
Community / Governance
Organization(s)
Boston Public Health Commission
Source
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Date of publication
2005
Date of implementation
2004
Location
Boston, MA
For more details
Target Audience
Families
Additional Audience
Low-Income
Michigan Health Improvement Alliance