The determinants of participation in a disability-related welfare programme

We investigate the processes underlying payment of Attendance Allowance (AA) in the older UK population, using a partial identification approach. Receipt of AA requires that (i) a claim is made and (ii) programme administrators assess the claim as warranting an award. These processes cannot be analysed directly because we observe neither potentially successful claims that are not pursued, nor rejected claims. Combining survey data with weak prior restrictions and aggregate claim success rates, we are able to distinguish clearly the behaviour of potential claimants and assessors. Results suggest that there are many potentially successful AA claims which are not pursued.