Welfare Benefit Training Courses
There are currently twelve training courses available for delivery across the region.
Introduction Level Course
This course is for advisers who are new to welfare benefit work and have little, or no, knowledge of the welfare benefit system.
Introduction to Benefits – One day Course
This course is suitable for anyone who needs a basic understanding of the welfare benefit system. The course aims to give learners an understanding of the benefit and tax credit system and the way in which benefits interact with each other. No previous knowledge of the welfare benefit system is needed to attend this course, but it could also be used as a refresher course for advisers who have some previous knowledge which may need updating
The course will cover:
- The benefits available to different client groups.
- How the benefit and tax credit system is structured.
- National Insurance contributions and access to benefits.
- Basic criteria for claiming welfare benefits.
- The inter-action of benefits with one another.
- How to carry out a basic benefit check for signposting clients.
Introduction to Welfare Benefits – Two day Course
Learners will gain an understanding of the basic criteria for claiming both non means-tested and means tested benefits with emphasis on Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit and Tax Credits. Issues are explored using case studies, basic calculations and discussions about issues which affect benefit claimants.
Day One – Overview of the Welfare Benefit System concentrating on Contributory and Non-Contributory benefits.
Day Two – Overview of the means-tested part of the Welfare Benefit System including Tax Credits, the Social Fund and passported benefits.
The course will cover:
- The benefits available to different client groups.
- How the benefit and tax credit system is structured.
- National Insurance contributions and access to benefits.
- Basic criteria for claiming welfare benefits.
- The inter-action of benefits with one another.
- Administration of benefits and how to claim.
- Practical exercise on how to carry out a basic benefit check for signposting clients.
- Overview of key benefits and how they impact on the amount of benefit paid to clients
The two day course offers learners more time to explore the benefits which make up the welfare benefit system, understand how benefits are calculated and the basic rules of entitlement, but will also enable learners to look at specific key benefits in more detail.
Intermediate Level Courses
For advisers who, in the course of their work, need to have greater knowledge of the topic in order to advise clients of their rights and responsibilities when claiming social security benefits and tax credits. The courses are also suitable as refresher courses for advisers.
Employment and Support Allowance - One day Course
ESA was introduced in October 2008 and replaces Incapacity Benefit for those who have limited capability for work. The course explains how this benefit is structured, who can claim, how claimants are assessed, and when, and the conditionality requirements which claimants have to meet in order to be eligible for ESA.
The course will cover:
- Eligibility criteria for ESA.
- How ESA is calculated.
- The Work Capability Assessment process.
- Conditionality requirements.
- How a claimant can be sanctioned.
- Interaction between ESA and other benefits.
Disability Living Allowance – One day Course
This course offers the opportunity to look at the completion of a Disability Living Allowance form. Participants will be able to identify who may be entitled to claim and discuss how to help a client complete the form. Completion of a claim form will form part of the course, with plenty of time for discussion on what information is needed and how to present that information to the decision maker.
The course will cover:
- Eligibility for DLA.
- The criteria for awarding the care/mobility components.
- How to complete a DLA form – a practical exercise.
- The supporting evidence required.
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit – One day Course
Child Tax Credit is paid to parents who are in work or claiming benefits. Working tax credit supports those who are in work, but are in low paid employment. This course equips advisers with knowledge about who is entitled to claim and how to help claimants provide the correct information to prevent overpayments occurring. Some basic calculations will form part of this course.
The course will include:
- Who is eligible to claim tax credits.
- How tax credits are calculated.
- What is taken into account as income.
- Claiming and getting paid.
- Changes of circumstances which affect the tax credit award.
Housing Benefit – One day Course
Housing Benefit helps tenants pay their rent. The course looks at the basic rules which surround eligibility for this benefit and when Housing Benefit may be refused.
The course will include:
- Eligibility for claiming Housing Benefit.
- Payments which can be met by Housing Benefit.
- Basic calculation of housing benefit.
- Payments on account.
- Contrived tenancies.
- Backdating rules.
Benefits for Older People – One day Course
This course looks at the range of benefits which are available to people over the age of 60 and the maximisation of benefit for this group of claimants.
The course will include:
- State Retirement Pension
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Credit and the assessed income period
- Housing Benefit
- Winter Fuel Payments and other Social Fund payments
Benefits for New and Lone Parents – One Day Course
This course covers the benefits which are available for new parents and also financial support for lone parents. The course is suitable for anyone working with families, requiring a working knowledge of the benefits which are available to parents and how these financially support families.
- Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay rules
- Maternity Allowance
- Health in Pregnancy Grant/Sure Start Maternity Grant
- Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits
- Changes to rules on lone parents claiming Income Support and who is affected by the new rules
- Conditionality for claiming benefit
Students and Benefits – One Day Course
Entitlement to benefits may depend on age and the type of course, or training, the student is undertaking. This course looks at the rules for claiming benefits whilst studying in the age group 16-25 years.
- Benefit eligibility when studying.
- Full and part time student – definitions.
- Claiming Employment and Support Allowance whilst studying.
- Means tested benefits for students.
- Claiming during holiday periods.
This course is suitable for anyone working with young people who may need financial support in order to remain in education or training. It looks at the complex rules which apply to different age groups, as well as the criteria for claiming means tested benefits whilst studying or receiving training.
Advanced Level Courses
For advisers who are already experienced and have a good working knowledge of the welfare benefit system. These courses will look at more challenging aspects of benefit advice and how to deal with complex cases.
Challenging Social Security Decisions – One day Course
This course offers a basic understanding of representation to the first-tier appeals tribunal.
The course will cover:
- Time limits for appealing social security decisions.
- The process for dealing with an appeal.
- Preparation of documentation for the first tier tribunal.
- What to expect at the tribunal
Overpayments and how to challenge - One day Course
Overpayments are a problem for many clients. This course will look at the rules surrounding the recovery of overpayments and when this may be challenged. The course will give an opportunity to look at “ordinary overpayments” and when different rules apply.
The course will cover:
- When an overpayment can be recovered.
- The difference between “failure to disclose” and “misrepresenting a material fact”.
- Is the overpayment legally recoverable?
- How will it be recovered?
The course requires thorough knowledge and understanding of the criteria for claiming social security benefits and how benefits are calculated. This course does not cover tax credit overpayments.
Challenging Tax Credit Decisions – One Day Course
This course will look at the reasons for overpayments occurring, the Revenue’s Code of Practice for recovering overpayments and the procedure for making a complaint.
- Tax credit decisions which can be challenged.
- Circumstances which create overpayments.
- Recovery procedures for overpayments.
- The process of dealing with a client’s appeal.
- The evidence required to support appeal.
- Complaining to HMRC.
- Taking a complaint to the Adjudicator.
This course requires thorough understanding of the rules for claiming tax credits and how the award is calculated.
For details of any of the above courses, please contact us: 08453 580372
last updated on 30th November 2009