Tax Credits Project in Scotland

This project aims to contribute to a reduction in the number of families living in poverty by maximizing the potential income available to them through the tax credit system.

The objective of the project is to increase the capacity of front line agencies to provide accurate, high quality and effective advice and information on tax credits to eligible claimants, particularly lone parents and those on low incomes. This is being achieved by providing training, factsheets, a monthly tax credits e-bulletin and running an advice line.

Training

We run a range of tax credits courses for workers of different levels of experience and knowledge:

Half-day basic courses – for frontline workers who do not specialise in welfare rights but need to ensure their clients are not losing out financially. These can be booked as in-house courses for the special offer of £150 for up to 20 participants:

• Tax credits – the essentials £25
• Benefits for disabled children and their families £25

Standard courses – for those with a working knowledge, or want to update their skills:

• Tax credits – appeals, overpayments and complaints

Courses for experienced advisers:

• Tax credits – calculating awards
• Tax credits – caselaw and tactics
• Tax credits – overpayments and challenging decisions DISTANCE LEARNING

Fees and booking information
Booking form

FREE local authority tax credits training
If you work for a local authority in Scotland and provide training on welfare rights, we are offering you free resources and support to deliver basic tax credits courses to frontline workers who work with low-income families or low-waged workers. Find out more on our information page for local authorities.

Tax credits factsheets

We have produced factsheets on a range of tax credit topics, concentrating particularly on problem areas. You can view and print all our factsheets below. To request printed copies email acarr@cpagscotland.org.uk with your contact details and which titles you would like.

•   1: Tax credits and childcare (updated April 2010)
•   2: Tax credits and complaints (updated April 2010)
•   3: Tax credits annual review (updated April 2010)
•   4: Tax credit checks (updated April 2008)
•   5: Tax credits for lone parents (April 2010)
  (formerly called Claiming for children: Moving on to child tax credit. Replaces factsheet 12: Child tax credit for benefit claimants)
•   6: Tax credits – the basics (updated April 2010)
•   7: Tax credits and self-employment (updated March 2008)
•   8: Tax credits – challenging decisions (updated January 2009)
• 10: Tax credits and judicial review (updated April 2010)
• 11: Tax credits – reporting changes of circumstances (updated April 2010)
• 12: Replaced by factsheet 5: Tax credits for lone parents (April 2010)
• 13: Tax credits: a passport to other help (updated April 2010)
• 14: Tax credits overpayments (updated April 2010)
• 15: Tax credits and penalties (September 2007)
• 16: Tax credits for disabled workers (updated April 2010)
• 17: Tax credits and foster carers (updated April 2009)
• 18: Tax credits and going back to work (updated April 2010)
• 19: Tax credits and flexible working (April 2010)
  (formerly called Tax credits for term-time and seasonal workers)
• 20: Tax credits for people from abroad (updated April 2010)
• 
  See also Students and tax credits (519KB pdf file) from our Benefits for Students Project.

Tax credits e-bulletin

Our monthly tax credits e-bulletin keeps you up to date with tax credits news and developments. You can read recent editions by following the links below, or sign up to the e-bulletin here. Please note, we will not pass your details to anyone outside CPAG, and you can unsubscribe from the e-bulletin at any time.

• June 2010 (opens new page)
• May 2010 (opens new page)
• April 2010 (opens new page)
• Past tax credits e-bulletins

Advice line for advisers in Scotland

We offer advice and information to advisers in Scotland on all aspects of the welfare benefits and tax credits systems through our advice line.

Project news

The Scottish Government funded an independent evaluation of our Tax Credits Project in 2008. The evaluation found that our tax credits training, information and advice was rated very highly and has increased the capacity of user organisations, with overwhelming support for the continuation of the project. Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey.

Download the Evaluation Report of CPAG in Scotland’s Tax Credits Project (562 KB PDF file)

For further information on the Tax Credits Project please contact:

Mark Willis
tel: 0141 552 3722 mwillis@cpagscotland.org.uk

CPAG in Scotland, Unit 9, Ladywell, 94 Duke Street, Glasgow, G4 0UW. Tel: 0141 552 3303 staff@cpagscotland.org.uk

This project is funded by the Scottish Government.