INTRODUCTORY COURSES
Introduction to welfare rights
GDWR0110 17 – 21 May 2010 Glasgow
GDWR0210 4 – 8 October 2010 Glasgow
This five-day course gives you a thorough introduction to means-tested benefits and tax credits. It is essential for anyone starting off as a welfare rights adviser and those who need an understanding of the benefits system. The emphasis is on looking at issues affecting entitlement and practising benefit calculations through case studies and using the Handbook.
A complimentary copy of CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook and a certificate is awarded to those completing all five days of the course.
The course covers:
- Day one Benefits overview
This day gives you an overview of the benefits and tax credits system, and gives practice in problem solving using the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook. It includes a description of means-tested, non-means- tested benefits and tax credits, explains how benefits work together and outlines how claims are made.
- Day two Working age benefits – eligibility
This day looks at who is eligible for the working age benefits: income support (IS), jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) and employment and support allowance (ESA). Through case studies, exercises and presentation, there is plenty of opportunity to explore the eligibility rules in detail. It gives an outline of the claims process for benefits including the ESA medical assessment.
- Day three Working age benefits – amounts
This day gives you the skills you need to be able to work out how much IS, income-based JSA or income-related ESA someone is entitled to. You will learn about the allowances, premiums and components that make up these benefits, and how income and capital affect entitlement. Much of the learning is through practical examples and case studies.
- Day four Housing benefit and council tax benefit
Getting the housing benefit (HB) you are due can make the difference between keeping and losing your home, and council tax can be a major expense for those on low incomes. This day looks in detail at who is eligible, the allowances, premiums and components that make up benefit and explains how the means test works. There are practical examples of how to calculate entitlement. It explains why benefit is sometimes reduced and how you can claim discretionary housing payments.
- Day five Tax credits
This day looks in detail at who is eligible for tax credits, how to claim and how decisions are made. It will help you check payments and gives you a basic guide to calculating tax credits.
“The best overall basic training”
“Full explanations of the benefits were excellent, clear and comprehensive”
We give priority to those booking all five days. But you can book single days if there are places available four weeks before the course. This course does not deal with non-means-tested benefits except to give an understanding of the structure of the system. We recommend the companion introductory course Benefits for ill or disabled people.
Book both courses for a £20 discount.
 Level Introductory
Tutors Moira Escreet, Jane Smith, David Kelly, Mark Willis
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 1.10, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.13
CPD 25 hours
Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
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Benefits for ill or disabled people
GDDB0110 16 – 17 November 2010 Glasgow
This introductory two-day course covers benefits for people unable to work due to illness or disability, and attendance allowance (AA) and disability living allowance (DLA). It is aimed at advisers with little or no experience of these benefits who want to know the main rules and learn how to deal with problems and queries.
Day one covers:
- Who is entitled to out-of-work benefits for ill or disabled people
- How the work capability and personal capability assessments apply
- How to claim out-of-work benefits for ill or disabled people
- Decisions and how to challenge them
Day two covers:
- Who is entitled to AA and DLA
- How to claim AA and DLA
- AA and DLA decisions and how to challenge them
“Thoroughly enjoyable and very informative ”
We give priority to those booking both days of the course but you can book single days if there are places available four weeks before the course.
Level Introductory
Tutor Alision Gillies
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 4.8 and 4.9
CPD 10 hours
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