For
details of training in Scotland, see CPAG
training in Scotland pages.
INTRODUCTORY
COURSES
An introduction
to welfare rights
LDWR0307 14-18 January 2008
LDWR0108 2-6 June 2008
LDWR0208 6-10 October 2008
LDWR0308 12-16 January 2009
A discount of
£20 is available to those who book this course along with
the Incapacity and disability benefits training course.
Course participants
who book for the whole week receive a complimentary copy of CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.
This week-long
course is aimed at advisers, social workers, probation workers,
health and housing workers and others new to welfare benefit advice
work.
This course
is designed to give participants an understanding of the structure
of the benefit system, ability to identify the issues that may affect
entitlement and an appreciation of the importance of advice and
advocacy. The emphasis is on tackling day-to-day benefit questions
through case studies and problem solving and providing participants
with the chance to practice using the handbook.
This course
does not deal with non-means-tested benefits except as part of understanding
the structure of the system.
The course covers:
- Day one – an overview of the benefits and tax credit systems;
- Day two – how to use CPAG's Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook;
conditions of entitlement to income support and income-based jobseeker's
allowance;
- Day three – differences between income support and income-based jobseeker's
allowance; calculating income support;
- Day four – housing benefit, including an overview of council tax benefit;
- Day five – child tax credit and working tax credit.
A certificate
is awarded to those completing all five days.
We recommend
that participants attend all five days, but for those with some
experience of the subjects covered there are a limited number of
places for those who want to attend single days only. Priority is
given to people booking for the full course.
“Well run, easy learning style. Feel confident on leaving the sessions that I have learnt lots!”
Level Introductory
Tutors Steve Johnson; Aida Shoush; David Stickland and Michele Jones
CPD hours 25
NOS LA49
CPAG publication:
Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Benefits for non-benefits advisers
LDNB0108
22-23 May 2008
LDNB0208 26-27 November 2008
This two-day
course is aimed at professionals who work with clients for whom
benefits are an issue but who will not be advising on benefits themselves
(e.g. social workers, supported housing workers, day centre staff
and lawyers).
Attending this
course will enable workers to identify benefits their clients might
be entitled to and have a basic understanding of how to claim and
how to dispute decisions. The course aims to give participants:
- awareness of benefits available to different client groups, in and out of work;
- understanding how the benefits and tax credits system is structured;
- ability to conduct a basic benefits check;
- knowledge of who administers each benefit and how to contact them;
- knowledge of revision and appeal mechanisms to dispute decisions; including the relevance of time limits;
- knowledge of how to use the CPAG handbook;
- knowledge of where to get further help. use CPAG's Handbook
“Excellent delivery by course tutor. Varied, humorous but kept us to time and the point.”
Level Pre-introductory
Tutor David Stickland
CPD hours 10
NOS LA49 and LA10
CPAG publication:
Benefits and Tax Credit Rates Poster
Incapacity
and disability benefits
LDDB0108 30 June-1 July 2008
LDDB0208 21-22 January 2009
This introductory two-day course covers the main disability and incapacity benefits including disability living allowance, attendance allowance and incapacity benefit (employment and support allowance from October 2008).
Day one covers incapacity benefits with emphasis on the personal capability assessment. Day two covers DLA/AA with the emphasis on understanding the disability conditions and making successful claims.
The course also tackles common problems including:
- the DLA disability tests and the personal capability assessment;
- interviewing clients for DLA claims;
- the impact of disability and incapacity benefits on other benefits and entitlement to ‘passported’ benefits;
- recent developments.
Level Introductory
Tutor Tony Bowman
CPD hours 10
NOS LA3 and LA49
CPAG publication: Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Interviewing skills
LDSK0207 8 February 2008
For anyone employed
in dealing with the public, success or failure with customers or
clients can often depend on how effectively you are able to communicate
with the client.
Knowing the
range of communication skills available and, more importantly, how
to use them, is crucial to overcoming, and preventing, difficulties
that may arise during an interview. This course will help by developing,
through discussion and practice:
- techniques
to build trust and rapport with the client;
- an understanding
of the importance of listening and questioning skills;
- understanding
and using non-verbal communication.
This course
is suitable for advisers in advice organisations, local authorities,
public service organisations or anywhere where dealing face-to-face
with the public is an essential part of the job.
Level Introductory
Tutor Tony Bowman
CPD hours 5
NOS LA1; LA2 and LA3
UPDATE
COURSES FOR EXPERIENCED ADVISERS
Social security and tax credits law update
LDSS0207 5 February 2008
LDSS0108 27 June 2008
LDSS0208 3 February 2009
Social security
and tax credits law can change from day to day and advisers need
to keep abreast of such developments in order to advise their clients
correctly. Arranged under topic headings, and concentrating primarily
on case-law, this one-day course looks at the most important changes
in social security and tax credits law from the previous 6 months
and considers:
- decisions
of the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords, as well
as the European Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights;
- selected
decisions of the social security commissioners; and
- significant
changes to Acts and regulations.
Level Experienced
Tutor Simon Osborne
CPD hours 5
NOS LA50
See also Students
and benefits: an update for experienced advisers and Welfare benefits update for lawyers
CPAG publication:
Welfare Rights Bulletin
LIFE
EVENTS
Birth:
employment rights and benefit when a child is born
LDBE0108 2 October 2008
This course
looks at the employment and benefit rights of pregnant women and
families around the time of the birth of a child. Benefit rights
for pregnant women and mothers not in paid work will also be looked
at. The course will include recent changes to maternity rights.
The course aims
to give participants:
- an understanding
of the employment rights of pregnant women, including health and
safety protection, rights to time off for ante-natal care, and
protection from discrimination;
- knowledge
of maternity leave and pay, paternity leave and pay, and adoption
leave and pay, including qualification criteria and notice requirements;
- awareness
of the employment rights of women during their maternity leave
and on their return to work, of parents’ right to request child-friendly
working hours, and of the right to parental leave and time off
for dependants;
- knowledge
of the benefit and tax credit rights and other financial help
available during pregnancy, maternity leave, adoption leave and
paternity leave, and after birth or adoption.
The course assumes
basic knowledge of the benefit and tax credit system.
“Thoroughly enjoyable; well-presented and good pace, pitch & knowledge. Will be recommending to others”
Level Standard
Tutors Rachel Hadwen and Stephanie McKeon
CPD hours 5
NOS LA45 and LA49
Benefit
support on bereavement
LDBB0108 18 September 2008
The practical
issues surrounding the death of someone in the family can be overwhelming
at such a hard time. Sorting out some kind of financial security
often can be one of the biggest worries. This course is aimed at
advisers and others who will be supporting families dealing with
these issues. It looks at what happens to benefits when someone
dies and the benefits that can be claimed afterwards. The course
will cover:
- what needs
to be done to inform the relevant benefit authorities following
a death
- social fund
funeral payments
- bereavement
benefits for people under pension age
- inheriting
state retirement pensions
- claiming
other benefits after a death
The course assumes
a basic understanding of other parts of the benefits system.
Level Standard
Tutor Aida Shoush
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
TAX
CREDITS
Tax credits – the basics
LDTB0108 19 September 2008
This course provides
a basic tax credits tool kit for people working with families and
low-paid workers. It is for those who want to be able to give appropriate
initial tax credit guidance to their clients and referral but not
detailed tax credit advice.
Using checklists
and practical examples, this course covers:
- who can
get tax credits;
- what events
in people’s lives have tax credits consequences;
- how to help
clients reduce the risk of overpayments;
- how to give
initial guidance and make appropriate referrals.
Level Introductory
Tutor David Stickland
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49 and LA10
CPAG publication: Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Please sign up for our tax credits 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.
Child
tax credit and working tax credit
LDCT0108 25
June 2008
LDCT0208 13 November 2008
Child tax
credit and working tax credit can be booked as a two-day course
with Calculating tax credits.
Working tax
credit supports low-waged workers. Child tax credit is now part
of the basic package of financial support for children, with most
families on benefit expected to transfer in 2005. More than ever,
advisers need to be equipped to advise on entitlement and know what
to do when things go wrong. This course provides a detailed introduction,
looking at who can get tax credits and how much they get, as well
as considering the annual assessment. It is suitable for advisers
who are experienced in the current benefits system but have limited
or no experience of tax credits. The course covers:
- who is eligible
for tax credits;
- how tax
credits are calculated;
- assessment
of income;
- claiming
and getting paid;
- an overview
of decision-making and challenging decisions.
Level Standard
Tutors Judith Paterson or Mark Robertson
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
CPAG publication: Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Please sign up for our tax credits 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.
Calculating tax credits
LDCW0108 26 June 2008
LDCW0208 14 November 2008
Calculating tax
credits can be booked as a two-day course with Child tax
credit and working tax credit.
Many factors
can affect entitlement to tax credits through the year. This course
uses a step-by-step approach illustrated with case studies to explain
the tax credits calculation in detail. It looks at how tax credits
are calculated when a claimant’s circumstances are not straightforward
or when they change during the year.
The course covers:
- calculating
tax credits where there are changes in personal circumstances;
- calculating
tax credits where there are changes in income;
- calculating
changes in childcare costs.
This course
is aimed at those who have an understanding of how to do a basic
tax credits calculation, for example, from recently attending our Child tax credit and working tax credit course,
or day five of Introduction to welfare rights.
The course involves a lot of practical work leading to some challenging
calculations.
Level Standard
Tutors Judith
Paterson or Steve Johnson
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
CPAG publication: Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Please sign up for our tax credits 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.
Tax credits: overpayments
LDTC0108 21 April 2008
LDTC0208 5 November 2008
Tax credits:
overpayments can be booked as
a two-day course with Tax credits: compliance
and appeals.
This course
looks in detail at the issues arising from the system of annual
awards (which applies uniquely to tax credits). The course examines
the system of decision making, the renewal process, overpayments
and recovery, and investigates the remedies available to claimants
to deal with recovery.
The course covers:
- the causes of overpayments;
- the legal basis of awards;
- overpayments and changes of income;
- overpayments and changes of circumstances;
- overpayments and the renewal process;
- methods of recovery of overpayments – by deduction or direct repayment;
- understanding award notices;
- challenging recovery and reducing recovery on grounds of hardship.
Participants
will be expected to have a working knowledge of tax credits and
an understanding of the calculation of tax credits without the assistance
of a computer programme.
Level Experienced
Tutors Beth
Lakhani
CPD hours 5
NOS LA50
CPAG publication: Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Please sign up for our tax credits 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.
Tax credits: compliance and appeals
LDTX0108 22 April 2008
LDTX0208 6 November 2008
Tax credits:
compliance and appeals can be booked with the one-day course Tax credits: overpayments.
This course is an introduction to compliance for advisers with experience of dealing with tax credits queries and casework. It covers the investigative process, when penalties may be applied in law, and the impact on claimants of extended duties to report changes of circumstances relating to hours of work and changes in family structure. It examines the Revenue’s policy on offsetting and its approach to the imposition of penalties for those on low incomes. The course also deals with appeals.
The course will cover:
- legal requirements of tax credit recipients to provide information in connection with claims, changes of circumstances and investigations;
- examinations and enquiries: how and when the different investigative processes are used;
- penalties – a brief introduction;
- when a person may have a notional entitlement which can be offset against an overpayment;
- tax credit appeals – the process and what is happening in practice.
Participants
will be expected to have a working knowledge of tax credits and
an understanding of the calculation of tax credits without the benefit
of a computer programme.
Level Experienced
Tutors Beth
Lakhani and Steve Johnson
CPD hours 5
NOS LA50
CPAG publication: Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Please sign up for our tax credits 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.
An
introduction to pension credit
LDPC0108
2 July 2008
This course
looks at the intention and structure of the pension credit system.
The course covers:
- the main
entitlement rules;
- how to calculate
the guarantee credit;
- how to calculate
the savings credit;
- claims and
administration;
- how the
assessed income period works;
- the effect
on the other benefits (especially HB/CTB).
The course assumes
basic knowledge of the benefits system.
Level Standard
Tutor Steve Johnson
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
SEMINAR
Pension credit
LDPS0108 3 July 2008
This half-day seminar seeks to explore some pension credit problem areas, including:
- the notional
capital rule changes;
- the Assessed
Income Period and changes of circumstances;
- the interaction
of pension credit and pensioner HB/CTB;
- the interaction
of pension credit and tax credits;
- residential
care and pension credit.
Those who sign
up for the seminar will also be able to feed in items for discussion.
Level Standard
Tutor Steve Johnson
CPD hours 3
NOS LA49 and LA50
BENEFIT
ADMINISTRATION
Claims,
backdating and challenging decisions
LDCB0108
29 April 2008
LDCB0208 29 September 2008
Claims, backdating
and challenging decisions can be booked as a two-day course
with Overpayments and recovery of benefit.
The timing of
claims for benefit and requests for revisions and supersessions
is crucial and failure to claim in the correct manner and at the
appropriate time can lead to loss of benefit entitlement.
This course
examines the rules in detail with a view to maximising income. It
is particularly useful for those involved in benefit take-up campaigns.
The course includes:
- discussion
of the current systems for administering claims for benefits,
the varying processes for different benefits and how these work
in practice.
- the ‘onus
of proof’ rules in claims for Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance;
- how to achieve
maximum backdating of a benefit decision;
- how to challenge
a decision using the revision and supersession rules.
NB this course
does not cover appeals which are dealt with in separate courses.
Level Standard
Tutor Daphne Hall
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49 and LA50
Overpayments
and recovery of benefit
LDRB0108
30 April 2008
LDRB0208 30 September 2008
Overpayments
and recovery of benefit can be booked as a two-day course with Claims, backdating and challenging decisions.
Claimants are
sometimes paid too much benefit – but can all overpayments
be recovered? When recovery is possible, what procedures should
be followed? This course takes a detailed look at benefit overpayment
and recovery, including housing benefit. It covers:
- 'ordinary'
overpayments – misrepresentation and failure to disclose;
- duplication
of payments because other income is paid late;
- mortgage
interest paid direct to lenders;
- overpayments
of housing benefit and council tax benefit;
- challenging
decisions and appeal tactics;
- the Secretary
of State's discretion not to recover;
- methods of
recovery;
- an introduction
to tax credits overpayments.
Level Standard
Tutor Daphne Hall
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49 and LA50
ADVISING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CARERS
(see also Incapacity
and disability benefits in the introductory courses
section and the suggested route of learning
map)
AA/DLA
– revisions, supersessions and appeals
LDAA0108 15-16 May 2008
LDAA0208 11-12 December 2008
This two-day
course is aimed at more experienced advisers taking on the problems
that arise in claims for attendance allowance (AA) and disability
living allowance (DLA).
Participants
will have an opportunity to use the legislation, case law and other
useful resources (e.g. Bonner & Rowland) to look at:
- claiming
AA and DLA effectively;
- the revision
and supersession procedure;
- tackling
unfavourable decisions;
- preparing
arguments for a revision, supersession or appeal;
- test cases,
e.g. Halliday and Mallinson.
The course involves
a lot of practical work and participants are encouraged to bring
along case examples.
A working knowledge
of attendance allowance and disability living allowance is assumed.
Level Standard
Tutor Tahnyet Faroqui
CPD hours 10
NOS LA50
Claiming DLA for children
LDCD0207 11 February 2008
LDCD0108 14 May 2008
LDCD0208 24 March 2009
The rules around
claiming DLA for children are different than for adults and completing
the claim form needs a different approach. This course will give
an overview of these rules and look at how to fill out the form
to avoid pitfalls and obtain the best outcome from the outset. The
course will cover the following:
- what levels
and different types of extra care would be needed for a child
to be awarded DLA;
- the basic
milestones in childhood development;
- the range
of supporting evidence and information about childhood disability
which might assist with a claim;
- the main
case law on DLA for children;
- the impact
of stays in residential schooling/care/hospital;
- how DLA for
a child can help increase the range of benefits and tax credits
a family may get;
- what happens
to the administration and payment of DLA when a child becomes
16 years of age.
Level Standard
Tutor Marian Gell
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
SEMINAR
Disability living allowance: case law and tactics
LDDL0207 10 March 2008
LDDL0108 17 June 2008
LDDL0208 31 March 2009
This seminar,
aimed at experienced appeal tribunal representatives, will provide
an overview of the main case law and other developments in disability
living allowance appeals, and consider the implications for tactics
at tribunals. Among the subjects considered will be:
- case law
– key decisions, test-cases;
- medical
evidence – its importance, use at tribunal, how it is weighed;
- presenting
at the tribunal – current trends and the expectations placed on
representatives and appellants.
The seminar
will include the opportunity for representatives to share experiences
and ideas.
Level: Experienced
Tutor: Simon Osborne
CPD hours 3
NOS LA50
Community
care and social security
LDCC0108 23 June 2008
LDCC0208 23 February 2009
Community care and social security can be booked as a two-day course with Benefits for carers of sick and disabled people.
Care in the
community is an issue for many advisers, particularly those working
with older people, people with disabilities and carers.
This one-day
course will assist those who want to maximise their clients’ income
and minimise loss of benefit when receiving community care services
from a local authority. It will include discussion of relevant community
care legislation and procedures. The course covers:
- the role
and responsibilities of local authorities in providing and financing
care packages;
- benefit
rights in different community care settings and in care homes;
- charging
for community care services services;
- challenging
decisions.
A working knowledge
of the benefits system is assumed.
Level Standard
Tutor Lynn Webster
CPD hours 5
NOS LA50 and LA51
CPAG publication:
Paying for Care Handbook
Benefits for carers of sick and disabled people
LDBC0207 21 January 2008
LDBC0108 24 June 2008
LDBC0208 24 February 2009
Community care and social security can be booked as a two-day course with Benefits for carers of sick and disabled people.
This course
will cover entitlement to, and impact on, benefits for those caring
for people with illness and/or disability. It will include the following:
- carer’s
allowance (CA): who can claim - looking at what counts as regular
and substantial care and gainful employment; breaks from caring;
overlapping benefit rules; and impact of claiming CA on the benefits
of the person being cared for;
- claiming
income support or pension credit as a carer: who can claim; and
impact of claiming CA on these benefits and on other means-tested
benefits and tax credits;
- backdating
rules when awarded CA;
- impact on
carer’s benefits where the person being cared for goes into and
out of hospital or respite care;
- live-in
carers: whether treated as non-dependant; and impact on carer’s
benefits where absence from home is temporary;
- JSA: availability
for work rules for carers;
- caring and
studying: impact on benefits;
- linking
rules relevant to carers.
This course
does not cover benefits relating to caring for children (other than
where the child being cared for is disabled) or community care and
benefits. See below for details of our Community care and social
security course.
Level Standard
Tutor Lynn Webster
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
Mental
health: the sickness route to benefit and claiming DLA
LDMH0207 11 March 2008
LDMH0108 28 November 2008
LDMH0208 18 March 2009
A
one-day, practical, tactical look at working with people with mental
health diagnoses to assist in securing sickness-route and disability
benefit entitlement. Some familiarity with DLA qualifying
conditions is assumed.
The course will
include:
- barriers
to benefits and mental health;
- common diagnoses,
symptoms, medication and side-effects;
- considerations
when working in a mental health context;
- personal
capability assessment (PCA) exemption;
- the PCA
– from IB50 to mental health interview;
- the future
for sickeness route claimants - Pathways to Work and Employment
and Support Allowance;
- Dsability
Living Allowance in a mental health context;
- the difference
income maximisation makes.
“Very good training session – first time I ever stayed alert and interested in an after lunch session. Well done to the trainer who is very approachable and engaging.”
Level Standard
Tutors Judy Stenger
CPD hours 5
NOS LA37 and LA49
INCAPACITY
FOR WORK AND WELFARE REFORM
Employment and support allowance
LDES0107 30 January 2008 Fully Booked
LDES0108 23 April 2008 LDES0208 Fully Booked
LDES0208 18 June 2008 Fully Booked
LDES0608 16 September 2008 Fully Booked
LDES0308 24 September 2008
Fully Booked
LDES0708 22 July 2008 NEW DATE
LDES0808 1 October 2008 Fully Booked
LDES0908 13 October 2008 NEW DATE
LDES0408 5 November 2008 NEW DATE
LDES1008 19 November 2008 NEW DATE
Employment and support allowance (ESA) will replace both incapacity benefit and incapacity based income support from 27 October 2008. With a new benefit structure and test of capability for work, ESA is set to change both the amount of benefit sick and disabled claimants can get and how they qualify for it. The course provides a detailed introduction to this new benefit.
The course
covers:
- the eligibility
criteria;
- how the
allowance is calculated;
- the work-related
conditions claimants must satisfy and who is exempt;
- the impact
on existing incapacity-related benefit claimants.
This course
is suitable for anyone wanting to explore this new allowance in
detail, including experienced advisers who want to update their
knowledge.
Level Standard
Tutor Rebecca Walker
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
Please sign up for our free email update on ESA. Please note, we will not pass your details to anyone outside CPAG, and you can unsubscribe from the e-bulletin at any time.
NEW
HALF-DAY COURSE
The ‘revised PCA’ test for employment and support allowance
LDRE0108 8 May 2008 (1.00pm - 4.30pm) Fully Booked
LDRE0308 15 July 2008 (1.00pm - 4.30pm) NEW DATE
LDRE0208 13 October 2008 (1.00pm - 4.30pm)
Fully Booked
LDRE0408 21 October 2008 (1.00pm - 4.30pm) NEW DATE
A new incapacity test (of ‘limited capability for work’) will apply to claimants of employment and support allowance when that is introduced. What is this revised PCA? (the 'Work Capability Assessment'). Who is subject to it? How will it work? This seminar is for those advisers who wish to familiarise themselves with the new test. Topics covered include:
- who the test applies to;
- exemptions and exceptional circumstances;
- descriptors, points and scoring;
- appeals
Level Standard
Tutors Simon Osborne
CPD hours 3
NOS LA49
Please sign up for our free email update on ESA. Please note, we will not pass your details to anyone outside CPAG, and you can unsubscribe from the e-bulletin at any time.
Industrial
injury benefits
LDDS0108 20 May 2008
Every year, thousands
of people are injured at work. Young people and those working in
non-unionised employment are most at risk. The Industrial Injury
Benefit Scheme is intended to offer compensation to those who suffer
such an injury and therefore is an extremely important area of social
security.
This one-day
course will look at the individual benefits within the scheme:
- disablement
benefit;
- constant
attendance allowance;
- exceptionally
severe disablement allowance;
- reduced
earnings allowance;
- retirement
allowance.
It will look
at the principal rules governing entitlement, including:
- personal
injury;
- accidents;
- prescribed
diseases;
- loss of
faculty
- the length
of assessments
- how to challenge
decisions.
Level Standard
Tutors Pamela Fitzpatrick
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49 and LA50
SEMINAR
Incapacity for work appeals: case law and tactics
LDWA0108 14 July 2008
This seminar,
aimed at experienced appeal tribunal representatives, will provide
an overview of the main case law and other developments in incapacity
for work appeals, and consider the implications for tactics at tribunals.
Among the subjects considered will be:
- case law
– past trends, future prospects;
- medical
evidence – its importance, use at tribunal, how it is weighed;
- approaches
to PCA descriptors – working context, fluctuating conditions.
The seminar
will include the opportunity for representatives to share experiences
and ideas.
Level Experienced
Tutor Simon Osborne
CPD hours 3
NOS LA50
NEW
DEAL
The
New Deal and 'welfare to work' for claimants
LDND0108
17 November 2008
This course provides a practical description of the New Deal and Pathways to Work and the different claimant groups they are intended to assist into work. The structure of these welfare to work schemes is in the process of change – it is intended that one model of New Deal will apply to all claimants in receipt of JSA. Other New Deals and work programmes remain in place as part of Pathways to work to assist some lone parents and disabled people into work-related-activity or training. The course will explore the extent of financial help available under the schemes. The course includes:
- pathways to work: who delivers and for whom;
- New Deal and referral, the gateway; subsidised jobs and training options;
- sanctions;
- lone parents and New Deal;
- disabled people and New Deal;
- financial support while on New Deal and help with child care costs;
- current changes to the structure of welfare to work programmes.
(The content
is subject to change as the New Deal and other 'welfare to work'
schemes are modified)
Level Standard
Tutor Beth Lakhani
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
ADVISING YOUNG PEOPLE
Benefits
and financial support; looked-after children and their families (formerly Benefits and the Children Act)
LDCA0108
19 June 2008
LDCA0208 3 November 2008
Benefits
and financial support; looked-after children and their families can be booked as a two-day course with Benefits
for young people.
A knowledge
of the Children Act 1989 is essential for people advising or supporting
families and young people, particularly issues concerning financial
support and entitlement to social security benefits. This one-day
course covers:
- what happens
to family benefits when a child or young person is looked after;
- financial
help from the local authority for children in need, families and
care-leavers;
- charging
for local authority services – who has to pay?;
- effects of
the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.
This is an essential
and popular course for social workers, health visitors, lawyers,
benefits advisers and others with clients needing local authority
services. No prior knowledge of the Children Act 1989 or the benefits
system is needed.
Level Introductory
Tutor Gary Vaux
CPD hours 5
NOS LA36
Benefits
for young people
LDYP0108
20 June 2008
LDYP0208 4 November 2008
Benefits
for young people can be booked as a two-day course with Benefits
and financial support; looked-after children and their families.
The rules enabling
young people to claim benefits can seem complicated. This course
will help probation workers, Connexions Personal Advisers, social
services staff, housing workers, education workers, advice workers
and anyone advising young people get to grips with those rules.
The course looks
at how the benefits system applies to young people (aged under 25),
and particularly those aged 16 – 17. It will focus on:
- income support;
- jobseeker's
allowance (including severe hardship payments);
- housing
benefit.
It will also
look at the benefit entitlement of those in particular situations
e.g. disabled young people, looked-after children and care-leavers,
people on training courses and in education (including changes made
to the benefit and EMA system in April 2006), pregnancy and lone
parents, part-time students, and young people living away from their
parents.
A basic knowledge
of the benefit and tax credit system is assumed.
“ Brilliant – great delivery on a subject which could have been very dull!! Really valued the practical exercises.”
Level Standard
Tutor Gary Vaux
CPD hours 5
NOS LA36
STUDENTS
Students
and benefits – eligibility and definitions
LDSB0207 12 March 2008
LDSB0108 8 September 2008
LDSB0208 11 March 2009
Students
and benefits – eligibility and definitions can be booked
as a two-day course with Students and benefits
– treatment of student income or as a stand-alone one-day
course.
This one-day
course covers the eligibility of students within the welfare benefits
system and the definitions that apply. The day focuses particularly
upon means-tested benefits, (income support, housing benefits and
jobseeker’s allowance) for both full- and part-time students undertaking
courses in the further and higher education sectors.
A knowledge
of the general rules for means-tested benefits is required for this
course.
Level Standard
Tutor Lindsey Fidler and Jayne Aldridge
CPD hours 5
NOS LA53
CPAG publication:
Student Support and Benefits Handbook: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Students
and benefits – treatment of student income
LDSC0207 13 March 2008
LDSC0108 9 September 2008
LDSC0208 12 March 2009
This
course is designed to follow on from Students
and benefits – eligibility and definitions, or
as a stand-alone one-day course for those with experience of advising
students.
This one-day
course focuses on the treatment of student income for means-tested
benefits at all education levels. Statutory and non-statutory support
will be considered – for example, Education Maintenance Allowances,
student loans, Career Development Loans and Discretionary Funds.
Sample calculations will be available to follow the full academic
cycle of a student.
A knowledge
of the general eligibility and specific eligibility for means-tested
benefits is needed for this course.
“Great teamwork; great interaction, thoroughly
enjoyable. Thank you so much.”
“Trainers approachable, friendly and knowledgeable.”
Level Standard
Tutor Lindsey Fidler and Jayne Aldridge
CPD hours 5
NOS LA53 and LA54
CPAG publication: Student Support and Benefits Handbook: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Students and benefits : update for experienced advisers
LDUS0207 14 March 2008
LDUS0108 10 September 2008
LDUS0208 13 March 2009
This one-day
course, designed for experienced advisers, focuses on the impact
upon FE and HE students as a result of changes to the benefits system
or introduction of new elements of student financial support. Eligibility
and entitlement issues will be covered and comparisons between different
systems made.
Knowledge of
both student funding systems and student eligibility for benefits
is required.
Level Experienced
Tutors Lindsey Fidler and Jayne Aldridge
CPD hours 5
NOS LA54
CPAG publication: Student Support and Benefits Handbook: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
NEW
COURSE
Students and debt
LDSD0108 11-12 September 2008
This two-day course will look at dealing with debt with specific reference to the needs of students. It will include dealing with debts that students may already have when they join an Institution, as well as those debts they incur as a student. It will look at income and expenditure, budgeting issues, and liability issues as they commonly affect students in debt, as well as negotiation with creditors, strategies and legal procedures.
No previous knowledge of money advice techniques is needed, but knowledge of student funding and benefit eligibility would be useful.
Level Standard
Tutors Jane Phipps
CPD hours 5
NOS LA41, LA42, LA53 and LA49
CPAG publication: Student Support and Benefits Handbook: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
ADVISING
PEOPLE FROM ABROAD
Immigration
law and social security
LDMG0108 11-12
June 2008
LDMG0208 24-25 November 2008
People coming
to the UK from abroad face many difficulties in claiming social
security benefits and tax credits. Advisers can find this area of
the law difficult and intimidating. This two-day course offers an
opportunity for advisers to gain confidence and skills by taking
an in-depth look at the rules. The course covers:
- how to identify
different immigration statuses and recognise benefit entitlement;
- an overview
of NASS;
- the 'public
funds' test;
- sponsorship;
- the habitual
residence test;
- the right-to-reside
test;
- provision
for asylum-seekers;
- the rights
of European nationals.
Level Experienced
Tutors Pamela Fitzpatrick and Fiona Ripley
CPD hours 10
NOS LA50, LA57 and LA58
CPAG publication:
Migration and Social Security Handbook
EC law and social security
LDEC0108 7 May 2008
LDEC0208 15 October 2008
EC law has an
ever-increasing impact upon UK social security. It has proved particularly
effective as a tool to challenge areas such as the habitual residence
test and in eliminating rules which discriminate between men and
women. This one day course sets out to provide advisers with an
understanding of EC law and its potential.
It will explore
the main areas of EC law which impact on the UK system. In particular,
the course will focus on:
- the rights
of EEA nationals to enter another EEA State;
- the rights
of residence in EC law of EEA nationals and family members;
- the co-ordination
of social security systems within the EEA;
- how EC Law
can help to overcome UK rules such as the right to reside test
and to take certain benefits abroad;
- the right of EEA nationals to rely on periods of employment in another member state in order to qualify for benefits in the UK;
- the rights of EEA nationals to take certain benefits abroad to other EEA states.
Participants
should have a comprehensive understanding of the UK social security
system.
Level Experienced
Tutors Pamela Fitzpatrick
CPD hours 5
NOS LA50, LA57 and LA58
CPAG publication: Migration and Social Security Handbook
Right to reside and habitual
residence
LDRP0108 13 May 2008
LDRP0208 21 October 2008
The course examines the link between rights of residence in the UK and rights to means tested benefits, child benefit and child tax credit. The course covers:
- an overview of immigration status and rights of residence under domestic and EC law and access to benefits;
- an examination of the residence rights of EU nationals under the EC Residence Directive (2004138) and other EC legislation;
- who counts as having a right to reside for the purposes of entitlement to means tested benefits; the right to reside and the habitual residence test;
- which claimants must satisfy the habitual residence test as well as having a right to reside for means tested benefits;
- how right to reside affects access to child benefit and child tax credit;
- the special rules that apply to nationals from accession states of Eastern Europe and the Baltic region.
The material includes information about the domestic habitual residence test, the Swaddling case and how this affects EU nationals returning to the UK.
Knowledge of social security and tax credits is required.
Level Experienced
Tutor Beth Lakhani
CPD hours 5
NOS LA50 and LA57
CPAG publication: Migration and Social Security Handbook
FRAUD
Fraud
and social security
LDFS0207 22 January 2008
LDFS0108 9 May 2008
This course
takes a detailed and practical look at benefit fraud and fraud issues,
covering the DWP, Inland Revenue and local authorities.
The course includes:
- defining
and measuring fraud;
- fraud investigations;
- powers of
investigators and good practice;
- fraud interviews
– use of cautions, questioning;
- criminal
offences and prosecutions;
- DWP sanctions
– administrative penalties and formal cautions;
- tactics.
The course assumes
a working knowledge of the main social security benefits and tax
credits.
Level Standard
Tutor Alan Murdie
CPD hours 5
NOS LA49
HOUSING
Council tax: protecting
vulnerable taxpayers
LDCX0108 11 July 2008
The council
tax is the most complex local tax ever levied in England and Wales.
It also has some of the severest sanctions for the non-payment of
any debt.
This course
explains how best to protect the interests and rights of council
taxpayers, with particular reference to vulnerable groups and the
disabled. It explains the various rights of appeal available at
every stage, the discounts and exemptions available and what to
do if a person receives a summons for non-payment.
The course also
provides essential guidance on magistrates' courts and liability
order proceedings, dealing with council tax bailiffs and human rights
issues in enforcement. With an emphasis on practical steps and tips
for advisers throughout, it provides the key knowledge and information
needed to protect the rights of vulnerable council taxpayers and
people caught up in the system through official errors.
Topics covered include:
- liability;
- exemptions
and discounts;
- disability
reductions;
- appeals;
- valuation
tribunal procedure;
- summonses
and magistrates' courts;
- essential
law for court proceedings;
- bailiffs;
- human rights
and enforcement;
- making courts
and tribunals follow the rules – outline of High Court challenges.
Level Introductory
Tutor Alan Murdie
CPD hours 5
NOS N/A
CPAG publication:
Council Tax Handbook
Local Housing Allowance
LDLH0108 17 April 2008 (1.00pm-4.30pm)
LDLH0208 25 September 2008 (1.00pm-4.30pm)
From April 2008 the local housing allowance scheme will be rolled out nationally, bringing in new rules on housing benefit rent restrictions. The scheme has been piloted in pathfinder areas since 2003. This course looks at the new rules on the local housing allowance, considers how it will work in practice, and will look at how the scheme has changed since the pilots.
Level Standard
Tutor Sarah Clarke
CPD hours 3
NOS LA49
NEW
HALF-DAY COURSE
Local Housing Allowance
LDLH0108 17 April 2008 (1.00pm-4.30pm)
LDLH0208 25 September 2008 (1.00pm-4.30pm)
From April 2008 the local housing allowance scheme will be rolled out nationally, bringing in new rules on housing benefit rent restrictions. The scheme has been piloted in pathfinder areas since 2003. This course looks at the new rules on the local housing allowance, considers how it will work in practice, and will look at how the scheme has changed since the pilots.
Level Standard
Tutor Sarah Clarke
CPD hours 3
NOS LA49
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