INTRODUCTORY
COURSES
An introduction
to welfare rights
GDWR0108
12 – 16 May 2008 Glasgow
GDWR0208 20 – 24 October 2008 Glasgow
This five-day course
gives you a thorough introduction to benefits and tax credits. It is
essential for anyone starting off as a welfare rights adviser and
anyone who needs a basic understanding of the benefits system.
The course
begins with an overview of the whole system, showing how benefits
and tax credits work together and the benefit packages that people
may claim in different circumstances. It continues with an introduction
to means-tested benefits and to child tax credit and working tax
credit.
The emphasis
on the course is on tackling day-to-day benefit questions through
case studies and problem-solving, using CPAG’s Welfare Benefits
and Tax Credits Handbook. The course is aimed at welfare rights
advisers, social workers, housing workers, health workers and others
new to welfare benefits advice work.
Day
1 Benefits overview
Day 2 Income
support and jobseeker’s allowance
Day 3 Housing
benefit and council tax benefit
Day 4 Pension
credit
Day 5 Tax credits
A complimentary copy of CPAG's Welfare Rights and Tax Credits
Handbook and a certificate is awarded to those completing all
five days of the course.
We recommend
that participants attend all five days. But you can book most days
as single days if you prefer. However, Housing benefit and council
tax benefit is designed to follow on from Income support
and jobseeker’s allowance and both should be booked together.
This course does not include a detailed introduction to non-means-tested
benefits, but you can book a separate two-day introductory course
Benefits for ill or disabled people.
Level Introductory
SNS 1.10, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.13
Benefits
overview
Day 1 – An introduction to welfare rights
GDBO0108 12 May 2008, Glasgow (book as part of the 5-day course)
20 October 2008, Glasgow (book as part of the 5-day course)
11
December 2008, Glasgow (book as a single day)
This course
is part of the five-day course Introduction to welfare rights in
May and October. If you only want to attend Benefits overview and
not the other four days, it also runs as a separate one-day course
in December.
This course is an introduction to the structure of the benefits
and tax credits system. It is aimed at advisers new to welfare benefits
and those who need to be able to give basic benefits advice or benefit
referrals.
It provides a basic knowledge of the social security benefits and
tax credits that are available and the combination of benefits which
people might claim. It also acts as an introduction to using CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.
The course includes:
- The benefits
and tax credits system
- Non-means-tested
benefits
- Means-tested
benefits
- Benefits
and tax credits available to people in different circumstances
- How and
where to claim
- Using the
Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook
Level Introductory
Tutor Marian Gell
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 3.1 and 3.2
CPD 5 hours
Income support and jobseeker’s
allowance
Day 2 – An introduction to welfare rights
13 May 2008, Glasgow
21 October 2008, Glasgow
This course
is part of the five-day course An introduction to welfare rights. You
can book it as a single day if you prefer. This introductory course
is aimed at advisers new to welfare benefits. It involves practical
work and uses case studies to cover:
- What is
income support
- What is
jobseeker’s allowance
- Who is eligible
to claim
- How are
income support and jobseeker’s allowance made up
- How to calculate
income support and jobseeker’s allowance
Level Introductory
Tutor Pat Smith
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.1 and 4.13
CPD 5 hours
Housing
benefit and council tax benefit
Day 3 – An introduction to welfare rights
16 May 2008, Glasgow
24 October 2008, Glasgow
This course
is part of the five-day course Introduction to welfare rights.
You should not book this course as a single day unless you are also
due to attend our course Income support and
jobseeker’s allowance as knowledge gained on that course
is assumend. The course is aimed at advisers new to welfare benefits
and those returning to benefits advice who need to update their
knowledge.
This course covers:
- Who is eligible
for housing benefit
- How much
rent is covered by housing benefit
- Housing
benefit calculations
- Claiming
and getting paid housing benefit
- Overview
of council tax benefit
Level Introductory
Tutor David Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 2.3 and 4.2
CPD 5 hours
Pension
credit
Day 4 – An introduction to welfare rights
15 May 2008, Glasgow
23 October 2008, Glasgow
This course
is part of the five-day course Introduction to welfare rights.You
can book it as a single day if you prefer, but we recommend that
new advisers also attend Income support and
jobseeker’s allowance as some knowledge gained on that course
is assumed. This course is aimed at advisers new to welfare benefits
and to more experienced advisers who want an update on the new pension
credit.
The course
includes:
- Who is eligible
for pension credit
- How pension
credit is calculated
- Income and
capital rules
- Claiming
and getting paid
Level Introductory
Tutor Jim Pearson
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.1
CPD 5 hours
Tax
credits
Day 5 – An introduction to welfare rights
16 May 2008, Glasgow
24 October 2008, Glasgow
This course is
part of the five-day course Introduction to welfare rights in May
and October. It looks
in detail at child tax credit and working tax credit and includes
an introduction to the tax credits calculation. This course is suitable
for new advisers and for those with limited or no experience of
tax credits.
The course
covers:
- Who is eligible
for tax credits
- Assessment of income
- How tax
credits are calculated
- Claiming
and getting paid
Level Introductory
Tutor Mark Willis
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.3
CPD 5 hours
Benefits for ill or disabled people
GDDB0108 29 – 30 May 2008, Glasgow
GDDB0208 5 – 6 November 2008, Glasgow
This introductory two-day course covers attendance allowance (AA), disability living allowance (DLA) and benefits for people unable to work due to illness or disability. This course 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. The course includes the new employment and support allowance and work capability assessment.
This course
covers:
- Who is entitled to AA and DLA
- How to claim AA and DLA
- Who is entitled to out-of-work benefits for ill or disabled people
- How the personal capability assessment and work capability assessment apply
- How to claim out-of–work benefits for ill or disabled people
- Decisions and how to challenge them
Level Introductory
Tutor Alison Gillies
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.8 and 4.9
CPD 10 hours
NEW
Housing benefit and rent arrears
GDRA0108 12 February 2008, Glasgow
Often rent arrears and eviction proceedings arise because housing benefit entitlement is wrong. This course is aimed at housing workers, in-court advisers and others who want to minimise rent arrears. It gives practical advice on those areas where entitlement is often missed or wrongly calculated. It aims to enable participants to spot potential problems and signpost on for further advice. Areas covered include:
- Difficulties claiming and providing evidence
- Backdating benefit
- Non-dependants
- Arrears caused by delays in moving in, and two homes
- Overpayment recovery
- The Discretionary Housing Payment scheme
No previous knowledge of the housing benefit scheme is assumed. For more experienced advisers who will be dealing directly with benefit claims and challenging decisions, some of the same areas are covered in more detail on the Housing benefit problem areas course.
Level Introductory
Tutor David Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 2.3
CPD 5 hours
Interviewing skills
GDIS0107 11 February 2008, Glasgow
GDIS0108 26 August 2008, Glasgow
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 th 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 Ellenor Currie
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 1.1
CPD 5 hours
Negotiation skills
GDNS0108 4 June 2008, Glasgow
Everyone needs
to be able to negotiate, whether with colleagues at work or on behalf
of clients. This one-day course helps you to develop effective negotiation
skills to get the best deal for your clients, and you can put into
practice the skills you learn in other areas of your work or life.
The course looks at:
- How to decide
when negotiation is appropriate
- Principles
of effective negotiation
- Stages of
negotiation
- Adopting
a co-operative approach
- Identifying
potential barriers
This course
is suitable for advisers in advice organisations, local authorities,
public service organisations or anywhere where negotiating for clients
is part of the job.
Level Introductory
Tutor Ellenor Currie
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 1.7
CPD 5 hours
Tax credits – the basics
GDTB0108 12 November 2008, Glasgow
This course
provides a basic tax credits tool kit for those 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 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 Maggie Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.3
CPD 5 hours
Training for trainers
GDTT0108 8 – 10 October 2008, Glasgow
This popular
three-day course aims to increase the skills and confidence of those
new to training and to allow more experienced trainers to re-examine
their style and methods.
This course looks at:
- How adults
learn
- How to design
and plan a course
- Methods
and techniques that make training interesting, varied and enjoyable
- Dealing
with difficult situations and people
- How to run
a training session
Level Introductory
Tutor Ellenor Currie
Time 10am – 4pm
CPD 15 hours
STANDARD
COURSES
AA/DLA
– challenging decisions
GDAA0108 17 February 2009, Glasgow
This one-day
course is aimed at advisers taking on the problems that arise in
challenging attendance allowance and disability living allowance
decisions. Participants will have an opportunity to use the legislation,
caselaw, and other useful resources for information. 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.
This course
looks at:
- Grounds
for revising or superseding decisions
- Tackling
unfavourable decisions
- Preparing
arguments for a revision, supersession or appeal
Level Standard
Tutor Alison Gillies
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS
4.8
CPD 5 hours
Benefit support on bereavement
GDBB0108 10 November 2008, Glasgow
Practical issues
surrounding the death of someone in the family can be overwhelming.
Sorting out financial security is often one of the biggest worries.
This course is aimed at advisers and others who support 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 covers:
- Informing
relevant benefit authorities after 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 knowledge of the benefit and tax credit system.
Level Standard
Tutor Aida Shoush
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.7 and 4.15
CPD 5 hours
Benefits for carers
GDBC0108 27 November 2008, Glasgow
This course considers entitlement to benefits for people
caring for someone who is ill or disabled.
It
includes:
- Who can
claim carer’s allowance
- The effect
of a claim on the disabled person’s benefits
- What happens
to carer’s allowance during a spell in hospital or a care home
- Which carers
can claim income support or pension credit
- Moving in
with the disabled person and the effect on benefit
- Carers’
benefits after a death
- Caring and
studying
- Other benefit
rules for carers
This course
does not cover benefits related to caring for children (other than
where the child being cared for is disabled) or community care benefits.
Level Standard
Tutor Jim Pearson
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.12
CPD 5 hours
NEW
Benefits for children living away from home
GDLA0108 20 August 2008, Glasgow
This new course covers the benefit and tax credit implications of a child living away from home, or away from their birth parents: for example, being looked after by the local authority, by foster carers or kinship carers.
The course covers:
- Overview of relevant local authority powers and responsibilities
- What happens to benefits and tax credits when a child is looked after or living away from birth parents
- How local authority payments affect benefits and tax credits
This course will be helpful to advisers and others such as social workers, who are supporting families in these situations. A basic knowledge of the benefit system is assumed.
Level Standard
Tutor Alison Gillies
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.6 and 4.16
CPD 5 hours
Benefits for people from
abroad
GDPA0108
20 May 2008, Inverness
GDPA0208
4 September 2008, Glasgow
Many people who come from abroad, including asylum seekers, anyone with a public funds restriction on their stay and European nationals, may have restricted rights to benefits because they are classed as a person subject to immigration control or they fail the residence tests. This one-day course looks at these rules and who can still claim. It is suitable for advisers with a good working knowledge of benefits.
This
course looks at:
- Who is a
‘person subject to immigration control’
- What entitlements
they have to benefits and tax credits
- Entitlement
for couples with different immigration status
- Entitlements
when someone ceases to be subject to immigration control
- Main residence
tests for benefits and tax credits
Level Standard
Tutor Maggie Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.18
CPD 5 hours
NEW
Benefits for people from Europe
GDPE0108
9 July 2008, Glasgow
GDPE0208
10 July 2008, Glasgow
When people come to the UK from Europe and need to claim benefits, the main obstacle they face is satisfying the residence tests. This course examines what these requirements are in the different benefits and looks at how European nationals and their family members can satisfy them. It is suitable for advisers with a working knowledge of benefits.
This one-day course looks at:
- The residence rules for each of the main benefits
- The habitual residence test, including who is exempt from it
- The right to reside test
Level Standard
Tutor Rebecca Walker
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.18
CPD 5 hours
Benefits
for young people
GDYP0108 28 August 2008, Glasgow
Some young
people from age 16 can claim benefit independently, others continue
to rely on their parents. This one-day course considers benefit
entitlement for young people in or out of work, and in or out of
education and training. It also looks at particular groups of young
people, such as those with a disability.
The course covers:
- When young
people are eligible for income support, housing benefit, jobseeker’s
allowance and tax credits
- When parents
can claim benefits and tax credits for young people
- Help for
careleavers, students and disabled young people
- Access to
the social fund
A basic knowledge
of the benefits and tax credits systems is assumed.
Level Standard
Tutor Angela Toal
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.6
CPD 5 hours
Birth – employment rights
and benefits
GDBE0107 31 March 2008, Glasgow
GDBE0108 31 March 2009, Glasgow
This course
looks at the employment rights of prospective new parents, and covers
benefit rights for pregnant women and families with young children,
both in and out of work. The course includes recent changes to maternity
rights.
It
includes:
- Employment
rights of pregnant women, including health and safety protection,
time off for ante-natal care, and protection from discrimination
- Right to
time off around the birth or adoption
- Other employment
rights for parents: right to return to work, to request family-friendly
hours, to parental leave and time off for dependants
- Benefit
rights and other financial help available around the birth or
adoption
The course assumes
basic knowledge of the benefit and tax credit system.
Level Standard
Tutor Rachel Hadwen
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.14
CPD 5 hours
NEW
Compensation for maladministration
GDCM0108 9 February 2009, Glasgow
A claimant has the right of appeal against most decisions taken by benefit authorities. However, the appeals process does not offer any remedy for losses suffered through incorrect advice or delays. This half-day course looks at schemes that can provide financial compensation. It covers:
- Role of the courts and implications of the Human Rights Act 1998
- Principles of maladministration
- DWP Special Payments Scheme; the Revenue Adjudicator
- Ombudsmen and the remedies they offer
- Tactics in making applications and calculating amounts
Level Standard
Tutor Tim Cowen
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 3.1
CPD 3 hours
DLA for children
GDDL0107 26 February 2008, Glasgow
GDDL0108 19 February 2009, Glasgow
Disability
living allowance for children is different in some ways to adult
claims, and completing the claim form needs a different approach.
This course looks at the rules for children and considers how to
fill in the form to avoid pitfalls and obtain the best outcome from
the outset.
The course covers the following:
- What extra
care needs must a child have to qualify for DLA
- Basic milestones
in childhood development
- Supporting
evidence about childhood disability to help with a claim
- The main
case law on DLA for children
- The impact
of stays in residential schools, care homes and hospitals
- How DLA
for a child can increase benefits and tax credits for the family
- Administration
and payment of DLA when a child reaches age 16
Level Standard
Tutor Marian Gell
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.8
CPD 5 hours
Employment and support
allowance
GDES0107
8 February 2008, Inverness
GDES0207 13 March 2008, Glasgow
GDES0108
22 April 2008, Glasgow FULL
GDES0508
22 August 2008, Glasgow FULL
GDES0208 16 September 2008, Inverness
GDES0___ 15 October 2008, Glasgow NEW DATE
GDES0308 5 December 2008, Edinburgh
GDES0408 12 March 2009, Glasgow
Employment
and support allowance will replace both incapacity benefit
and incapacity-based income support for new claims from October 2008. With a new benefit
structure and test of capability for work, ESA is set to change
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:
- Who is eligible
for ESA
- How is ESA
calculated
- The ‘limited
capability for work’ test
- 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 Alison Gillies or Judith Paterson
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.9
CPD 5 hours
Finding
your way around the law
GDYF0107
4 March 2008, Glasgow
GDYF0108
5 March 2009, Glasgow
Welfare rights
workers regularly deal with complex areas of social security and tax credits law. This one-day
course explores some of the legal skills required by lay advisers,
gives information on different aspects of the legal system, and
aims to provide participants with:
- Some legal
research skills – finding the law and legal precedents
- Information
on using the Internet for legal research
- Using legislation
– Acts, regulations and case law
- Using the
annotated guides – Social Security Legislation (Sweet
and Maxwell)
- Interpreting
legislation
Level Standard
Tutor Giles Charter
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 1.4
CPD 5 hours
Getting
the most for your client
GDMC0107 7 February 2008,
Glasgow
GDMC0108 5 February 2009,
Glasgow
It is easy
to miss out on maximum benefit entitlement. Understanding how to
establish the earliest possible date of claim, or an increase following
a change in circumstances, can secure your client substantial sums
of money.
With a view to maximising income, this practical course
looks at:
- Establishing
the date of claim
- Timing of
renewal claims
- Revision
and supersession
- Change of
circumstances
- Timing of linked claims and awards of qualifying benefits
- Late appeal
Some basic knowledge
of the benefits system is required.
Level Standard
Tutor Steven Craig
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 3.3
CPD 5 hours
Housing benefit overpayments
GDHO0107 6 March 2008,
Glasgow
GDHO0108 19 March 2009,
Glasgow
This one-day
course is an introduction to housing benefit overpayments and their
recovery. Housing benefit rules are very different from other benefits.
Housing benefit overpayment recovery often creates rent arrears
that can lead to eviction proceedings.
The course concentrates on:
- The discretionary
power to recover overpayments
- Causes of
overpayments
- Decision-making
issues
- Rules that
may prevent recovery
- From whom
overpayments can be recovered
- Methods
of recovery
- Offsetting
overpayments by underlying entitlement
Level Standard
Tutor David Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 3.5
CPD 5 hours
Housing benefit problem
areas
GDHB0108
18 September 2008, Glasgow
This one-day practical course looks at housing benefit problems that tenants commonly present, focusing on new developments in the scheme. It aims to suggest practical solutions to problems that may be familiar to many advisers.
The course includes:
- A brief overview of the housing benefit scheme
- Contrived tenancies
- A detailed look at the claims process and common pitfalls for claimants
- The verification framework and local authority requests for information and evidence in support of claims
- Issues related to absence, moving home and having two homes
- Non-dependant deduction issues
- Complaining about the local authority
As a standard level course, it is aimed at people with a working knowledge of the scheme. Those with little or no experience of benefit advice work but who come across these issues in their work should book on to Housing benefit and rent arrears.
Level Standard
Tutor David Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.2
CPD 5 hours
NEW
Industrial injuries benefits
GDII0108 20 June 2008, Glasgow
Every year thousands of people are injured at work. The industrial injuries scheme offers compensation to those who suffer such an injury and therefore is an important area of social security.
This one-day course looks at:
- The benefits people can claim: disablement benefit; constant attendance allowance; exceptionally severe disablement allowance; reduced earnings allowance; retirement allowance
- How benefit is assessed, including rules about personal injury; accidents; prescribed diseases; loss of faculty and length of assessments
- How to challenge decisions
Level Standard
Tutor Ellie Bergin
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.10
CPD 5 hours
Mental health – incapacity
benefits and DLA
GDMH0108 3 July 2008, Glasgow
This one-day
course takes a practical and tactical look at working with people
with mental health diagnoses to help get incapacity and disability
benefit entitlement. Some familiarity with DLA is assumed.
The course
includes:
- Barriers
to benefits and mental health
- Common diagnoses,
symptoms, medication and side-effects
- Considerations
when working in a mental health context
- Personal
capability assessment exemption
- The PCA
– from IB50 to mental health interview
- Disability
living allowance in a mental health context
- The difference
income-maximisation makes
Level Standard
Tutor Carol Scott
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.8 and 4.9
CPD 5 hours
Moving into work – disabled
people
GDP0107 12 March 2008, Glasgow
GDP0108 12 June 2008, Glasgow
This one-day
course looks at benefits and tax credits issues for disabled people
and those with long-term ill health, including mental ill health,
when they are considering moving into work.
It
includes:
- How benefits
and tax credits are affected by moving into full-time work
- Financial help with housing and other costs at the start of a full-time job
- What part-time
‘permitted work’ people can do while staying on benefit
- Other benefits
for people working parttime
- Better off and other issues between working full and part time
- Temporary work and how linking rules help with reclaiming benefit and the application of the PCA
A familiarity
with benefit rules for those claiming on the basis of ill health
or disability is assumed.
Level Standard
Tutor Maggie Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.5
CPD 5 hours
Moving into work – lone
parents
GDLP0108 8 May 2008, Glasgow
Lone parents
considering starting work need clear advice on the possible effect
on benefit and tax credit entitlement. This course considers benefit
entitlement in both part-time and full-time work and looks at what
help there is with childcare costs.
It includes:
- How benefits
and tax credits are affected by starting part-time or full-time
work
- Better-off
issues between working part time or full time
- Financial
help to look for work
- Benefit
run-ons and other help at the start of a job
- Help with
childcare costs
- Help with
other costs such as school meals, and health costs
- Linking
rules for reclaiming help with mortgage costs
Level Standard
Tutor Maggie Kelly
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.5
CPD 5 hours
Paying
for care
GDPC0108
2 September 2008, Glasgow
This one-day
course is designed to provide participants with an understanding
of the statutory framework for local authority financial assessments
when someone becomes a temporary or permanent resident in a care
home.
The course examines:
- The impact
of the local authority financial assessment on a resident’s finances
and property
- The processes
for challenging local authority decisions
- The effect
on the resident’s social security benefits and free personal care
Level Standard
Tutor Jim Pearson
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.16
CPD 5 hours
Representing
at appeal tribunals
GDAT0108
12-13 June 2008, Edinburgh
GDAT0208 20-21 November 2008,
Glasgow
This popular
two-day course gives a basic grounding in representing clients at
appeal tribunals. Through ‘mock tribunals’, participants gain experience
in a safe environment where there is nothing to lose.
The course includes:
- Making an
appeal
- Tribunal
procedure
- Case preparation
– getting evidence, finding the facts and applying the law
- The role
of the chair
- Rules of
evidence
- Basic advocacy
and presentational skills
This course
is aimed at any advisers with a working knowledge of benefits and little or no experience of representing at appeal tribunals.
Level Standard
Tutors Simon Osborne, Judith Paterson and Steven Craig
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 3.4
CPD 10 hours
NEW
Revised PCA tests for employment and support allowance
GDRP0108
1 July 2008, Glasgow FULL
GDRP0208 4 November 2008, Inverness
A new incapacity test (of ‘limited capability for work’) will apply to claimants of employment and support allowance when that is introduced. What is the revised PCA? Who is subject to it? How will it work? This half-day course is for advisers wanting to familiarise themselves with the new test.
Topics covered include:
- Whom the test applies to
- Exemptions and exceptional circumstances
- Descriptors, points and scoring
- Appeals
Level Standard
Tutor Simon Osborne or Judith Paterson
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 4.9
CPD 3 hours
Taking
on the social fund
GDSF0108 16 October 2008, Glasgow
The social
fund is an important source of help for people on means-tested benefits.
This one-day course, for those with some basic knowledge of the
social fund, uses the law and guidance to look at:
- The discretionary
social fund – how take-up can be maximised
- Getting
community care grants
- Getting
crisis loans
- Applying
for budgeting loans
- Priorities
for payment
- Challenging
local office budgets
- Reviews
and tactics
- Update on
any policy changes to the social fund
Level Standard
Tutor Jane Smith
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.4
CPD 5 hours
Tax
credits – overpayments and challenging decisions
GDTO0207 15 January 2008, Glasgow
GDTO0108 25 September 2008, Glasgow
GDTO0208 13 January 2009, Edinburgh
This one-day course aims to help advisers understand how overpayments
can arise and how to challenge decisions. It is suitable for experienced
advisers as well as those with little experience of tax credits.
The course looks at:
- The law
on decisions, revisions and appeals
- End-of-year
and in-year overpayments
- Recovery
of overpayments
- Challenging
overpayments
- How to appeal
- Making a
complaint
Level Standard
Tutor Mark Willis
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 3.5 and 4.3
CPD 5 hours
EXPERIENCED
COURSES
Appeals
to the commissioners
GDAC0108
11 September 2008, Glasgow
This one-day
course is essential for anyone who wants to challenge tribunal decisions
effectively. Some experience of representing at tribunals is essential.
Through case examples, it covers:
- An overview
of the decision-making system
- When to
appeal to the social security commissioners
- How to look
for errors of law
- How to appeal
- Using the
law
- Preparing
submissions
- Oral hearings
before the commissioners
Level Experienced
Tutor Steven Craig
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 3.4
CPD 5 hours
Benefits
update
GDBU0207 28 February 2008,
Glasgow
GDBU0108 12 September 2008, Edinburgh
GDBU0208 26 February 2009, Glasgow
Social security law and tax credit law can change from day to day and advisers need to keep abreast of developments 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 six 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
- Significant changes to Acts and regulations
Level Experienced
Tutor Lesley Stirton and Jane Smith
Time 10am – 4pm
CPD 5 hours
DLA appeals – case law
and tactics
GDD0108
21 August 2008, Glasgow
This half-day course is aimed at experienced tribunal representatives. It provides an overview of the main caselaw and other developments in DLA appeals, and considers the implications for tactics at tribunals. Among the subjects considered are:
- Case law
– key decisions and test cases
- Medical
evidence – its importance, use at tribunal and how it is weighed
- Presenting
at the tribunal – current trends and the expectations placed on
representatives and appellants
This course
will include the opportunity for representatives to share experiences
and ideas.
Level Experienced
Tutor Steven Craig
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 4.8
CPD 3 hours
Incapacity for work appeals
– case law and tactics
GDWA0108
5 June 2008, Glasgow
This half-day course, aimed at experienced appeal tribunal representatives, provides an overview of the main caselaw and other developments in incapacity for work appeals, and considers the implications for tactics at tribunals. Among the subjects considered are:
- Case law
– past trends, future prospects
- Medical
evidence – its importance, use at a tribunal, how it is weighed
- Grounds for
supersession – when they may be the basis of a challenge
- Approaches
to PCA descriptors – working context, fluctuating conditions
This course will include the opportunity for representatives to share experiences and ideas.
Level Experienced
Tutor Simon Osborne
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 4.9
CPD 3 hours
NEW
Local housing allowance
GDHA0108 28 October 2008, Glasgow
The level of the local housing allowance can affect the amount of housing benefit a claimant can get. The scheme has been piloted in pathfinder areas since 2003. But from April 2008 the local housing allowance scheme will be rolled out nationally, bringing in new rules on housing benefit rent restrictions
This course looks at:
- The new rules on the local housing allowance
- How it will work in practice
- How the scheme has changed since the pilots
Level Experienced
Tutor Moira Escreet
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 4.2
CPD 3 hours
Overpayments and recovery of benefit
GDRB0108
7 May 2008, Glasgow
This course
looks at overpayments of benefits administered by the DWP, with
the emphasis on preventing recovery through effective tribunal work.
It is aimed at advisers with some experience of tribunal representation.
Topics covered include:
- Causes of
overpayments
- The burden
of proof
- Misrepresentation
and failure to disclose
- Technical
arguments
- Offsetting
and duplication of payments
- Methods
of recovery
- Secretary
of State's discretion
Level Experienced
Tutor Steven Craig
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 3.5
CPD 5 hours
Overpayments
of benefit – a legal update
GDLU0108
29 April 2008, Glasgow
GDLU0208 22 January 2009, Edinburgh
This half-day course aims to cover the main legal developments in
relation to the recovery of social security benefits overpayments,
looking in particular at important recent caselaw. Participants
are encouraged to share experience and tactics.
The course includes:
- Changes
to legislation
- Selected
decisions of the social security commissioners
- Decisions
of the courts relating to overpayments
- Identifying
recent trends in case law
Level Experienced
Tutor Lesley Stirton
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 3.5
CPD 3 hours
Role
of the appeals representative
GDAR0107 27 March 2008, Glasgow
GDAR0108 26 March 2009, Glasgow
Are tribunals
getting tougher on appeals representatives? This half-day course
looks at the role of the appeals representative in the light of
recent case law.
The course includes:
- The inquisitorial
role of the tribunal
- Raising
the relevant legal issues – the representative’s duty
- Duty to
the tribunal – what can a tribunal expect of the representative?
- Making the
client’s case – the role of the representative at the hearing
- Evidence
– weighing it and challenging it
This course
is suitable for experienced advisers who have represented clients
at appeal tribunals. It offers an opportunity to share ideas and
experiences.
Level Experienced
Tutor Judith Paterson
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 1.8
CPD 3 hours
Tax credits – calculating
awards
GDTA0108
15 January 2009, Glasgow
Many factors
can affect entitlement to tax credits through the year. This one-day
course explains step-by-step how tax credits are calculated and
describes how to work out entitlement when a claimant’s circumstances
are not straightforward or when they change during the year.
The
course covers:
- Step-by-step
tax credit calculations
- 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 already have an understanding of tax credits
rules, for example, from recently attending our introductory level
Tax credits course. It involves a lot of practical work, leading
up to some challenging calculations.
Level Experienced
Tutor Alison Gillies
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.3
CPD 5 hours
NEW
Tax credits – case law and tactics
GDTC0108 24 April 2008, Glasgow
This course is aimed at advisers who are experienced in dealing with tax credit claims and disputes. It provides an overview of the main caselaw that has emerged so far. It also looks at ways to make the system work for your clients. The course includes an opportunity for advisers to share experience and ideas.
Among the subjects considered are:
- Commissioners’ decisions affecting tax credits
- Recent changes to guidance on recovery of overpayments
- Timing of claims, notifications and backdating
- Tax credits and interaction with other benefits
Level Experienced
Tutor Mark Willis
Time 1pm – 4pm
SNS 4.3
CPD 3 hour
BENEFITS
FOR STUDENTS COURSES
Introduction to benefits
for student advisers
GDBI0108
30 April – 1 May 2008, Glasgow
GDBI0208 30 – 31 October 2008, Glasgow
This popular two-day course equips advisers who are new to benefits with a basic knowledge of social security benefits and tax credits. It goes onto explain the different benefits that further and higher education students can claim.
The course aims to give participants:
- Knowledge of the benefits and tax credits systems, and who administers what
- Awareness of the benefits available to people in different circumstances
- A guide to using the Benefits for Students in Scotland handbook
- An introduction to basic benefit calculations
- Definitions of full-time study and part-time study for benefits
- Eligibility for benefits and tax credits
- Overview of how student funding affects benefits and tax credits
You can book this two-day course on its own. Or if you book this course on 30 April – 1 May 2008, you can add Students and benefits – treatment of income on 9 May 2008 to make it a three-day course.
Level Introductory
Tutor Angela Toal
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.17
CPD 5 hours
Students and benefits
– eligibility
GDSE0108
8 May 2008, Edinburgh
Many advisers
work with students in both further and higher education. This course
explains the different benefits that further and higher education
students can claim.
The course covers:
- Definitions
of full-time study and part-time study for benefits
- Eligibility
for means-tested benefits
- Eligibility
for other benefits and tax credits
- Overview
of how student funding affects benefits and tax credits
This one-day course is an alternative to the two-day Introduction to benefits for student advisers for advisers who already have a basic knowledge of the benefits and tax credit system but want to know more about how the rules apply to students.
Level Standard
Tutor Angela Toal
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.17
CPD 5 hours
Students and benefits
– treatment of income
GDSI0108
9 May 2008, Glasgow
The effect
of student funding and other income on benefits and tax credits
is complex. This experienced-level course considers in detail how
income, particularly student funding in Scotland, affects benefits
for students in both HE and FE. Benefit calculations, showing how
income affects entitlement, will be part of this training.
This course
covers:
- An introduction
to student funding
- How grants,
loans, bursaries and other student funding affect benefits and
tax credits
- How other
kinds of income affect benefits and tax credits
You can book this course on its own. As a one-day course, it is aimed at advisers already familiar with basic benefit calculations and eligibility rules for benefits. Or you can add Introduction to benefits for student advisers on 30 April – 1 May 2008, to make it a three-day course.
Level Experienced
Tutor Angela Toal
Time 10am – 4pm
SNS 4.17
CPD 5 hours
Students and benefits
– an update
GDSU0108
16 June 2008, Inverness
GDSU0208 2 December 2008, Glasgow
This half-day course focuses on recent developments and forthcoming
changes in social security and tax credits and describes how they
may affect students. It includes changes aimed specifically at students
as well as general changes that may impact on students. It is aimed
at advisers with a good working knowledge of the benefits and tax
credit system as they apply to students.
The course includes:
- Changes
in student support – effect on benefits and tax credits
- Case law
developmen
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