INTRODUCTORY COURSES  

Introduction to welfare rights

GDWR0112         14 – 18 May 2012          Glasgow
GDWR0212         8 – 12 October 2012     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 Welfare and Tax Credits 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”

“Excellent, interactive, informative”

We give priority to those booking all five days but you can book individual 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 courses AA/DLA – an introduction and ESA
– an introduction.

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

CPAG Publication

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook

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AA/DLA – an introduction

GDAD0112         30 November 2012        Glasgow

Disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) are vitally important benefits for many disabled people. This introductory course is aimed at advisers with little or no experience of these benefits who want to understand the main rules and learn how to deal with problems and queries.

The course covers:

• Who is entitled to AA and DLA
• How to claim AA and DLA
• AA and DLA decisions and how to challenge them

“Enjoyed course, found it all very relevant and interesting”

This course complements ESA – an introduction on 29 November 2012. You can book them together as a two-day course.

Level Introductory
Tutor Alison Gillies
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 4.8
CPD 5 hours

ESA – an introduction

GDEI0112         29 November 2012        Glasgow

Employment and support allowance (ESA) is for ill or disabled people who are unable to work. Assuming little or no previous experience of ESA, this course provides an introduction to the structure of ESA and the medical assessments.

The course covers:

• Who is entitled to ESA
• How the work capability assessment works
• How to claim out-of-work benefits for ill or disabled people
• An introduction to challenging decisions

“Has vastly increased knowledge and understanding of ESA”

This course complements AA/DLA – an introduction on 30 November 2012. These courses can be booked together as a two-day course. For more experienced advisers, see ESA – transfers and appeals.

Level Introductory
Tutor Jon Shaw
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 4.9
CPD 5 hours

Benefits for non-benefit advisers

GDNB0112         29-30 August 2012        Glasgow

This two-day course is aimed at professionals who work with low-income clients. It is for those who will not be advising on benefits themselves (eg, social workers, supported housing workers, day centre staff) but want to support clients to maximise their income and signpost at the right time for more advice.

It covers:

• Benefits available to different client groups
• Structure of the benefit and tax credit system
• Basic benefit checks
• How to claim and who to contact
• Dealing with problems
• Signposting for more help

“Excellent overview of benefits”
“Wish I had accessed course years ago! Will really help daily aspects of work”

Level Basic
Tutor Moria Escreet
Time 10am - 4pm
CPD 10 hours

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