Welfare Benefits Adviser

Welfare Benefit Advisers

Choose from one of our courses below - just click to see the outline.

We tailor every course we deliver - so the outlines shown are just samples and a starting point for designing the course you need.

Great resource

"What a great resource to ensure front line staff have the knowledge they need today to help customers.”

Intermediate

Calculating Universal Credit

This training takes an in depth look at how the UC calculation works.

It takes learners through the various Elements that make up a claimant's 'maximum UC' award and examines how income affects an award.

It highlights the areas where claimants may be missing out and provides hints and tips on maximising an award.

Case studies are used throughout to reinforce learning and explain the impact of rules such as the two child limit and the Benefit Cap.

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Maximising UC Award

This training will investigate the key area where UC claimants miss out:

Moving from legacy benefits - the 2 week run-ons and the Transitional SDP Element.
The LCW/LCWRA elements - who's entitled and making sure the DWP apply the rules correctly.
Workers - working carers, disabled workers, the work allowance and how earnings are treated.
Housing Costs - common mistakes

With hints and tips on how best to challenge UC decisions.

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UC Problem Areas and How to Resolve Them

This training will be mainly case study based – concentrating on the latest areas where things are going wrong – giving the knowledge and tools to put them right!

A basic understanding of UC is assumed i.e. Who has to claim, Monthly Assessment Periods, How UC is assessed…

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UC and Limited Capability for Work

This workshop will investigate how the limited capability for work rules can affect UC claimants.

It will highlight key problem areas and lesser known facts.

It takes the learner through the process and enables them to spot the issues will equip them with all the required knowledge to support people on this journey and ensure that the rules are followed, so the claimant gets what they are entitled to.

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Universal Credit for Workers

This training builds on delegates’ existing knowledge of Universal Credit.

It focuses on how Universal Credit works for workers and highlights the problem areas, where workers could be missing out.

By the end of the course, learners will be able to give accurate advice to help those UC claimants who are working or thinking about making the move into work / self-employment.

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UC Conditionality and Sanctions

This information packed training will quickly review the reasons why a claimant may get sanctioned, before looking at the impact of sanctions.

It will examine the DWP’s duty to make allowances for vulnerable claimants, as well as how long should a sanction should last, and how much a claimant could lose.

It will highlight why it is important to ensure a claimant commitment is realistic and explains how to help a claimant do this.

It investigates what options claimants have if they have been sanctioned, including applying for a Hardship Payment and challenging a sanction decision

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UC For Those With Complex Needs

This training examines how UC can work for those with complex needs .

It looks at: telephone claims, pinned notes, how much UC, conditionality and minimising problems, together with hints and tips for ensuring the DWP recognises 'complex needs' status.

An essential course for anyone Supporting vulnerable UC claimants to ensure the UC system works with them rather than causing them problems.

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Challenging UC Decisions

This course focuses on challenging Universal Credit decisions.

Learners will be guided through the process, top tips and tactics for getting a mandatory reconsideration, getting access to the information used in the DWP's decision, and submitting appeals.

During this course the learners will also look at the value of complaints and how they can work with challenges.

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Completing the WCA Questionnaire

This practical training focuses on completing the Work Capability Questionnaire for ESA or UC.

This course will take learners through best practice on ESA50/UC50 form completion and how to describe a claimant's difficulties and needs to enable the most appropriate award for the claimant.

It includes lots of tips and advice on how to get the best outcome for customers. Ideal course for those who assist claimants with completing the medical questionnaire.

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Personal Independence Payment - Getting the Right Result

This practical training course will provide hints and tips for getting the right PIP decision.

It will give ideas for completing the form as well as challenging a PIP decision.

Learners will investigate key issues such as:
The various terminology/terms
How to use: safely, acceptable standard, repeatedly and within a reasonable time period.
How best to deal with fluctuating conditions

The training will also provide ideas for appeals including using case law.

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Calculating Housing Benefit

This training takes the learner through the process of how a Housing Benefit award is calculated. Learners will look at the '5 steps', using case studies and practising calculations.

They will learn about eligible rent, the bedroom tax, non-dependent deductions and the different allowance and premiums available. The course also examines the impact different kinds of income have on a calculation.

An essential course for anyone working with HB claimants who want to be able to spot error in the calculation and challenge them successfully.

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Housing Benefit Overpayments

This course takes a detailed look at HB overpayments.

This is one of the complex areas where housing workers need to have a more detailed knowledge of the rules so as to minimise the hardship and rent arrears they can cause. This training will help delegates spot when recovery can be challenged and will therefore help reduce or eliminate the amount of overpaid benefit being recovered. Throughout the course practical examples will be used and workable solutions will be given.

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Advanced

Welfare Benefit Update

This training reviews and examines the key Welfare Benefit changes from 2021/2022 and beyond.

Learners will come away from this course completely up to date, being aware of what the current and future 'hot topics' are, and having investigated what the implications are for claimants and housing providers.

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Universal Credit: For Better or for Worse

With the DWP encouraging claimants to switch to UC this training examines which legacy benefit claimants are better off delaying the move to UC and which should consider switching earlier.

It highlights the factors to consider beyond a simple better off analysis.

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UC: Making the most of the Transitional SDP Element

This training looks at how the Transitional SDP Element works. It considers how much someone should be entitled to, when this could be reduced, and explains why the loss of PIP doesn't mean the loss of this Element.

It will give participants the information they need to give accurate advice to claimants affected by this change to ensure they receive this Element at the correct amount, if entitled.

It also highlights that some claimants can take advantage of the rules by delaying a claim for UC or by claiming earlier.

An essential course for anyone working with or supporting UC claimants.

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Universal Credit LCW Problem Areas

UC claimants with a Limited Capability for Work are experiencing a variety of problems. Many are missing out on the benefit / back pay they are entitled to, others are not having their health conditions appropriately taken into account.

This training will outline how the system should work and the key problems. It will examine how you can get the best result for your client, giving hints and tips for challenging UC decisions

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Advanced Mixed Age Couples

This training will look at the challenges and opportunities for mixed aged couples.

Many mixed age couples could be considerably worse off without the right advice. This course is designed for experienced advisers and will investigate these complex rules using case studies, examining what options a mixed age couple has to maximise income and avoid preventable loss of income.

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EEA Nationals and Universal Credit

This training is designed for staff who would like a practical understanding of which EEA Nationals can claim UC.

Learners will investigate the problems EEA Nationals will run into when claiming UC - including providing evidence and will discuss how to help EEA Nationals challenge DWP decisions that they are not habitually resident.

Learners will gain the confidence they need to ask the right questions and to advise claimants appropriately.

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Students and Universal Credit

This training will look at the rules regarding students and UC - in particular the complicated rules for disabled students.

It will concentrate on students in advanced education but will look at those in non-advanced too.

The course will examine what the rules say - which students can claim UC and how student income is treated. It will enable learners to give accurate advice and spot mistakes.

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ESA Problems and Solutions

Employment and Support remains a key benefit for those claimants not yet on Universal Credit. This training examines the key ESA related problem areas and how to help resolve them.

It Investigates the options available for ESA claimants who are found fit for work, and those who have failed to complete their ESA50 or attend their medical. It considers whether these claimants can avoid UC

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Appealing Work Capability (UC & ESA) and PIP Decisions

This workshop looks at how a LCW/ PIP decision can be challenged, tactics for doing so and investigates using caselaw to secure the best decision.

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Challenging Sanctions

This training takes a detailed look at the JSA and UC regulations around sanctions.

The learners will explore the claimant's commitments, and take a look at how they should be notified about a reduction to their award, and also look at 'good cause'

The learners will come away equipped with the knowledge, hints, and tips they need to spot and challenge where sanctions have been unfairly applied to claimant's claims.

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Be Prepared: Current and Future Hot Topics

This training is designed to look at the upcoming topics and changes and how they might affect your customers - and your workload.

The aim is to ‘be prepared’ for the cases you can expect to come across when benefit rules change, so you can plan and be aware of what issues might be coming through your door in the next 6 months.

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Contact

01756 796394
Subscriber email queries: advice@ucnotes.co.uk
General enquiries: info@ucnotes.co.uk
Training enquiries: training@ucnotes.co.uk
Housing Systems, Archway Court, Broughton Hall, Broughton, Skipton BD23 3AE

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