Courses

Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Scotland) ONLINE

This course gives a basic grounding in preparing a social security appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Using practical examples, the aim is to increase confidence and share tactics. The course covers:

Benefits for EEA nationals (online)

The requirement to have a right to reside for key benefits such as universal credit, remains a significant barrier preventing many EEA nationals accessing these benefits. In addition, the immigration status restrictions pose a separate barrier, which affects increasing numbers of EEA nationals in the UK. The law affecting the entitlements of EEA nationals continues to evolve and, to most effectively assist EEA nationals, it is vital that advisers keep up to date.

Benefits for EEA nationals (Scotland) ONLINE

The requirement to have a right to reside for key benefits such as universal credit, remains a significant barrier preventing many EEA nationals accessing these benefits.  In addition, the immigration status restrictions pose a separate barrier, which affects increasing numbers of EEA nationals in the UK.  The law affecting the entitlements of EEA nationals continues to evolve and, to most effectively assist EEA nationals, it is vital that advisers keep up to date. 

Benefits for non-EEA nationals (online)

Advisers need to understand how different rules fit together to be able to correctly advise non-European nationals on how their immigration affects entitlement to benefits. This standard level course offers an opportunity for advisers to gain knowledge and confidence by taking a step-by-step approach and looks in-depth at how the rules apply to different scenarios. The course covers:

Benefits for non-EEA nationals (Scotland) ONLINE

Advisers need to understand how different rules fit together to be able to correctly advise non-European nationals on how their immigration status affects entitlement to benefits.  This standard level course offers an opportunity for advisers to gain knowledge and confidence by taking a step-by-step approach, and looking in-depth at how the rules apply to different scenarios. The course covers:

Challenging decisions - mandatory reconsiderations and other tactics (Scotland) ONLINE

If you need to get a universal credit or other benefit decision changed, this course aims to gives you the essential knowledge to do it. To successfully challenge a decision, knowing what type of decision to ask for can make all the difference. This might be a mandatory reconsideration, a revision or a supersession. In some cases complaints, disputes or judicial reviews might be the appropriate course of action. 

Challenging PIP decisions (online)

Personal independence payment (PIP) was introduced on the same day as universal credit back in 2013 and PIP is now the main disability benefit for working age claimants. The DWP’s record of PIP decision-making accuracy is possibly the worst of all social security benefits, with nearly 70% of appealed decisions reversed by tribunal judges in favour of claimants. On the downside, many claimants elect not to appeal poor refusal decisions.

Challenging Scottish benefit decisions – redeterminations and other tactics (Scotland) ONLINE

When a Scottish benefit is refused, an award is wrong or there is an overpayment, what steps should you take to put things right? You may already be familiar with the processes involved in challenging DWP decisions. But the terminology, rules and processes for Scottish benefits are different. Depending on the case, Social Security Scotland can make a ‘redetermination’ or a ‘determination without application’, there is a new process to get an appeal underway and important new ‘short-term assistance’ available.

Challenging WCA decisions (online)

The WCA is used by the DWP to assess whether someone is sick and is central to claims for Employment and Support Allowance (old or new style) or Universal Credit. Figures consistently show that WCA decisions are frequently inaccurate and many claimants can hope to succeed at appeal. Something is clearly going wrong.

DLA for children (online)

Disability living allowance (DLA) is the main way of meeting the additional needs of many children, yet it is under-claimed and can be hard to understand. This course, delivered online over 2 consecutive mornings, looks at the DLA rules as they apply to children. It considers how to fill in the form to get the best outcome for the child. The course covers: