Courses

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.

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:

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. 

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.