Courses

Best practice in completing the PIP questionnaire (face-to-face)

This one-day face-to-face course summarises how the PIP claim process or ‘journey’ works and the importance of the PIP2 questionnaire. It looks at what makes a good PIP claim, and also at the limitations of the PIP2 questionnaire. We look how it can be optimised using the regulations, guidance and case law. The course covers:

Experienced

Best practice in completing the PIP questionnaire (online)

This one-day course, held over two consecutive mornings, summarises how the PIP claim process or ‘journey’ works and the importance of the PIP2 questionnaire. It looks at what makes a good PIP claim, and also at the limitations of the PIP2 questionnaire. We look how it can be optimised using the regulations, guidance and case law. The course covers:

Experienced

Care-experienced young people and the benefits system (Scotland) ONLINE

Many young people who have been ‘looked after’ by the local authority are affected by special social security rules. Some are excluded from income-related benefits like universal credit and instead the local authority is responsible for supporting them. Some are entitled to a ‘care-experienced bursary’. This course looks at the special benefit rules for this group of young people and provides the opportunity to consider other support available.

Introductory Looked after children Training in Scotland

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.

Mandatory reconsideration and appeals Standard Training in Scotland

Challenging decisions - Understanding decisions, revisions and supersessions (online)

If you are an adviser who faces barriers to overcoming problems with universal credit or other benefit decisions, this course gives you the essential knowledge you need to understand the decision making procedures and rules. To successfully challenge a benefits decision understanding where it fits within this decision making machinery can make all the difference to questions such as:

Experienced Legal

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.

Disability benefits Mandatory reconsideration and appeals PIP Standard

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.

Standard Training in Scotland

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.

ESA Health Standard Universal credit

Child disability payment - an introduction (Scotland) ONLINE

Child disability payment (CDP) is a new Scottish benefit that helps towards the additional needs of disabled children. It replaces disability living allowance (DLA) for children living in Scotland. Getting an award of CDP can significantly increase income so it is a crucial benefit for advisers and support workers to know about. This course gives a practical insight into the main rules and helps you identify children who may be entitled. It equips you to make effective claims by demonstrating how a child meets the qualifying criteria.

Disabled children Introductory Training in Scotland

Claimants and custody (Scotland) ONLINE

A period in custody, whether on remand or serving a custodial sentence, impacts on benefit entitlement. Problems often arise when a person released from custody tries to claim the benefits they are entitled to. This course will help you understand what happens to benefit entitlement when someone goes into prison. It provides an opportunity to discuss some of the issues that come up when someone is released. The course covers:

Introductory Training in Scotland