Challenging decisions - Understanding decisions, revisions and supersessions, 20 & 21 October 2022 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:

• The effective date of the decision (can a sought after increase be paid from a much earlier date for example)
• Whether the Decision Maker is legally entitled to revisit the decision in the way they have done (for example can they remove entitlement retrospectively)
• Whether a new claim needs to be made and the effects on ongoing disputes if it is and a new decision is given.
• Whether the matter can be resolved at all via the usual decision making process or whether judicial review is appropriate.
• Whether the Decision Maker on a new claim can take a different view than previously about an issue.

This course explains the jargon and takes a practical, problem-solving approach to navigating the “decision based system” of benefit entitlements set out in Chapter 2 of the Social Security Act 1998. This will help advisers identify the right way to get decisions changed and get processes unblocked, and so get the best outcome for claimants.

The course covers:

• Ways a decision can be made and then changed: decisions, revisions and supersessions in overview.
• Understanding the elements of a decision – determinations, outcome decisions, effect of notification on rights.
• Relevance of time limits and grounds for revisions
• Relevance of time limits and grounds for supersessions (late notification of changes, when notification date is irrelevant)
• Issues in cases where grounds for revision or supersession need to be shown: effective dates, arguing grounds do not exist, outcome following grounds etc).
• Mandatory reconsideration - where this fits and how it affects appeal rights
• Common DWP errors in decision making processes
• Using judicial review in case work

Methods of delivery and timings

This full-day Experienced level course runs from 10:00 to 13:00 across two consecutive mornings, with a 30 minute break at 11:15. It is delivered live online, via Zoom, with CPAG trainer Martin Williams.

It is a practical course delivered using a combination of trainer presentation, exercises and group discussion. Participants will be provided with supporting e-learning material, including PowerPoint slides and access to exercises and activities hosted on CPAG’s e-learning platform.

What you will need

Participants will need a Wi-Fi connection and a suitable device to access the internet. Prior to the event, participants will receive an email with a link which they should use to join the event and access supporting materials.