Introductory

Designed for those new to benefits advice work, this two-morning online course provides an essential introduction to the benefits system. Through CPAG’s collaboration with Disability Rights UK, this course is ideal for advisers looking to fully support clients who claim disability benefits. Participants will also gain an understanding of welfare benefits more generally, and how to help people maximise their income through benefits.

The welfare benefits system is complicated and confusing, both to claimants and those whose responsibility it is to support them. Claimants are largely expected to know their rights, although it is clear that most do not. Thousands of millions of pounds is under claimed every year leading to severe hardship, including rent arrears and other indebtedness. The Cost-of-Living crisis will only make matters worse. It is therefore vital that new advisers become aware of what the benefits system has to offer.

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.

This interactive and practical course is designed to increase your skills and confidence if you are new to training, and provide an update on best practice if you are a more experienced trainer.    The course covers:  

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: 

‘Kinship care’ is the situation in which a child goes to live with a member of their extended family or with a family friend. This course looks at benefit issues that arise for kinship carers. It provides an opportunity to consider local authorities’ responsibilities in relation to kinship care assistance and a chance to look at what universal credit means for kinship carers and for local authorities.