Courses

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Making the best possible disability living allowance and attendance allowance claims
"Excellent, informative and very practical training." Fleur Birks, National Autistic Society.
". . . would recommend to any colleagues who require training/knowledge of benefits. [Trainer] An encyclopaedia of benefits (DLA) knowledge!" Harminder Sangha, Sandwell Advocacy.
"Excellent day. Many hints and tips on filling in DLA and AA forms." Jackie Smith, Torfaen Opportunity Group.

This one day course is intended to leave you feeling confident and genuinely enthusiastic about helping your clients claim these valuable benefits. No previous knowledge of disability living allowance or attendance allowance is required. By the end of the day you will have learnt how to:

identify clients who may be eligible for disability living allowance or attendance allowance on mental or physical health grounds;
help complete the claim packs, including online, interactive claim packs;
help clients get supporting medical and non-medical evidence;
help clients prepare for a medical visit;
help clients access professional support in relation to their claim.

Claiming disability living allowance and attendance allowance on mental health and dual diagnosis grounds
"Very comprehensive. Very Informative . . . Invaluable." Una Ball, CDAT, Swansea.
"Steve's sense of humour makes an often very dry subject enjoyable . . . keeps you on your toes - and awake!" Liz Angus, Missing Link

Based on the very popular 'Best possible Disability Living Allowance claims' course above, but dealing solely with the particular problems faced by clients with mental health conditions - some of whom may also abuse drugs or alcohol. No previous knowledge of disability living allowance or attendance allowance is required. By the end of the day you will have learnt how to:

• identify clients who may be eligible for disability living allowance or attendance allowance on mental health or dual diagnosis grounds;
• help complete the claim packs, including online, interactive claim packs;
• help clients get supporting medical and non-medical evidence;
• help clients prepare for a medical visit;
• help clients access professional support in relation to their claim.

Disability living allowance and attendance allowance appeal tribunals
"Excellent. One of the most useful courses I have been on. I feel much more confident about taking clients through appeals." Jane Stanfield, Carers Gloucestershire.
"Excellent tutor, knows the subject and keeps it very interesting." Stuart Hales, Kennet CAB.
"Excellent course, very useful and informative" Tahira Rafiq, East Bristol Advice Centre.

Whether you wish simply to help clients have a better understanding of the process they are enduring or you intend to accompany clients to oral hearings and help them give evidence, this one-day course will give you the knowledge and confidence to make a real difference to the outcome.

The day is suitable for anyone with basic knowledge of disability living allowance or attendance allowance (feel free to contact us if you're uncertain if this course is right for you) and is particularly aimed not just at advice workers but also at support staff, such as housing workers, social workers and advocates. By the end of the day participants will know:

• how to ensure the tribunal do not treat you as an experienced representative if you are not one
• how to complete an appeal form
• how to get supporting evidence, including buying medical evidence
• how to get help from solicitors, law centres and advice agencies
• how to understand the appeal papers
• whether and how to do a written submission
• how to help your client prepare for the appeal hearing
• how to help your client give accurate evidence on the day
• how to give evidence to the tribunal yourself
• how to deal with difficult tribunal members

Introduction to Employment and Support Allowance New course
This one day course provides a clear overview of the new Employment and Support Allowance due to be introduced in October 2008. No previous benefits knowledge is required and the training is suitable both for advice workers and for support workers who do not give benefits advice but do need a good awareness of the possible effects of ESA on their clients.

By the end of the day, participants will understand:

• the basic qualifying conditions for ESA
• what will happen to claimants during the assessment and main phases of ESA
• the medical tests used to assign claimants to the work-related activity group and the support group and the possible exemptions
• the purpose of the work-focused health-related assessment
• claimant’s responsibilities in relation to work-focused interviews
• the sanctions regime
• appeal rights under ESA
• what will happen to existing incapacity benefits claimants

Incapacity for work on mental health and dual diagnosis grounds
" Excellent information, will definitely be using daily. Difficult subject to get your head around, but made easy to understand today." Rachel White, Cardiff Mind.
"Very informative. More confident in dealing with issues with incapacity benefit and dual diagnosis." Julie Topham, Community Drug and Alcohol Team.
"The course was very informative and the handouts and resources were excellent." Natalie Turner, Terrence Higgins Trust.

Being found capable of work can have a disastrous effect on some clients with mental health conditions, including those struggling with substance abuse or in the early stages of recovery. This one day course looks at ways to reduce the chances of your clients being inappropriately found capable of work and what steps you can take if it does happen. No previous benefits knowledge is required. By the end of the day participants will have learnt how to:

• identify clients who may be eligible for income support or incapacity benefit on mental health/dual diagnosis grounds;
• help clients to complete the incapacity for work questionnaire;
• help clients to get supporting evidence and support them through a personal capability (medical) assessment;
• help appropriate clients to get exemption from assessment or make use of the exceptional circumstances rules;
• assist clients with appealing against a decision that they are capable of work.

Incapacity for work on physical and/or mental health grounds
Suitable for staff with little or no knowledge of the personal capability assessment of incapacity for work, as well as those with more experience. The course covers both the physical and mental health tests and will look at the effects of the new computer generated medical reports. By the end of the day you will:

• understand the scoring system for incapacity for work;
• be aware of which clients may be able to take advantage of the exemptions and exceptional circumstances rules and how to help them do so;
• be able to identify whether clients should be subject to the mental or physical health tests or both;
• know how to help clients complete the IB50 questionnaire and prepare for a medical examination;
• assist clients with appeals.

How work affects benefits
"Excellent course, well facilitated and excellent handout" David Greenway, Terrence Higgins Trust
"The course was extremely helpful and informative. I would gladly recommend this training to other organisations" Tina Martin, Cardiff Action Single Homeless
"I wish I'd had the opportunity to do this course 3 years ago. The day just flew past." Alexander Bell, Reqest.
"Would recommend this session to everyone delivering services to people with disability issues seeking work." Derek Thomas, Rethink.

This one day course looks at how you can help clients on disability and incapacity benefits make informed choices if they want to try out work or training. This is an introductory course: no previous benefits knowledge is required and no calculations will be done. By the end of the day you will:

• be aware of the effects on benefits of undertaking work, including voluntary work;
• understand the permitted work rules;
• be aware of the benefits, run-ons and grants available when starting work;
• know how to protect benefits in case clients have to stop work again.

Using the Disability Discrimination Act to help clients get and keep work
"A lot more info than I had expected. Holi seemed to know everything there was to know. Great!" Shelley Barnett, Brandon Trust.
"Lots of information. The trainer was very, very knowledgeable" Jayne Mackinder, Brandon Trust.
"Helped to clarify some real issues for my clients" Deborah Connors, Work in Progress UK Ltd.

This one-day course is for staff who support clients who are disabled or who have long-term health conditions and who are moving into paid employment. Participants will learn:

• which clients and which employers are covered by the DDA;
• what duties employers have under the DDA in relation to job advertisements; applications; shortlisting; interview and selection procedures;
• what rights disabled job applicants and employees have under the DDA;
• what count as reasonable adjustments;
• how to negotiate with prospective employers about a disabled applicant's requirements;
• what support is available to employers in employing disabled staff;
• how to give initial advice and find specialist help for clients encountering disability discrimination in the workplace.

Introduction to benefits
"Very, very, useful. A good introduction and overview." Sally McDonald, Cyrenians Cymru.
"Very useful. The trainer was very good and held our attention for the day." Katherine Burke, Dyfrig House.

This basic one day course is suitable for staff with no previous knowledge of the benefit system. It does not involve benefit calculations and is ideal for staff who do not need a specialist knowledge of benefits or tax credits. By the end of the day the you will:

• have an overview of the benefits/tax credits system;
• be able to signpost clients to appropriate benefits/tax credits
• know how to make claims for different benefits/tax credits;
• know which benefits/tax credits are most underclaimed.

Introduction to housing benefit
" Addressed all the questions I had, plus more! Ideal for me. Very comprehensive. Enjoyable, interesting and really useful info." Nigel Bowen, First Choice HA.
"All round good course." Eloise Bemley, English Churches Housing Group
" A very good course." Natalie Turner, Terrence Higgins Trust.

This one-day course is suitable for staff with no previous knowledge of housing benefit and those who wish to update or extend their knowledge. By the end of the day participants will understand:

• who can claim housing benefit
• how to make a claim
• how to calculate housing benefit
• tactics for maximising housing benefit
• the rules relating to non-dependents charges
• the rules relating to overpayments and backdating
• the methods for challenging housing benefit decisions: revisions; supersessions; appeals
• proposed changes to the housing benefit system

Introduction to pension credit
"Excellent day" Carol Bridgewater, Anchor Staying Put.
"Excellently presented. Easy to understand and follow. A very useful and most enjoyable day" Penny Price, Anchor Staying Put

From October 2003, benefits for people over 60 changed yet again with the introduction of the state pension credit. This one day course is suitable for people with little or no previous benefits knowledge. It covers:

• who can claim state pension credit;
• how to claim;
• the guarantee and savings elements of pension credits;
• how pension credits are calculated;
• effects on other benefits.

Introduction to the social fund
This one-day course is suitable for staff with little or no knowledge of the social fund. It is aimed primarily at staff assisting with applications for budgeting loans and Community Care grants, but also looks briefly at other social fund provisions. the By the end of the day you will understand:

• how to advise on making applications for Budgeting Loans, Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants
• tactics for making successful Community Care Grant applications
• the rules for claiming from the Regulated Social Fund, including Funeral Grants, Sure Start Maternity Grants and Winter Fuel Payments
• the Social Fund review system

Basic money advice
The course covers the main types of debt including rent, mortgages, HP, overdrafts, personal loans, credit cards, mail order and store cards, and benefit overpayments. Trainees work through the money advice process using examples and exercises. At the end of the course there is the opportunity to look at common court forms and procedures. By the end of the course participants will be able to:

• demonstrate an awareness of the reasons for debt
• identify the nature and extent of the debt
• check liability for a debt
• understand the difference between priority and non priority creditors
• identify ways to maximise income
• draw up a financial statement
• understand how to negotiate with creditors, and calculate and make suitable offers to creditors