Benefits and Work is delighted to be hosting free attendance allowance (AA) case law training for members in February 2024, delivered by welfare benefits expert and author, Mark Perlic. The training comes just as AA appeals skyrocket, rising by 87% in the most recent quarter compared to last year, according to official statistics.
Whilst AA appeal numbers are still small compared to other benefits, rising from 191 in the second quarter of 2022 to 358 in the second quarter of 2023, they are still the highest they have ever been since the introduction of mandatory reconsiderations a decade ago. And the speed with which they have risen suggests something fundamental has changed.
Anecdotal evidence from the Rightsnet website suggests that decision making standards have plummeted since large numbers of experienced AA decision makers were transferred to work on universal credit instead.
In addition, welfare rights workers report an alarming level of ignorance amongst call centre staff, where turnover is high and training seldom adequate.
All of which may be helping to fuel the serious shortfall in AA claims, with the Policy in Practice organisation estimating that 1.1 million eligible people are missing out on up to £5.2 billion a year in unclaimed AA.
The training we are hosting is being generously provided by Mark Perlic, who works as part of the management team of City of Wolverhampton Council’s Welfare Rights Service. It was created as part of their own AA take-up campaign.
Mark is the author of PIP, DLA and WCA caselaw packs used by tribunal judges and welfare rights workers. Many of you will know Mark from the “Finding and Using PIP Case Law” webinar on the PIP guides page of the site.
‘Attendance Allowance: The Case Law’ examines the case law which has developed on the disability-related qualifying conditions surrounding Attendance Allowance.
The online training is in two parts, running on consecutive Tuesdays via Zoom:
9.30 am to 12.30 pm Tuesday 6th February and
9.30 am to 12.30 pm Tuesday 13th February
As we are expecting a large number of participants, chat will be enabled rather than questions being asked orally. There will be a second welfare rights professional, Benefits and Work author Keely Gabriel, assisting with chat queries.
To apply for a place, please complete the training request form in the members area, using the link below. There is no limit to the numbers that can apply from an individual agency, but each attendee must complete a separate form. Your details will not be passed on or used for any other purpose.
Please be aware the training may be recorded.
We will be sending out confirmation emails and joining instructions to successful applicants not later than a week before the training begins.
The course is now fully booked
