Welfare Rights training courses

The benefits system can seem complex and difficult to understand. We offer the following training courses to professionals and volunteers working with visually-impaired people, designed to hep them support their service-users through the benefits maze.

Working Age Benefits (1 day)

The aim of this course is to give an overview of the benefits that are available to visually impaired people of working age. It will cover the rules for qualifying for and the calculation of Income Support, Incapacity Benefit/Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to advise their visually impaired clients on the likelihood of qualifying for the above benefits.

Pension Age Benefits (1/2 day)

The aim of this course is to give an overview of the benefits that are available to visually impaired people of pensionable age. It will cover the rules for qualifying for and the calculation of Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to advise their visually impaired clients on the likelihood of qualifying for the above benefits.

Please note that the day and half day versions of the above two training courses do not cover DLA or Attendance Allowance. We therefore recommend that participants attend the one day DLA and Attendance Allowance course as well if required.

Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance (1 day)

This course covers the rules on how to qualify for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance and the impact that claiming these benefits has on other benefits such as JSA, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Tax Credits etc. The course will also cover the additional rules for children. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to advise their visually impaired clients on which rates of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance they should receive and how best to complete application forms.

Challenging Disability Living Allowance / Attendance Allowance Decisions (1 day)

This course covers reviews, supersessions and appeal tribunals. It will give participants an idea of how best to challenge Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance decisions using relevant case law. Upon completing the course, participants will become more confident in dealing with the appeals process when challenging Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance decisions for their visually impaired clients. Before attending this course, it is recommended that you first attend the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance course.

Employment and Support Allowance (1 day)

In October 2008 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was introduced. ESA replaced both incapacity benefit and income support of grounds of incapacity. And has a new benefit structure and test of capability for work namely the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). ESA will change both the amount of benefit sick and disabled claimants can get and how they qualify for it.

DLA (Children) (1 day)

This course covers the rules for claiming DLA for children, childhood development, the affect DLA has on other benefits and what happens when a child turns 16.

Training materials are available for all of the above courses, in standard print, large print and Braille. We are also able to make courses to suit your requirements, such as DLA for Children etc. For more information on the above courses, including costs, please contact our Welfare Rights Service on 0800 915 4666.