This two day course is for trainee advisers who are now advising clients in the Bureau. Other advisers could use this course as a refresher day on benefits. This course does not include detailed calculations of benefits but will familiarise new advisers with the social security, tax credits and Pension Credits systems by providing practical examples of benefit advice-giving.

Aim

To familiarise new advisers with the social security, Tax Credits and Pension Credit systems by providing practical examples of benefit advice-giving.

Objectives

By the end of the course advisers should be aware of:
• The difference between means tested and non-means tested benefits and how they link together
• The basic rules of entitlement to Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance
• The basic qualifying rules for Income Support, Tax Credits and Pension Credit
• How to carry out a benefits check – identifying potential entitlement to benefits
• Benefit “passports”