CPAG in Scotland online training courses 2023-24

CPAG IN SCOTLAND

Child Poverty Action Group works on behalf of the one in four children in Scotland growing up in poverty. It doesn’t have to be like this. We use our understanding of what causes poverty and the impact it has on children’s lives to campaign for policies that will prevent and solve poverty – for good. Throughout the pandemic, we have been making the case for a social security system that supports people when they need it. We have expanded our online training and online library of publications and resources at AskCPAG to make sure advisers have resources at hand to help low-income families access financial support.

Please consider making a donation or becoming a member.

CONTACT CPAG

CPAG news and events

Sign up to get our ebulletins and news at cpag.org.uk/signup/scotland

CPAG in Scotland

0141 552 3303 cpag.org.uk/scotland

Training enquiries 0141 552 3303 pchalmers@cpagscotland.org.uk

Publications enquiries bookorders@cpag.org.uk

Membership enquiries membership@cpag.org.uk

Advice line

Free, independent, expert and up-to-date advice on benefits and tax credits for frontline advisers and support workers in Scotland

Phone 0141 552 0552

Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm and Friday 10am to 12 noon

Email advice@cpagscotland.org.uk

Follow CPAG in Scotland on Twitter on @CPAGScotland

ONLINE TRAINING

CPAG in Scotland online training courses are delivered via Zoom. For course information, or to book a place on a course please go to our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training.

BEFORE THE COURSE

You can join from any internet-enabled device, although we strongly advise against using a mobile phone. You should be able to join using your usual web browser, however, you may be prompted to update to the latest version of Zoom. We recommend doing so before the day of the course.

If you have not used Zoom before then try out your set-up at zoom.us/test. Check that your connection, audio and video all work. During the test, have a practice at opening documents on your computer so you can see both at the same time, as you may want to do this during the course to look at course materials.

JOINING THE COURSE

You will receive an email a few days before the course with a link to our AskCPAG digital learning platform. The course page on AskCPAG digital learning contains;

■ A link to join the live session on Zoom

■ The course materials

■ The course evaluation form, to be completed at the end of the course

COURSE SCHEDULE

Half day courses are usually scheduled to run from 10am – 1pm with a 30 minute break at 11.15am. To avoid lengthy screen time, we have split online courses over two consecutive mornings that we would normally deliver in person in a full day. Our Introduction to welfare rights course on page 8 will be delivered over six non-consecutive mornings.

DURING THE COURSE

Choose somewhere to join the course that is comfortable, has good internet connection and has minimal distractions.

AT THE END OF THE COURSE

You will be asked to complete the online course evaluation form.

FEES AND BOOKING INFORMATION FOR ONLINE COURSES

CPAG members get a 10% discount on our public programme training courses.

*Please note that to avoid lengthy screen time, courses with content normally delivered over a full day will be split over two mornings online. Our three-day courses will be delivered over six mornings.

Cancellations

Cancellations should be made in writing. Our cancellation policy can be found at cpag.org.uk/scotland/training/events-booking.

Booking

You can check availability and book a course online at cpag.org.uk/scotland/training. You will get an email to confirm your booking has been received. If you have an enquiry about your booking please contact training@cpagscotland.org.uk or call 0141 552 3303

Course materials

We can provide course materials in large print. Please indicate when booking online if you have any other needs or contact us.

Additional training dates

New courses and course dates are added to our programme throughout the year. For the latest information, sign up to our mailing list at cpag.org.uk/signup/scotland.

The usual high standard from CPAG in Scotland

The use of breakout rooms was great, I’d never done that before and I think it worked really well

Training was very well organised and zoom-ing was very smooth

IN-HOUSE ONLINE TRAINING

Do your staff need an overview of benefits? Do they need to support low-income families to manage benefit change? Do staff need specialist training on benefits for their client group?

All of our online training courses can be delivered to your organisation. Or we can help you to design a tailored training package for staff, from awareness sessions for any frontline staff to training for specialist advisers.

We work with many organisations throughout Scotland every year to design and deliver in-house learning.

Why choose in-house online training?

■ Get more cost-effective training

■ Tailor training to your own learning objectives

■ Choose when to have the course

■ Benefit from CPAG’s expert training and course materials

For more information contact Pauline Chalmers on 0141 552 3303 or pchalmers@cpagscotland.org.uk

Thank you!

WEBINARS

We run webinars which offer up-to-the-minute insights on social security developments and topics of concern.

Thank you for a very inclusive and informative session

IN-PERSON EVENTS

We are planning an in-person conference in summer 2023, along with in-person seminar events.

Details of upcoming events are on our website at cpag.org.uk/scotland/training.

This was valuable training with good opportunities for discussion and every question we asked was answered thoroughly.

TRAINING COURSES

CPAG’s experience in the welfare rights field is renowned. Our rights handbooks are the definitive guides for those working in advice, support and advocacy nationwide. Our training uses all this experience and expertise to bring you high quality courses on all aspects of benefits and tax credits.

Level of course

It is important that you choose the right level of course. We grade our online courses at three levels.

INTRODUCTORY

For people new to benefit advice work, or who have little or no experience of the subject covered by the course.

See page 8. STANDARD

For people with a working knowledge of the benefit system, or the subject covered by the course. These are suitable for people wanting a refresher, or to update skills or information.

See page 24.

EXPERIENCED

For more experienced benefit advisers, who are confident about covering issues in more, and sometimes complex detail.

See page 44.

Scottish National Standards

Organisations using these standards for information and advice providers need to make sure staff have the knowledge to meet the needs of service users. CPAG’s training courses help you do this by covering knowledge requirements in the Competences for Advisers.

A suggested package of courses for agencies seeking accreditation or working to the national standards is:

■ Introduction to welfare rights

■ Adult disability payment – an introduction

■ Attendance allowance – an introduction

■ Income maximisation for older people

For Type II and III advisers, add on the following courses:

■ Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal

■ Appeals to the Upper Tribunal

■ Challenging decisions – mandatory reconsiderations and other tactics

■ Challenging Scottish benefit decisions – redeterminations and other tactics

■ Looking up the law online

To add on other specialist areas, there is a course to suit most requirements. And you can keep up-to-date with our courses Social security law update and Universal credit update and tactics.

On our website, you can find more details to help you decide which courses you need, and a link to the Scottish National Standards, cpag.org.uk/scotland/training.

ELEARNING

Try CPAG’s essential practical eLearning on social security benefits for children and families. These are short, interactive learning resources you can access from your tablet, phone, laptop or PC. You can access them at any time that suits you.

Try our popular eLearning course, Universal Credit, for anyone who works with low-income families.

Have a look at our eLearning about Scottish benefits so you can help the people you work with access important financial support. These include:

■ Scottish Social Security

■ Scottish Child Payment

■ Child Disability Payment

■ Scottish Welfare Fund

■ Your Scottish Benefit Appeal

A brilliant way of learning

Superb, quick and effective

Create an eLearning account for free at elearning.cpag.org.uk and see what other courses are available.

Local authorities

Do you want staff across your local authority to be more aware about benefits and better able to help tackle poverty? ELearning is a cost-effective way to do it. We can tailor eLearning for your local authority. Contact us for more information at training@cpagscotland.org.uk.

The interactive style questions are a great learning tool

INTRODUCTION TO WELFARE RIGHTS

DATE 18 – 20 and 25 – 27 April 2023

DATE 12 – 14 and 19 – 21 Sept 2023

DATE 16 – 18 and 23 – 25 Jan 2024

See detailed schedule below

This is essential training if you are starting out as a welfare rights adviser in Scotland or need a good understanding of the benefits system. It introduces you to the social security system and important concepts to help you maximise benefit entitlement. You will gain a detailed knowledge of the core benefits and assessments involved in welfare rights advice – universal credit, the assessment of limited capability for work and the assessment of adult disability payment. You will learn how to maximise entitlement and deal with problems.

The course covers:

■ Benefits overview

- The structure of the benefits system

- The range of UK and Scottish benefits available in different circumstances

- Key concepts in income-related benefit entitlement

■ Universal credit

- Who is entitled to universal credit

- Helping people claim and manage the system

- The transfer from legacy benefits

- The amounts that make up universal credit

- How universal credit awards are calculated

■ Work capability assessment

- What the work capability assessment is for

- Who has limited capability for work, and limited capability for work-related activity

- The process of going through an assessment

■ Advising about legacy benefits

- What are the legacy benefits that universal credit is replacing and who gets them

- Common issues and maximising entitlement

■ Adult disability payment

- Who is entitled to adult disability payment

- Understanding the assessment

- How to claim

This course is aimed at new advisers and support workers who have little or no experience of the benefits system.

You can add to this core training by also booking on Attendance allowance – an introduction, see page 11, and Child disability payment – an introduction, see page 16.

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

This ‘3 full day equivalent’ course will be delivered online via Zoom. In order to avoid lengthy screen time, the delivery of the course will be spread across six mornings as follows;

April 2023 course

18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 April 2023

September 2023 course

12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 September 2023

January 2023 course

16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 January 2024

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Liam Casey, Moira Escreet, Henri Krishna, Alison Lord, Angela Toal, Mark Willis

Time - 10am - 1pm each day

CPAG publication

Welfare benefits and tax credits handbook

Available to buy in print or online at cpag.org.uk/bookshop

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

As this was my very first touch with welfare rights and the benefits system, the course really helped me to get to a good start

ADULT DISABILITY PAYMENT –AN INTRODUCTION

DATE 15 May 2023

DATE 24 October 2023

DATE 19 February 2024

Adult disability payment (ADP) is a new Scottish benefit aimed at supporting working-age adults who have extra care needs or mobility difficulties because of a disability. It replaces personal independence payment in Scotland. Getting an award of ADP can significantly increase income and so it is a crucial benefit for advisers and others to know about. This introductory level course will give you an understanding of the main rules and help you to identify people who may be entitled.

The course covers:

■ Who is entitled to ADP

■ How to claim

■ How the ADP assessment works

■ How personal independence payment claimants will be transferred to ADP

This course is aimed at those with little or no experience of ADP or personal independence payment. More experienced advisers should book on Transferring to Scottish disability benefits see page 39.

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Liam Casey

Time - 10am - 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE –AN INTRODUCTION

DATE 29 August 2023

DATE 15 March 2024

Attendance allowance (AA) is the main disability benefit for people who have reached pension age. Getting an award of AA can significantly increase income and so it is a crucial benefit for older people. This course will give you an understanding of the main rules and help you to identify people who may be entitled. AA will eventually devolve to Scotland and become pension age disability payment. This course will keep you up to date with any developments on this.

The course covers:

■ Who is entitled to AA

■ How to claim

■ Some knock-on effects of getting an award of AA

The course is aimed at advisers and support workers with little or no experience of AA.

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Alison Gillies

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

The course was presented very clearly and all information provided was relevant and straightforward to understand

BENEFIT BASICS IN SCOTLAND

DATE 22 – 23 May 2023

DATE 5 – 6 December 2023

You do not need to be a benefit expert to make a difference. This course is for anyone working with people in Scotland on low incomes or with additional needs. You will learn the basics of social security and be able to identify which benefits are available to the people you work with. You will understand the key life events that can have an impact on benefit entitlement and recognise when someone should make a new claim or report a change in circumstances.

The course covers:

■ The UK and Scottish social security systems

■ Universal credit basics

■ Disability and carers’ benefits

■ Scottish Welfare Fund crisis grants and community care grants

■ Knowing who can help

This course is aimed at advisers and support workers with no knowledge of benefits.

The best course I have attended

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Alison Lord

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

Well-presented, clear, easy-to-follow information on complex subject matter

As someone who had little prior knowledge, all of it was useful!

BENEFITS AND THE ARMED SERVICES COMMUNITY

DATE 30 August 2023

Do you advise or support former members of the British armed services and their families? You will know that it can be difficult to work out how their benefits are affected by the pensions and other payments they get after leaving the armed services. This course will help you solve these problems and improve your ability to maximise income for former servicemen and women and their families.

The course covers:

■ How benefits are affected by armed services pensions and payments

■ Opportunities to increase benefit income

■ Practical strategies for dealing with problems

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Barbara Donegan

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

BENEFITS OVERVIEW

DATE 27 September 2023

DATE 6 March 2024

Most people will claim a social security benefit at some point in their lives. This course is for anyone new to helping people in Scotland navigate their way through the benefits system or who wants an overview of benefits. The course gives an introduction to the benefits system looking at what it is, who it is for and how it all fits together.

The course covers:

■ A brief introduction to social security

■ The structure of the benefits system

■ Means-tested and non-means-tested benefits

■ How benefits interact with each other

■ How to do a benefit check

I have a better understanding of a number of issues

Great training, friendly attitude

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Alison Lord

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

The course was amazing, very informative and helpful

CARE-EXPERIENCED YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE BENEFITS SYSTEM

DATE 10 November 2023

Many young people who have been ‘looked after’ by the local authority are affected by special social security rules. Some are excluded from income-related benefits like universal credit and instead the local authority is responsible for supporting them. Some are entitled to a ‘care-experienced bursary’. This course looks at the special benefit rules for this group of young people and provides the opportunity to consider other support available.

The course covers:

■ The special benefit rules affecting 16 and 17-year-olds leaving care and in continuing care, including young people who have been living with kinship carers

■ Local authorities’ powers and responsibilities towards care-experienced young people

■ Universal credit and care-experienced young people

■ The care-experienced bursary and its interaction with the social security system

■ Other help available to care-experienced young people

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Alison Gillies

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

Has given me a greater understanding of the complexities of the benefits system and an appreciation for those who have to claim benefits or help others to claim

CHILD DISABILITY PAYMENT –AN INTRODUCTION

DATE 4 May 2023

DATE 31 October 2023

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.

The course covers:

■ Who is entitled to CDP

■ How to claim

■ How CDP for a child can increase benefits for the family

This course is aimed at advisers and support workers with little or no knowledge of CDP.

Very informative, lots of useful information

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Moira Escreet

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

CLAIMANTS AND CUSTODY

DATE 12 October 2023

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:

■ What happens to benefits when someone goes into prison

■ Sorting out benefits on release from custody

More confident advising around prison and benefits

An extremely useful and well-organised course

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Barbara Donegan and Alison Gillies

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

It was all very useful - case studies and supporting guidance were helpful and opportunity to discuss and network

HOW TO UNLOCK YOUR TRAINING POTENTIAL

DATE 7 – 8 November 2023

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:

■ Research-based strategies for effective training delivery, both face to face and online

■ Steps to design and prepare inspiring, learner-focused training

■ Methods and techniques to make training interesting, memorable and enjoyable

■ How to use effective questioning to check knowledge

■ How to evaluate a training session

You will be invited to deliver a brief training session in a small group during the course, allowing you to both practice what you have learned and to increase your confidence in your skills as a trainer.

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Barbara Donegan and Kat Turner

Time - 10am - 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

It was a really great course, thank you so much for all of your insights and tips

Really relevant to my role and lots that I can take away and use in practice

KINSHIP CARERS AND THE BENEFITS SYSTEM

DATE 30 November 2023

‘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. It also provides an opportunity to look at the range of benefits which kinship carers might want to claim: for example, child benefit, guardian’s allowance, disability and carers’ benefits.

The course covers:

■ Which benefits can kinship carers claim

■ The impact on benefits of the type of kinship care arrangement

■ How local authority support to kinship carers interacts with the social security system

This course is ideal for advisers and others such as social workers, who are supporting kinship carers.

Exceptionally good, concise training

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Alison Gillies

Time - 10am – 1pm

CPAG publication

Children’s Handbook Scotland

Available to buy in print at cpag.org.uk/bookshop and online at askcpag.org.uk/publications/scotland

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND

DATE 17 May 2023

DATE 20 February 2024

This course provides an overview of benefit support for families in Scotland from pregnancy to school age. Scottish child payment is available for almost half of all children under 16 and significantly increases income. It is crucial for advisers and others to know about this and other family payments in Scotland so that nobody misses out on vital income. The course also covers UK benefits for children, which are still the main source of support in Scotland. It looks at what can be done to help when UK benefit income is reduced by the ’two- child limit’ and ‘benefit cap’.

The course covers:

■ An overview of payments for children in Scotland

■ Who can get Scottish child payment

■ Who can get Best Start grant and Best Start foods

■ UK-wide payments for children

■ Understanding the two-child limit and the benefit cap

This course is aimed at advisers and support workers who have little or no knowledge of benefits.

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Mark Willis

Time - 10am – 1pm

CPAG publication

Financial help for families: what you need to know

Available to buy in print at cpag.org.uk/bookshop and online at askcpag.org.uk/publications

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

SCOTTISH SOCIAL SECURITY –AN INTRODUCTION

DATE 17 August 2023

DATE 27 March 2024

This short course provides an introduction to benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland. It is aimed at advisers and other workers who have little or no knowledge of these benefits.

The course covers:

■ What benefits are being delivered by Social Security Scotland and who is entitled

■ The latest on child disability payment and adult disability payment

■ Who is entitled to Scottish child payment

■ What is next on the Scottish benefit agenda

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Alison Gillies

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

I loved the polls in between the sections…so useful to check learning and understanding

Really helpful course which was exactly what I needed

STUDENTS AND BENEFITS –THE BASICS

DATE 16 May 2023

This course provides a basic overview of social security benefits, and which further and higher education students in Scotland might be able to claim them.

The course covers:

■ A brief overview of social security benefits

■ Which groups of students can claim benefits

■ The impact of student support on benefits

■ Signposting students for help with benefits enquiries

The course is for student advisers and other support workers who are new to benefits.

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Angela Toal

Time - 10am – 1pm

CPAG publication

Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook

Available to buy in print at cpag.org.uk/bookshop and online at askcpag.org.uk/publications/scotland

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

I got exactly what I wanted from this coursea good grounding in the basics and where to go to check or for further info

UNIVERSAL CREDIT –AN INTRODUCTION

DATE 9 October 2023

DATE 5 March 2024

Universal credit is the main working age, means-tested benefit throughout the UK. It was intended to simplify the social security system and provide an incentive to work, but its monthly assessment and online process can seem daunting for clients and advisers alike. You do not need to be an expert to make a difference. This course aims to equip you with the practical knowledge you need to help your service users navigate universal credit and avoid potential pitfalls.

The course covers:

■ What is universal credit and who can get it

■ Helping people manage the system

■ Maximising incomes – understanding universal credit amounts

■ Dealing with problems and knowing who can help

Level - Introductory

Tutor - Mark Willis

Time - 10am – 1pm

The information was put across perfectly, there were plenty of opportunities for questions and the overall session was very engaging

APPEALS TO THE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL

DATE 5 – 6 October 2023

DATE 15 – 16 February 2024

This course gives a basic grounding in preparing a social security appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Using practical examples, the aim is to increase confidence and share tactics.

This course covers:

■ When a reconsideration is needed

■ The process of lodging an appeal

■ Getting good evidence

■ Preparing a submission

The course is aimed advisers with a working knowledge of benefits and little or no experience of representing at tribunals.

Level - Standard

Tutor - Jane Smith

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

CPAG publication

Winning your benefit appeal: what you need to know

Available to buy in print and online at cpag.org.uk/bookshop

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

BENEFITS FOR EEA NATIONALS

DATE 10 – 11 May 2023

DATE 21 – 22 November 2023

The requirement to have a right to reside for key benefits such as universal credit, remains a significant barrier preventing many EEA nationals accessing these benefits. In addition, the immigration status restrictions pose a separate barrier, which affects increasing numbers of EEA nationals in the UK. The law affecting the entitlements of EEA nationals continues to evolve and, to most effectively assist EEA nationals, it is vital that advisers keep up to date.

This standard level course offers a step-by-step approach to enable advisers to ask the key questions and gather the information most useful when assisting EEA nationals to obtain their benefit entitlements.

This course covers:

■ The requirements that restrict access to benefits for EEA nationals in the UK

■ The main groups that can satisfy the right to reside test

■ How to advise EEA nationals with pre-settled status

■ The key questions to determine access to benefits for EEA nationals arriving in the UK recently

This course is aimed at those who advise European nationals on their benefit entitlements. If you also advise non-European nationals you should also book on the course Benefits for non-EEA nationals (see page 26).

Level - Standard

Tutor - Rebecca Walker

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

CPAG publication

Benefits for Migrants Handbook

Right to Reside flowchart

Available to buy in print and online at cpag.org. uk/bookshop

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

BENEFITS FOR NON-EEA NATIONALS

DATE 14 – 15 November 2023

Advisers need to understand how different rules fit together to be able to correctly advise non-European nationals on how their immigration status affects entitlement to benefits.

This standard level course offers an opportunity for advisers to gain knowledge and confidence by taking a step-by-step approach, and looking in-depth at how the rules apply to different scenarios.

The course covers:

■ Who is a ‘person subject to immigration control’

■ Which benefits they are excluded from and the exceptions

■ When a ‘no recourse to public funds’ restriction is relevant

■ How a change in immigration status affects entitlement to benefits

■ The benefit entitlements of someone living with a partner or child with a different immigration status

This course is aimed at those who advise non-European nationals on their benefit entitlements. If you also advise European nationals you should also book on the course Benefits for EEA nationals (see page 25).

Level - Standard

Tutor - Rebecca Walker

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

Very useful course delivered in a way that made very complex information understandable

It’s such a complex area and there are so many potential errors that people can make that it was all really useful

CHALLENGING DECISIONS – MANDATORY RECONSIDERATIONS AND OTHER TACTICS

DATE 22 – 23 August 2023

DATE 21 – 22 February 2024

If you need to get a universal credit or other benefit decision changed, this course aims to gives you the essential knowledge to do it. To successfully challenge a decision, knowing what type of decision to ask for can make all the difference. This might be a mandatory reconsideration, a revision or a supersession. In some cases complaints, disputes or judicial reviews might be the appropriate course of action.

This course explains the jargon and takes a practical, problem-solving approach to help advisers identify the right way to get decisions changed and get processes unblocked, and so get the best outcome for claimants.

The course covers:

■ Understanding the jargon

■ When to ask for revisions and supersessions

■ When mandatory reconsideration rules apply

■ When to use complaints, disputes and judicial reviews

■ Practical considerations and tactics

This course does not cover decisions made by Social Security Scotland. See our other course, Challenging Scottish benefit decisions – redeterminations and other tactics, on page 28.

Very useful and practical course

Explaining the jargon was very helpful

Level - Standard

Tutor - Henri Krishna

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

The course had a good structure, to understand the different processes

CHALLENGING SCOTTISH BENEFIT DECISIONS –REDETERMINATIONS AND OTHER TACTICS

DATE 10 – 11 October 2023

DATE 27 – 28 February 2024

When a Scottish benefit is refused, an award is wrong or there is an overpayment, what steps should you take to put things right? You may already be familiar with the processes involved in challenging DWP decisions. But the terminology, rules and processes for Scottish benefits are different. Depending on the case, Social Security Scotland can make a ‘redetermination’ or a ‘determination without application’, there is a new process to get an appeal underway and important new ‘short-term assistance’ available. To make an effective case as an adviser and maximise income while challenging a decision depends on knowing which route to follow.

The course covers:

■ Understanding the terminology

■ When to apply for a redetermination and tactics if the application is late

■ When and how an award is changed by ‘determination without application’

■ Getting an appeal underway

■ Getting short-term assistance while challenging a decision

This course does not cover preparing submissions for appeals. See our other course, Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal, on page 24.

Level - Standard

Tutor - Moira Escreet

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

I feel much better equipped to challenge Scottish Benefit decisions and would highly recommend this course. I enjoyed it very much

INCOME MAXIMISATION FOR OLDER PEOPLE

DATE 31 January - 1 February 2024

Older people commonly do not claim all that they are entitled to. This course provides an introduction to pension credit and aims to help you with effective benefit checks to maximise income.

The course covers:

■ State pension

■ Who is eligible for pension credit

■ How to work out guarantee credit entitlement

■ Claiming pension credit and getting paid

■ Benefit checks for older people and ways to maximise income

■ How income and pension pots affect pension credit

■ How universal credit affects benefits for older people

■ How disability benefits are affected as state pension age rises

This course is aimed at advisers with a working knowledge of the benefits system.

Level - Standard

Tutor - Will Hadwen

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

LIMITED CAPABILITY FOR WORK IN UNIVERSAL CREDIT

DATE 24 August 2023

DATE 26 March 2024

This course looks at how limited capability for work rules affect universal credit (UC). The outcome of the work capability assessment has a crucial role in determining claimants’ work-related requirements as well as the amount of money they get.

The course covers:

■ How to start the work capability assessment process in UC

■ Who has limited capability for work/limited capability for work-related activity in UC – the work capability assessment test

■ How to challenge decisions on limited capability for work

■ How limited capability for work/limited capability for work-related activity can affect the amount of UC as well as the claimant commitment.

This course is aimed at advisers with a working knowledge of UC.

Level - Standard

Tutor - Will Hadwen

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

I really enjoyed the course. It was at the right level, the presenter was excellent, and the pace of the course was just right

Useful to get a more thorough insight into the WCA

LOOKING UP THE LAW ONLINE

DATE 14 March 2024

Build your skills with this practical course on effective legal research for benefit casework. Competent casework starts by knowing the right questions to ask your client. Whether you are helping clients decide on the right course of action or supporting them with an appeal, the facts relevant to the case depend on the law. This course is an essential guide to finding the relevant law online.

The course covers:

■ Explaining the building blocks of social security law - Acts, regulations and caselaw

■ Skills in researching law and guidance relevant to a case

■ Where to find the law and guidance online, and effective use of these resources

■ An introduction to CPAG’s benefit case diagnostic tools and template submissions to aid effective and accurate casework

Level - Standard

Tutor - Judith Paterson

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

Useful to get hints and tips on how to effectively utilise gov.uk site quicker and more effectively

Really enjoyed that it was practical examples of how to do what we were discussing and instructor was clear and approachable

COURSES

MENTAL HEALTH AND BENEFITS

DATE 19 – 20 June 2023

DATE 6 – 7 February 2024

This course provides a practical and tactical look at working with people with mental health diagnoses to help secure full entitlement to benefits and avoid some of the pitfalls of the system.

The course covers:

■ Common diagnoses, symptoms, medication and side effects

■ Barriers to people getting the right entitlement

■ Adult disability payment in a mental health context

■ Medical assessments for universal credit and employment and support allowance

■ Tactics for dealing with other benefit issues

This course is suitable for advisers with a working knowledge of the benefits system.

Really

enjoyed this course

Level - Standard

Tutor - Alison Lord

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

OVERPAYMENTS OF BENEFIT

DATE 13 – 14 September 2023

Benefit may be overpaid for many reasons and recovery often leaves people in hardship. The rules on recoverability vary considerably between DWP benefits, housing benefit and tax credits and now, Scottish benefits, and the course highlights the significance of claimant or official error for each. Using practical examples, this course equips you to deal with overpayments by taking a systematic approach to checking and challenging recoverability.

The course covers:

■ An overview of the necessary decision-making process before an overpayment decision can be made

■ Universal credit overpayments

■ The tests of misrepresentation and failure to disclose in recovery of most other DWP benefits

■ Housing benefit overpayments, the role of official error and recovery from landlords

■ Tax credit overpayments and HMRC’s discretion to recover

■ Scottish social security overpayments

■ Overpayment appeals

■ Methods of recovery

Very informative course, delivered well with excellent course materials

Level - Standard

Tutor - Will Hadwen

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

QBC – MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CALCULATOR

DATE 31 May – 1 June 2023

DATE 28 – 29 September 2023

DATE 11 – 12 January 2024

This course is for people who want to learn how to use QBC (the Quick Benefits Calculator) effectively and confidently.

The course covers:

■ Understanding screens, controls, menus and how to get in-calculator help

■ Best practice when entering information

■ Legacy benefit calculations

■ Tax credit calculations

■ Universal credit calculations, including changing the transitional element

■ ‘What if’ calculations

■ Saving, sending and changing cases

■ An overview of advanced features

This standard level course is suitable for advisers who already have a good understanding of legacy benefits, tax credits and universal credit. You do not need to have had experience of using QBC, though participants should have a licenced copy of the most recent QBC calculator (as at the date of the course) already installed on their computer to allow them to carry out calculations during the course.

This course will be delivered online via Zoom from 10am to 1pm each day with a half hour break from 11.15 – 11.45. Participants will receive an email link, a few days before the start of the course, to allow access to the event and instructions on how to use QBC during a zoom meeting.

A Wi-Fi connection and a computer will be needed to take part in the course. It will not be possible to join this course using a mobile phone or tablet

Level - Standard

Tutor - Barbara Donegan

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

Being introduced to a lot of functions I previously hadn’t used on the calculator was so helpful

SCOTTISH CARER’S ASSISTANCE

DATE 18 March 2024

The first income-replacement benefit to be devolved to Scotland is Scottish carer’s assistance. It replaces carer’s allowance and is due to roll out throughout Scotland by spring 2024.

The course covers:

■ The roll out of Scottish carer’s assistance

■ Who is eligible

■ How eligibility rules differ from carer’s allowance

■ How Scottish carer’s assistance interacts with other benefits and devolved support

■ Proposals for future changes to Scottish carer’s assistance

Level - Standard

Tutor - Angela Toal

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

STUDENTS AND BENEFITS – ELIGIBILITY

DATE 29 – 30 January 2024

Many advisers work with students in both further and higher education. This standard level course explains the different benefits that further and higher education students can claim, in particular universal credit.

The course covers:

■ Definitions of full-time study and part-time study for benefits

■ Eligibility for universal credit

■ Which students can get other means-tested benefits (such as income support and housing benefit) and tax credits

■ Overview of how student funding affects benefits

■ Other benefits students may be eligible for

This course is for advisers who already have a basic knowledge of benefits and want to know how the rules apply to students.

Level - Standard

Tutor - Angela Toal

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

CPAG publication

Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook

Available to buy in print at cpag.org.uk/bookshop and online at askcpag.org.uk/publications/scotland

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

TRANSFERRING TO SCOTTISH DISABILITY BENEFITS

DATE 26 – 27 April 2023

DATE 5 – 6 September 2023

DATE 9 – 10 January 2024

There are two new Scottish disability benefits: child disability payment and adult disability payment. These replace disability living allowance (DLA) and personal independence payment (PIP) for people who live in Scotland. This course will help you advise confidently with an understanding of which rules are different or new, how the transfer process works, tactics when there is an existing appeal, and more.

The course covers:

■ Understanding new and different rules in child disability payment and adult disability payment

■ Advising on the transfer of existing claimants from DLA and PIP

■ Other ‘crossover’ issues: e.g. what happens if you are waiting for a PIP or DLA appeal and want to claim a Scottish disability benefit

■ Age transitions - disability benefit from age 16/18 and from pension age

This course is for advisers who already have an understanding of DLA and PIP.

Level - Standard

Tutor - Moira Escreet, Alison Gillies

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

UNIVERSAL CREDIT AND CAPITAL

DATE 9 November 2023

Not having too much ‘capital’ is a basic condition to get universal credit. Capital can include property, savings, investments and lump sum payments. Advising correctly on how capital affects entitlement depends on identifying whether it can be disregarded and what value it has. Capital can even affect entitlement when people no longer have it.

The course covers:

■ How capital affects universal credit entitlement

■ What counts as capital

■ How capital is valued

■ When and what capital can be disregarded

■ What happens if capital is spent or given

Level - Standard

Tutor - Henri Krishna

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

UNIVERSAL CREDIT AND STUDENTS

DATE 3 – 4 October 2023

DATE 12 – 13 March 2024

This course explains in detail which students can claim universal credit and how student funding affects the amount they get. It also covers particular problems to do with claiming universal credit and what to do about them.

The course covers:

■ An overview of universal credit

■ Who is a full-time student for universal credit

■ Which students can claim and how to manage a claim

■ The interaction with Scottish student funding – student loans, further education bursaries, discretionary funds and other funding

Slides and workbooks were really helpful resources

Level - Standard

Tutor - Angela Toal

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

The tutor managed to explain a very complex area really clearly, taking time to answer lots of questions and trying to guide & support everyone to understand the effect of student income on benefit claims

UNIVERSAL CREDIT –HOUSING COSTS

DATE 7 – 8 March 2024

Universal credit (UC) claimants often have difficulties getting the housing costs element included in their claim and having the right amount paid on time. This course focuses on the practical aspects of help towards rent in UC. It will include an overview of the claim and verification process, who is eligible for housing costs in their UC award, common problems preventing correct payment of the housing costs element and how to check payment amounts and dates.

The course also covers how and when to apply for Alternative Payment Arrangements, Scottish choices, direct deductions for rent arrears, relevant regulations for challenging administrative errors.

The course covers:

■ Who can still claim housing benefit

■ The eligibility rules for housing costs

■ Local housing allowance rules and the bedroom tax

■ How the benefit cap affects UC and housing benefit

■ How discretionary housing payments can mitigate the effects of the bedroom tax and benefit cap

■ Calculating and checking entitlement amount

■ The rent verification process

■ Recognising possible reasons for rent shortfall

Level - Standard

Tutor - Frances Ryan

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

UNIVERSAL CREDIT –MANAGED MIGRATION

DATE 18 August 2023

DATE 2 February 2024

This course focuses on the transitional issues for claimants who are moving from legacy benefits and tax credits to universal credit (UC). It is expected that claimants in Scotland will begin to be moved to UC under the managed migration process during 2023. Giving the right advice and support during this process can make a huge difference. In some cases, transitional protection is available, intended to ensure claimants are not worse off. This equips advisers with the knowledge to give advice on options and implications involved in moving from benefits and tax credits to UC.

The course covers:

■ The differences between ‘natural migration’ and ‘managed migration’

■ The migration notice and deadline day

■ Calculating the transitional element

■ Other transitional protection rules

The course is aimed at people with a working knowledge of the benefits system.

Very informative and enjoyable course

Level - Standard

Tutor - Mark Willis

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

A good overview of transition from legacy benefits to UC, pace was just right

APPEALS TO THE UPPER TRIBUNAL

DATE 7 – 8 September 2023

This course is essential for anyone who wants to challenge decisions of the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) effectively. The main aim of the course is to give you an understanding of what is an error of law, and practice in finding errors of law in the First-tier Tribunal statement of reasons.

The course covers:

■ Exploring other ways of changing First-tier Tribunal decisions

■ Finding errors of law in the statement of reasons

■ Format of an application or appeal to the Upper Tribunal

■ Procedures from First-tier to Upper Tribunal

■ Preparing submissions to the Upper Tribunal

■ Hearings before the Upper Tribunal

Some experience of representing at the First-tier Tribunal is essential.

I have never felt so comfortable contributing to the discussion on a course before

Level - Experienced

Tutor - Jane Smith

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

BENEFITS FOR EEA NATIONALS –ADVANCED

DATE 24 – 25 May 2023

DATE 28 – 29 November 2023

This experienced level course looks in detail at the social security rights of EEA nationals in the UK. It provides an opportunity for advisers who are familiar with some of the more commonly occurring scenarios to focus on specific complex areas and recent significant developments.

The course covers:

■ The main ways in which the European co-ordination rules can affect entitlements to disability, carer’s and child benefits, and how to determine who these rules apply to.

■ Recent significant changes in legislation and caselaw in particular affecting which EEA nationals can access benefits that require a right to reside

This course is aimed at those who advise European nationals on their benefit entitlement regularly and help with challenging decisions. Those with less experience should book instead on the standard level course Benefits for EEA nationals, see page 25.

If you also advise non-European nationals you should also book on the course Benefits for Non-EEA nationals, see page 26.

Level - Experienced

Tutor - Rebecca Walker

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

Really clear presentation of very complex material, will be very useful in my casework

SOCIAL SECURITY LAW UPDATE

DATE 26 - 27 October 2023

DATE 21 - 22 March 2024

Social security law and tax credit law can change from day to day and advisers need to keep abreast of developments to advise their clients correctly. Arranged under topic headings and concentrating on regulations and caselaw, this essential one-day course looks at the most important changes in benefit and tax credits law from the previous six months.

The course covers:

■ Decisions of the High Court, Court of Appeal, Court of Session and Supreme Court, as well as the European Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights

■ Selected decisions of the Upper Tribunal

■ Significant changes to Acts and regulations

A huge thank you for a really informative and enjoyable course

Level - Experienced

Tutor - Simon Osborne

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

I will feed back to team…. many of the points covered to inform our casework

STUDENTS AND BENEFITS –AN UPDATE

DATE 30 May 2023

DATE 16 November 2023

Make sure you know how recent benefit changes are likely to affect students. This course is for advisers with a good working knowledge of the benefits system as it applies to students, and mainly updates advisers on changes, rather than on existing rules.

The course covers:

■ Universal credit for students update

■ Scottish benefits and relevance for students

■ Student support update and impact on benefits and tax credits

■ Any changes in legislation and caselaw for students

Engaging and challenging, I like the breakout rooms where you do the calculations together Fantastic and very useful course, trainer explained everything clearly

Level - Experienced

Tutor - Angela Toal

Time - 10am – 1pm

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

All of it was useful and doing the polls/ calculations helped embed the learning

UNIVERSAL CREDIT FOR ILL HEALTH AND DISABILITY

DATE 24 – 25 April 2023

DATE 1 – 2 November 2023

This course looks at the universal credit (UC) rules that particularly affect ill or disabled people. It will equip you to advise clients about the transfer to UC, covering transitional rules for those coming from legacy benefits.

The course covers:

■ The latest rules on when ill and disabled people may need to claim UC, and the consequences of claiming

■ Transitional rules for those moving from legacy benefits

■ How to deal with delays and challenge decisions on limited capability for work

■ The consequences of work capability assessment outcomes in UC

■ The interaction of disability benefits and the UC calculation

■ How work affects the UC award for disabled claimants

This course is aimed at advisers with an understanding of the UC calculation and knowledge of the work capability assessment.

A lot of information was covered in a concise way. It had a good mix of info and practical exercises and opportunities for sharing

Very informative, and has made certain issues regarding UC and ill health so much clearer

Tutor - Will Hadwen

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

UNIVERSAL CREDIT UPDATE AND TACTICS

DATE 14 – 15 June 2023

DATE 19 – 20 March 2024

Universal credit (UC) changes all the time, as the law is amended, as it is implemented in practice, and as local delivery changes. This course is an opportunity for experienced advisers to get up to date with the latest developments. You will be able to share experiences of UC and discuss legal and practical approaches to best support clients.

The course covers:

■ Changes to the legislation and recent caselaw affecting UC

■ Current legal challenges

■ Common practical problems in UC and approaches to tackle them

This course is aimed at experienced advisers confident about covering issues in detail.

Level - Experienced

Tutor - Henri Krishna

Time - 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit our website cpag.org.uk/scotland/training

This was one of the best courses I have attended!

It was all useful but I particularly liked the exercises as they illustrated the issues being discussed

TRAINERS

Liam Casey is a freelance welfare rights worker and trainer. He has worked with Citizens Advice, Pro Bono Community, One Parent Families Scotland and Z2K. He has delivered training for Benefits and Work and Benefits Training Company. He has a background in community arts and education and has worked for the WEA in Scotland.

Barbara Donegan is a welfare rights worker at CPAG in Scotland and an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

Moira Escreet is a welfare rights worker at CPAG in Scotland, working on the Disabled Children and Families project. She worked in frontline advice services from 1993 until 2021, mostly in social housing, so has first hand experience of many benefit changes over that time.

Alison Gillies is a welfare rights worker at CPAG in Scotland. She is author of CPAG’s Children’s Handbook Scotland. She has worked in welfare rights since 1985.

Will Hadwen works as a benefits trainer and a locum adviser for charities including Citizens Advice. As a freelancer, Will also works on the CPAG in Scotland advice line and on CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

Henri Krishna is a welfare rights worker with CPAG in Scotland’s Advising Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities project. He is an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook and the Benefits for Migrants Handbook, and has worked in the advice and support sector in various capacities for over 25 years.

Alison Lord is a welfare rights worker at CPAG in Scotland, working on the advisers’ advice line. She has been working in the advice sector since 1996, specialising in benefits for people with disabilities.

Simon Osborne is a welfare rights worker at CPAG. He is content consultant and an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook, editor of and contributor to the Welfare Rights Bulletin, author of Winning Your Benefit Appeal and contributor to Legal Action magazine.

Judith Paterson is Head of Advice and Rights at CPAG in Scotland. She is an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

Frances Ryan is a welfare rights worker at CPAG in Scotland, and an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook. She has been working in the advice sector since 2009, including for Shelter and a housing association.

Jane Smith has been a welfare rights adviser and appeals worker in Inverclyde, Edinburgh, Derbyshire and Derby City and currently works as a senior adviser with Parkinsons UK. As an adviser she is particularly interested in income maximisation, overpayments and disability rights and as a trainer she is particularly interested in building people’s confidence and skills.

Angela Toal is a welfare rights worker with CPAG in Scotland, working on the Benefits for Students project, and is author of CPAG’s Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook. She was a peer reviewer for Scottish National Standards for SLAB from 2017-2021.

Kat Turner is a digital developer at CPAG in Scotland. As a certified trainer, she has created content and delivered training for both the education and charity sector for 20 years.

Rebecca Walker has worked in welfare rights since 1993 including for various citizens advice bureaux, Terrence Higgins Trust, Refugee Outreach and Advice Partnership and LASA. She is currently an advice worker with Citizens Advice Sheffield, and a freelance trainer and writer on welfare rights. For over ten years she has been an author of the Benefits for Migrants Handbook, the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook and the Disability Rights Handbook.

Mark Willis has worked in welfare rights since 1991 and is currently a welfare rights worker with CPAG in Scotland’s tax credits/early years project. He is an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

SCOTLAND’S WELFARE RIGHTS CONFERENCE 2023

FRIDAY 9 JUNE 2023 IN GLASGOW

THE ANNUAL WELFARE RIGHTS CONFERENCE FOR ADVISERS, SUPPORT WORKERS AND ALL THOSE WORKING TO MAXIMISE FAMILY INCOMES.

SIX FOCUSED WORKSHOPS EXPERT SPEAKERS

SHARE IDEAS WITH FELLOW ADVISERS

SECURE YOUR PLACE TODAY

MEMBERSHIP

BECOME A MEMBER OF CPAG

Print CPAG membership (annual) costs £61 and gives you these benefits:

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP PRINT

■ A subscription to a print version of our Poverty journal, published three times per year

■ 15% discount on books and subscriptions (for the person holding the membership)

■ NEW 10% discount on training and events (for the person holding the membership)

■ The opportunity to attend and vote at the CPAG AGM

Online CPAG membership (annual) costs £55 and gives you these benefits:

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP ONLINE

■ A subscription to the online version of our Poverty journal, published three times per year

■ 15% discount on books and subscriptions (for the person holding the membership)

■ NEW 10% discount on training and events (for the person holding the membership)

■ The opportunity to attend and vote at the CPAG AGM

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve launched an organisational membership option which gives you and your team access to the following benefits:

■ A subscription to a print version of our Poverty journal, published three times per year

NEW ORGANISATIONAL MEMBERSHIP

■ A subscription for up to 10 or 30 named members of staff to the online version of our Poverty journal, published three times per year

■ 15% discount on books and subscriptions (for up to 10 or 30 named members of staff)

■ NEW 10% discount on training and events (for up to 10 or 30 named members of staff)

■ The opportunity to attend and vote at the CPAG AGM (one representative per organisation)

Small organisational membership

– up to 10 log ins: £125

Large organisational membership

– up to 30 log ins: £350

SUBSCRIPTIONS

SURE YOUR ADVICE IS ALWAYS CORRECT WITH AN ASKCPAG SUBSCRIPTION

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An AskCPAG subscription

■ gives you access to regularly-updated online books, time-saving tools, and articles

■ saves you time when it comes toworking out benefit entitlements

■ offers solutions if you need to challenge unfavourable decisions

HELP YOU TO DO YOUR JOB?

■ Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook: Our flagship publication is fully searchable and updated throughout the year. The handbook is an essential resource for all professional advisers, ensuring their advice is always correct and up-to-date.

■ Library: The ever-growing library includes new books such as the Fuel Rights Handbook and the Mental Health and Benefits Handbook. Many of these are available free, thanks to partnerships we’ve built.

■ Tools: Our tools and template letters

❏ help you identify the correct position for your client in complicated areas of welfare rights entitlement; and

❏ produce letters tailored to your client’s circumstances to challenge unfavourable decisions.

■ Articles: Free to read, these highlights from our Welfare Rights Bulletin give up-to-the-minute commentary and analysis of social security law and practice.

HOW DOES WHAT OUR USERS SAY

AskCPAG is a brilliant resource for advisers. The tools and articles are very useful and the Welfare Rights Handbook is fantastic and very easy to use and navigate. Everyone working in welfare rights should sign up to AskCPAG!

It is crucial to doing my job effectively.

The best reference tool in the benefits area.

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CPAG PUBLICATIONS 2023/24

CPAG handbooks help you maximise your clients’ incomes, so they get all the benefits and cost of living support they’re entitled to. So make sure you have the most up-to-date information at your fingertips and if you’re using an old copy, renew it today.

All our online publications are updated throughout the year on AskCPAG, our website for advisers.

WELFARE BENEFITS AND TAX CREDITS HANDBOOK, 25TH EDITION

Written by experts, CPAG’s annually updated Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook is the definitive guide to the social security system. Tactical guidance and examples are included throughout to help you navigate an increasingly complex social security system. The Handbook is also fully indexed and cross-referenced to legislation, official guidance and caselaw.

Don’t forget to order your A2 wall chart, which gives you quick and easy access to the benefit and tax credit rates for 2023/24. Also available as a handy A4 chart. See order form for prices.

Cover price £76 | CPAG member price £64.60 | April 2023

HOUSING BENEFIT AND COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION LEGISLATION, 36TH EDITION

This annual title from CPAG contains all the relevant primary and secondary legislation governing housing benefit and the council tax reduction schemes in England, Wales and Scotland. With expert commentary on the rules, the latest caselaw, official guidance and advice on administrative and practical issues, it is an essential resource for anyone dealing with housing benefit enquiries, especially those preparing and presenting appeals, as well as lawyers, local authority staff and housing organisations.

Cover price £142 | CPAG member price £120.70 | December 2023

CHILD SUPPORT: THE LEGISLATION, 16TH EDITION

This latest edition of Child Support: The Legislation contains the primary and secondary legislation relating to the statutory child support scheme, together with expert commentary by Judge Edward Jacobs. Also included are the procedural rules for the First-tier and Upper Tribunals, together with authoritative analysis of decisions made by the courts to show how the law has been interpreted and applied.

Cover price £130 | CPAG member price £110.50 | September 2023

GENERAL HANDBOOKS

DEBT ADVICE HANDBOOK, 15TH EDITION

Our Debt Advice Handbook, details the debt advice process in England and Wales and the skills needed to give good advice. No money adviser should be without this essential guide. It provides the information that advisers need on the key stages of money advice, including interviewing clients, establishing liability, prioritising debts, preparing a financial statement, negotiating with creditors and dealing with enforcement officers.

Cover price £49.50 |

CPAG member price £42.08 |

February 2024

FUEL RIGHTS HANDBOOK, 21ST EDITION

CPAG’s Fuel Rights Handbook provides advisers with the information they need to help their clients cope with rising fuel bills, debt, and problems with their fuel supply. With an emphasis on the legal protection of vulnerable consumers, and on practical advice pursuing complaints and compensation, this handbook covers all aspects of the rights of gas and electricity consumers.

Cover price £38.50 |

CPAG member price £32.73 |

October 2023

COUNCIL TAX HANDBOOK, 14TH EDITION

This new edition of the Council Tax Handbook covers all recent changes to legislation, caselaw and court procedures and practice. It explains who is liable, how homes are valued and discounts, as well as how to challenge a decision and what to do if a client has built up arrears. It also covers, in detail, the council tax reduction schemes in England, Wales and Scotland.

Cover price £38.50 |

CPAG member price £32.73 | June 2023

CHILD SUPPORT HANDBOOK, 31ST EDITION

Written for parents and their advisers, the annual Child Support Handbook is the standard practical guide to the statutory child maintenance scheme in England, Wales and Scotland. Practical examples and tactical tips for dealing with the Child Maintenance Service are included throughout, and the book is fully indexed and cross referenced with the latest legislation and caselaw.

Cover price £49.50 | CPAG member price £42.08 | October 2023

BENEFITS FOR MIGRANTS HANDBOOK, 14TH EDITION

CPAG’s Benefits for Migrants Handbook has firmly established itself as the leading text on social security entitlement for people who have come to, or who are leaving, the UK.

It is the essential guide for claimants needing to demonstrate their right to reside or check how immigration status affects access to benefits, including families with different immigration statuses; refugees and people from Ukraine and Afghanistan; asylum seekers needing details of support; British citizens returning from abroad; and other migrants who need to navigate the immigration and benefit rules.

You can buy this book in a bundle with our A2 right to reside wall chart. Used together, they will help get you identify who has a right to reside for benefit purposes. See the order form for bundle prices.

Cover price £45.00 | CPAG member price £38.25 | OUT NOW

MENTAL HEALTH AND BENEFITS HANDBOOK, 1ST EDITION

Created by CPAG in collaboration with Mind, the Mental Health and Benefits Handbook is a comprehensive guide to benefits for people who have mental health problems. It provides practical advice and guidance for the different stages of benefit claims and assessments and the problems that might be encountered during the process.

The handbook includes an overview of various mental health symptoms and gives guidance about how and when to ask about them and how to give good advice and support.

Cover price £38.50 | CPAG member price £32.73 | June 2023

BENEFIT AND TAX CREDIT RATES CHARTS

Our A2 and A4 charts give you quick and easy access to the benefit and tax credit rates for 2022/23. See the order form for bundle offers and prices.

For more information about our books, visit cpag.org.uk/shop or contact bookorders@cpag.org.uk with any queries.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, 7TH EDITION

Learn what you need to know about universal credit with this fully updated edition of our bestselling, easy-to-follow guide. You don’t need to be an expert – with its help, you can deal with your clients’ queries. It covers all the rules, including how to work out the amount of benefit, how to calculate earnings, the ‘two-child limit’, the work-related requirements, sanctions, the right to reside and challenging decisions.

Cover price £16 | CPAG member price £13.60 | OUT NOW

FINANCIAL HELP FOR FAMILIES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, 4TH EDITION

Despite struggling to make ends meet, many families do not claim all the financial support to which they are entitled. Financial Help for Families: what you need to know is for you if you work with families and want to help maximise their income or deal with a benefit problem. It covers all the main benefits, as well as other important financial support for children, such as child maintenance and help with childcare and school costs.

Cover price £16 | CPAG member price £13.60 | OUT NOW

PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, 3RD EDITION

Our popular guide to personal independence payment tells you all you need to know about the benefit in a clear, accessible and easy to follow way.

With lots of practical tips and examples, it provides all the information you need in one quick and comprehensive guide.

Cover price £16 | CPAG member price £13.60 | OUT NOW

WINNING YOUR BENEFIT APPEAL: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, 4TH EDITION

This guide gives you all the essential information you need to prepare and present a successful appeal at the First-tier Tribunal. It outlines the whole process, from preparing an appeal and writing a submission, to what happens at the hearing, getting the decision and what happens afterwards. Plenty of examples and practical tips, particularly to help with appeals about illness and disability, a useful glossary of terms and a sample submission are included.

Cover price £16 | CPAG member price £13.60 | OUT NOW

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EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

GATHERING EVIDENCE AND USING IT TO INFLUENCE CHANGE

We set up the Early Warning System (EWS) to help us to get a better understanding of how changes to the benefit system like the introduction of universal credit, the benefit cap and the two-child limit will affect the lives of children and their families.

To date, over 6000 case studies have been gathered from frontline workers, including welfare rights advisers, housing officers and support workers.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

If you or any of your colleagues work with families who have been affected by changes to the benefit system, and you think that someone needs to know about their experience, then you might want to get involved.

If you would be interested in submitting case studies or have any queries about the EWS please get in touch.

Email: kmckechnie@cpagscotland.org.uk

FIND OUT MORE

For further information and to view our EWS resources, Reports and policy briefings please visit website: cpag.org.uk/scotland/ews

CPAG’S SERVICE IN ACTION

1 A FAMILY NEEDS HELP

A couple with two children - mum shortly to give birth to their third child - found themselves facing eviction and in desperate need of help. The couple went to their local Citizens Advice for support.

2 CITIZENS ADVICE CALL CPAG’S ADVICE SERVICE

This is the first time the Citizens Advice adviser had come across the particular issue the family was facing. He needed to know what can be done to help the family He called CPAG’s free advice service and got through to Welfare Rights Adviser Frances.

3 CPAG ADVISER FRAN HELPS

After listening to the full case, Frances outlined the steps the adviser could take including drafting letters to send to relevant authorities.

4 THE FAMILY GET THE HELP THEY NEED

The Adviser took Frances’s suggested action and later reported back to us that the government had agreed to pay the full amount of £5,047 to the family. This meant they could pay rent arrears and stay in their home.

5 MANY MORE FAMILIES IN A SIMILAR SITUATION BENEFIT

Thanks to Frances’s advice, the Citizens Advice caseworker is better equiped to help other families in a similar situation. Frontline workers we help report that on average they are able to help a further three families with the same solution.

HELP FOR ADVISERS

ON WELFARE BENEFITS AND TAX CREDITS

PHONE 0141

552 0552

MONDAY TO THURSDAY 10AM TO 4PM, FRIDAY 10AM TO 12 NOON

EMAIL ADVICE@CPAGSCOTLAND.ORG.UK

Free, independent, expert, up-to-date advice and information to frontline advisers and support staff in Scotland on all aspects of the benefits and tax credits system - what to claim, how to claim and what to do when things go wrong.

The advisers are so friendly and so helpful. They are always able to help me with any issues I am having quickly and efficiently

It’s brilliant to know that we can give the advice line a shout if and when we have questions

CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP IN SCOTLAND

Tel 0141 552 3303

Email training@cpagscotland.org.uk Web cpag.org.uk/scotland

Child Poverty Action Group is a charity registered in England and Wales (registration number 294841) and in Scotland (registration number SC039339). Company limited by guarantee registered in England (registration number 1993854).

Registered office: 30 Micawber Street, London N1 7TB.

CPAG in Scotland gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Scottish Government towards our advice and training projects.