CPAG in Scotland training programme 2024-25

CPAG in Scotland

Child Poverty Action Group works on behalf of the almost 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 end poverty – for good. We provide training, advice and information to make sure hard-up families get the financial support they need. We continue to expand our online library of publications and resources at CPAG Welfare Rights 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 in Scotland

0141 552 3303 cpag.org.uk/scotland

Training enquiries

0141 552 3303 training@cpagscotland.org.uk

Publications enquiries bookorders@cpag.org.uk

Membership enquiries membership@cpag.org.uk

CPAG news and events

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

Advice line

Free, independent, expert and up-to-date advice on benefits 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 us @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 visit 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 the course page on our eLearning site where you will find:

■ A link to join the live training 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, longer courses are held over two consecutive mornings. Our Introduction to welfare rights course on page 11 is delivered over six nonconsecutive 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

In addition to the discounted prices listed above, CPAG members benefit from a 20% discount on conference, seminar and webinar fees, and a 15% discount on books and subscriptions. Visit cpag.org.uk/membership for full details on the benefits of becoming a member of CPAG.

Cancellations

Cancellations should be made in writing to training@cpagscotland.org.uk Our cancellation policy can be found at cpag.org.uk/shop/refund-policy

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.

In-house online training

Do your staff need an overview of benefits? Do they need to support low-income families? 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 inhouse learning.

While all our courses are available online, some are also available for in-person delivery. Please ask if you would like us to deliver a course in-person at your premises.

Why choose in-house 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 a quote and more information contact training@cpagscotland.org.uk or telephone 0141 552 3303.

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

Webinars and seminars

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

Thank you so much for putting on this seminar, all the speakers were excellent

Come to our welfare rights conference in Glasgow on 7 June 2024. Details of the conference and other upcoming events are at cpag.org.uk/training Conference

A really good day - great to be back in person and to get all the benefits / connections that brings

eLearning

Try CPAG’s essential eLearning on social security benefits for children and families. These are short learning resources you can access from your tablet, phone, laptop or PC.  You’ll learn through real-life examples, practice with interactive exercises and test your knowledge with quizzes. You can learn at your own pace and access them at a time that suits you. Most of our courses are designed for people with little or no knowledge of benefits, and they’re free!

Our eLearning courses cover the following topics:

■ Supporting low income families

■ Universal credit and other benefits

■ Scottish benefits

eLearning about Scottish benefits can help you learn about these important new sources of financial support. They include:

■ Scottish social security

■ Scottish child payment

■ Child disability payment

■ Scottish welfare fund

■ Scottish benefit appeals

We have four advanced level courses, designed for advisers with welfare rights experience.  Explore courses on Mixed-age couples, Migrating to UC and the severe disability premium, Moving home and the UC housing costs element and Universal credit and backdating. More coming in 2024!

The interactive style questions are a great learning tool

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.

Training course levels

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.

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

I just wanted to say how amazing your training was. I am a new adviser, and I’ve never worked in a role like this before. It’s actually my first proper job post uni, so completely new to everything

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

The usual high standard from CPAG in Scotland

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

See page 11

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 27.

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

See page 46

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

■ Child disability payment – an introduction

■ Income maximisation for older people

■ Pension age disability payment

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

■ Appeals to the Upper Tribunal

■ Changing decisions - Scottish benefits

■ Changing decisions – universal credit

■ Looking up the law

■ Preparing an appeal submission – adult disability payment

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

Introduction to welfare rights

16 - 18 and 23 – 25 April 2024

17 – 19 and 24 – 26 Sept 2024

14 – 16 and 21 – 23 Jan 2025

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

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

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 Child disability payment – an introduction (see page 18) and Pension age disability payment (see page 23).

This six half-day course will be delivered online via Zoom on the following dates;

April 2024 course

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

September 2024 course

17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 September 2024

January 2025 course

14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 January 2025

Every session has been extremely interesting, and the added value of having experts ready to support and provide extra details and explanations is priceless!

Level Introductory

Tutors

Duration

Liam Casey, Moira Escreet, Alison Gillies, Ali Lord, Angela Toal, Mark Willis

Six half-days

Time 10am - 1pm each day

CPAG publication

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook

Available to buy at cpag.org.uk/bookshop

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

Adult disability paymentan introduction

19 August 2024

7 March 2025

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 42).

Really enjoyed getting a better picture of ADP. Thank you!

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

Benefit basics in Scotland

18 – 19 June 2024

24 – 25 February 2025

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’s 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

I’ve been on a few basic benefit courses and this is definitely the best of them all. The right amount of information over the right period of time

Benefits and the armed services community

13 September 2024 6 February 2025

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 many different pensions and other payments they can 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

Really great to see a course on this topic

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

Benefits overview

27 August 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

11 March 2025 Level Introductory Tutor Alison Lord Duration Half-day Time 10am – 1pm

The course was amazing, very informative and helpful

Perfect pace and very easy to understand

For information and to book a place please visit

Care-experienced young people and the benefits system

3 September 2024

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

Excellent course, as usual. Thank you!

Child disability paymentan introduction

1 October 2024

Child disability payment (CDP) is a Scottish benefit that helps towards the additional needs of disabled children. It has replaced 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 understand. 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

Claimants and custody

30 May 2024

A period spent in prison – on remand or serving a sentence – can have far-reaching consequences for social security benefit entitlement, both for the person in prison and for their family. If you advise prisoners or their families about benefit entitlement, then our short course will help you navigate this complex area. The course uses case studies to illustrate the impact of prison on the benefits most commonly affected. By the end you should feel more confident in advising on the issues that most frequently come up for this group.

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

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

For information and to book a place please visit

How to unlock your training potential

3 – 4 December 2024

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.

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

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

Kinship carers and the benefits system

9 January 2025

‘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

■ The impact of universal credit ‘migration’ on kinship carers

■ 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.

Payments for children in Scotland

20 February 2025

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 ’twochild 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.

I loved the course and learned so much. I feel more confident and equipped to support parents and carers in relation to these new benefits

For information and to book a place please visit

Pension age disability payment

7 November 2024

6 March 2025

Pension age disability payment (PADP) is replacing attendance allowance as the main disability benefit for people living in Scotland who have reached pension age. Getting an award of PADP 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. As well as giving you a good foundation knowledge of PADP, this course will keep you up to date with the transfer of people from attendance allowance to PADP.

The course covers:

■ Who is entitled to PADP

■ How to claim

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

■ What’s happening with the transfer of attendance allowance claimants to PADP

This course is aimed at advisers and support workers with little or no experience of attendance allowance.

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

Scottish social securityan introduction

7 February 2025

This 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 delivered by Social Security Scotland

■ Who is entitled to Scottish social security benefits

■ The latest on Scottish disability and carer benefits

■ What is next on the Scottish benefit agenda

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

Really helpful course which was exactly what I needed

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

Students and benefitsthe basics

30 April 2024

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.

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

Specifics of student benefits wasn’t something I was familiar with before so it was really informative and helpful

CPAG publication

Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook

Available to buy in print at cpag.org.uk/shop and free online at cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/online-handbooks

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

Universal creditan introduction

29 October 2024

17 March 2025

Universal credit is the main working age, means-tested benefit for people in Scotland and 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

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

It was all very useful as it helped further my understanding of UC

CPAG publication

Universal Credit: what you need to know

Available to buy at cpag.org.uk/shop

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

Benefits for EEA nationals

19 – 20 November 2024

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.

The 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

■ What EEA nationals may be able to do to access key benefits such as universal credit

This course is aimed at those who advise European nationals in Scotland 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 28).

Really good exercises to check understanding and lots of recapping over complicated rules!

This was an absolutely brilliant course – essential, I think, for all benefit advisers

Lots of information but the way it was split up and the trainer’s knowledge was excellent

Level Standard Tutor Rebecca Walker

Duration

Two half-days

Time 10am – 1pm each day

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

Benefits for non-EEA nationals

12 – 13 November 2024

This standard level course offers an opportunity for advisers to gain knowledge and confidence to advise non-European nationals on how their immigration status affects their entitlement to benefits. The course takes a step-by-step approach and looks 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 in Scotland on their benefit entitlements. If you also advise European nationals you should also book on the course Benefits for EEA nationals (see page 27).

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

Level Standard

For information and to book a place please visit

Carer support payment

Carer support payment is a new Scottish benefit which replaces carer’s allowance in Scotland. This course will update you on the transfer from carer’s allowance to carer support payment. You will gain an understanding of the main rules and how these are different from carer’s allowance to help you identify who may be entitled.

The course covers:

■ How carer’s allowance claimants will be transferred to carer support payment

■ Who is entitled to carer support payment

■ How the rules differ from carer’s allowance

■ How carer support payment affects entitlement to other benefits and devolved support

■ What further changes are planned for the future

For information and to book a place please visit

Changing decisionsScottish benefits

1 – 2 May 2024

5 – 6 November 2024

3 – 4 March 2025

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

The course covers:

■ Understanding the terminology

■ When and how to apply for a redetermination

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

■ Getting an appeal underway

■ Getting short-term assistance while challenging a decision

The course does not cover preparing submissions for appeals. See our related course, Preparing an appeal submission – adult disability payment on page 39

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

For information and to book a place please visit

Changing decisionsuniversal credit

18

If you need to get a universal credit or other DWP benefit decision changed, this course aims to gives you the essential knowledge to do it. To successfully and effectively change or challenge a decision, knowing when you can do this and what to ask for can make all the difference. This might be a mandatory reconsideration, a revision or a supersession. In some cases, a complaint, dispute or judicial review might be the more 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

■ The claim and decision making process

■ When to ask for revisions or supersessions

■ When mandatory reconsideration rules apply

■ When to appeal

■ 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 related course, Changing decisions - Scottish benefits on page 30

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

Very useful and practical course

Explaining the jargon was very helpful

For information and to book a place please visit

Income maximisation for older people

9 – 10 September 2024

10 – 11 February 2025

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 how it interacts with ‘passported’ benefits

■ 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

■ Income maximisation tactics and benefit checks for older people

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

Course was very informative and engaging

Great training, I found all aspects of the course very useful, giving me a better understanding

Level Standard

Tutor Will Hadwen Duration Two

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

Limited capability for work in universal credit

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.

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

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

Looking up the law

27 March 2025

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

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

Mental health and benefits

11 – 12 September 2024

12 – 13 February 2025

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 the course and would recommend to others

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. Level

CPAG publication

Mental Health and Benefits Handbook

Developed in collaboration between CPAG and Mind, this handbook provides a comprehensive guide to social security benefits for people who have a mental health problem or who are struggling with their mental health.

Available to buy at cpag.org.uk/shop and free online at cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/online-handbooks

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

Overpayments of benefit

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. 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

For information and to book a place please visit

Preparing an appeal submissionadult disability payment

This course equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to prepare an effective submission. Using case studies, discussion and practice, you will gain confidence in making a good case for clients whose adult disability payment (ADP) claims are turned down or who lose ADP on review. Submissions are not just for appeals. A good submission can help you win cases at the earlier redetermination stage. This course focuses on ADP and is aimed at advisers familiar with ADP claims or familiar with personal independence payment (PIP) which has been replaced by ADP in Scotland.

The course covers:

■ What makes an effective case – the law, facts and evidence

■ Making sure your submission is informed by the eligibility rules for ADP

■ What issues to look out for in appeal papers to raise in a submission

■ Practice preparing a written submission for an ADP redetermination or appeal

See also the related course, Changing decisions – Scottish benefits on page 30, about redetermination processes to help you advise clients on the right course of action.

QBC - making the most of your calculator

8 – 9 May 2024

28 – 29 August 2024

28 – 29 January 2025

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

■ Universal credit calculations, including changing the transitional element

■ Legacy benefit calculations

■ Tax credit calculations

■ ‘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

Tutor Barbara Donegan

Duration Two half-days

Time 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit

Students and benefitseligibility

4 – 5 February 2025

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 suppor t 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.

Overview of student eligibility to all benefits was extremely useful

Transferring to Scottish disability benefits

A new system of Scottish disability benefits is replacing personal independence payment (PIP), disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) for people living in Scotland. Child disability payment has completely replaced DLA for children. Adult disability payment is replacing PIP for new claimants and existing PIP claimants are in the process of being transferred. Next along is pension age disability payment, replacing attendance allowance and scheduled to start in autumn 2024. 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 the Scottish disability benefits

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

■ Other ‘crossover’ issues eg, what happens if you are waiting for a PIP or AA 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 PIP/DLA/AA.

Two very knowledgeable tutors!

Really helpful and well explained

For information and to book a place please visit

Universal credit and students

8 – 9 October 2024

This course explains in detail which students can claim universal credit and how student funding affects the amount they get. It also covers managed and natural migration to universal credit.

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

■ Managed and natural migration to universal credit

The course was well structured and was delivered at a pace that facilitated good learning

Level Standard

Tutor Angela Toal

Duration

Two half-days

Time 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit

Universal credithousing costs

30 – 31 January 2025

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 help you advise confidently with an understanding of the claims process, how to deal with common problems that prevent correct payment of the housing costs element and how to support clients with rent shortfalls.

The course covers:

■ Claiming and verifying rent

■ Liability for rent

■ Caps and deductions

■ Moving home and temporary absences

■ Rent shortfalls and discretionary housing payments

■ Housing benefit for temporary or supported housing

CPAG publication

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Legislation, 2024/25

Available to buy at cpag.org.uk/bookshop

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

Universal creditmanaged migration

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.

Trainer was excellent. Knowledgeable and went at a good pace 14 June 2024 10 October 2024 5 March 2025

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 the majority of claimants in Scotland will be moved to UC under the managed migration process during 2024. 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. Level Standard Tutor Mark Willis

For information and to book a place please visit

Appeals to the Upper Tribunal

15 – 16 August 2024

This course is essential for welfare rights advisers in Scotland who want to challenge decisions of the First-tier Tribunal 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 Firsttier Tribunal statement of reasons. There is a new system of appeals in Scotland for adult disability payment and other benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland. The course will help you navigate the appeals procedures with an understanding of which rules are different or new for Scottish benefits.

The course covers:

■ Ways of changing First-tier Tribunal decisions

■ Procedures before and during an appeal

■ Finding errors of law in the statement of reasons

■ Drafting an application

■ Hearings before the Upper Tribunal

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

Plenty of useful information to assist with tribunals

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

Two half-days Time 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit

Benefits for EEA nationalsadvanced

26 – 27 November 2024

The course covers:

■ The main ways in which the European co-ordination rules can affect entitlements to disability, carers’ 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 in Scotland on their benefit entitlement regularly, including disability and carers’ benefits, and help with challenging decisions. Those with less experience should book instead on the standard level course, Benefits for EEA nationals on page 27

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. Level Experienced

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

The case studies and examples were super helpful for solidifying the theory and seeing how to put it all into practice

Tutor Rebecca Walker

Duration Two half-days

Time 10am – 1pm each day

For information and to book a place please visit

Kinship carers and benefitsan update

14 May 2024

Make sure you are up to date with how recent benefit changes and current issues impact on kinship carers. This course is for advisers with a good working knowledge of the benefits system as it applies to kinship carers in Scotland. It provides an opportunity to think about some of the more tricky issues and will update advisers on new developments.

The course covers:

■ Universal credit managed migration

■ The two child limit

■ The benefit cap

■ The interaction between benefits and the local authority kinship care allowance

CPAG publication

Children’s Handbook Scotland

Available to buy in print at cpag.org.uk/shop and free online at cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/online-handbooks

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

Social security law update

24 - 25 October 2024

20 - 21 March 2025

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 in Scotland and the UK 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

Always a useful course that I recommend to my colleagues

Students and benefitsan update

13 June 2024

21 November 2024

Make sure you know how recent benefit changes are likely to affect students in Scotland. 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

Very comprehensive and informative, covering all the benefit changes which affect students

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

Universal credit for ill health and disability

20 – 21 May 2024

30 – 31 October 2024

This course looks at the universal credit (UC) rules that particularly affect ill or disabled people. It will equip you to advise clients who are claiming or need to claim UC, including the importance of the work capability assessment.

The course covers:

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

■ An overview of transitional rules for those previously on 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 in Scotland with an understanding of the UC calculation and knowledge of the work capability assessment.

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

Trainer extremely knowledgeable and delivered course in an engaging way

Level Experienced

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

Universal credit update and tactics

20

26 – 27 February 2025

Universal credit (UC) changes all the time, as the law is updated, tribunals and courts interpret the law, and it is implemented in practice. 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:

■ Recent changes to the legislation and caselaw affecting UC

■ Current legal challenges

■ Common practical problems in UC and tactics to tackle them

This course is aimed at experienced advisers in Scotland confident dealing with legislation and covering issues in detail.

This was one of the best courses I have attended!

Very useful course with lots of very relevant updates, and good to get into the complex cases and practical examples as this really helps for thinking things through

For information and to book a place please visit

Trainers

Liam Casey is a freelance welfare rights worker and trainer. He has worked with Citizens Advice, Pro Bono Community, and One Parent Families Scotland. 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. He is currently project manager of the disability benefit appeals project at Z2K.

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 the author of CPAG’s Children’s Handbook Scotland and an author of the Welfare benefits and tax credit handbook. She has worked in welfare rights, in a variety of settings, since 1985.

Will Hadwen is a benefits trainer and a locum adviser for charities. As a freelancer, Will 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 Migrant Groups service. 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 Sheffield Citizens Advice and Law Centre, and a freelance trainer and writer on welfare rights. For over ten years she has been an author of the Benefits for Migrants Handbook and the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook and, for over twenty years, an author of 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 Advising Low-Income Families service. He is an author of the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

Memberships

Individual Membership PRINT

Print CPAG membership (annual) costs £65 and includes:

■ 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 20% discount on training and events (for the person holding the membership)

■ The opportunity to attend and vote at the CPAG AGM

Individual Membership ONLINE

Online CPAG membership (annual) costs £58.50 and includes:

■ 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 20% discount on training and events (for the person holding the membership)

■ The opportunity to attend and vote at the CPAG AGM

Organisational Membership

An organisational membership 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

■ 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 20% 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: £135

Large organisational membership – up to 30 log ins: £375

• Welfare Rights Bulletin – online (6 times per annum)

• Benefits for Migrants Handbook – online

•

Handbook

online, regularly updated throughout the year. This includes search, bookmarking and note making functionality.

Expert Publications

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credit Handbook, 26th Edition

Written by our team of over 20 experts, our Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook is the must-have guide to the social security system. Fully updated for 2024/25, this edition includes new information on universal credit work-related requirements for parents and part-time workers, managed migration and new caselaw relating to personal independence payment descriptors.

Cover price £79.00 | CPAG member price £67.15 | April 2024

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 2024/25. See the order form for bundle offers and prices.

Single A2 poster £8.50 | CPAG member price £7.23

Pack of 5 A2 posters £26.50 | CPAG member price £22.53

Pack of 2 A4 charts £8.50 | CPAG member price £7.23

Pack of 10 A4 charts £19.50 | CPAG member price £16.58

Child Support Handbook, 32nd edition

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. Updated in 2024 to reflect changes to fees and arrears.

Cover price £52.50 | CPAG member price £44.63 | October 2024

Expert Publications

Benefits for Migrants Handbook, 15th edition

The latest edition of the Benefits for Migrants Handbook, fully updated for 2024/25, explains the immigration status, residence, and presence rules within social security benefits, and how to satisfy them. It includes step-by-step information, tactics to help you enforce your rights and covers practical problems such as delays and providing evidence.

Cover price £52.50 | CPAG member price £44.63 | June 2024

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Legislation, 37th edition

The complete legal guide to housing benefit legislation and the legislation governing the council tax reduction schemes in England, Wales, and Scotland, with CPAG’s expert commentary. It is an indispensable resource for anyone dealing with housing benefit or council tax reduction 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 | January 2025

Debt Advice Handbook Scotland

CPAG is delighted to announce the first edition of the Debt Advice Handbook Scotland. Based on the best-selling Debt Advice Handbook, it details the stages of the debt advice process in Scotland and the key skills needed to give good advice. This new resource provides the most comprehensive information needed by advisers on the tools and strategies to help clients with their financial difficulties. It details the key stages of money advice, including on interviewing clients, establishing liability, prioritising debts, preparing a financial statement, negotiating with creditors and dealing with bailiffs.

Cover price £52.50 | CPAG member price £44.63 | October 2024

What you need to know

Universal credit: what you need to know, 8th edition

Fully updated for 2024 CPAG’s Universal Credit: what you need to know includes the latest rates, rules, and regulations, with expanded information on managed migration and how to overcome common problems. Providing guidance on how work out the amount of benefit, how to calculate earnings, the ‘two-child limit’, the work-related requirements and sanctions this guide is a must have to any advisor or for someone currently claiming benefits, making the law clear and understandable for anyone to use.

Cover price £17.00 | CPAG member price £14.45 | September 2024

Winning Your Benefit Appeal: what you need to know, 5th 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 appeals process, from preparing an appeal and writing a submission, to what happens at the hearing, getting the decision and what may happen afterwards. Also included is the latest information on online appeals.

Cover price £17.00 | CPAG member price £14.45 | September 2024

Personal Independence Payment: what you need to know, 4th edition

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

Fully updated in 2024 with practical tips and examples throughout.

Personal Independence Payment: what you need to know is for anyone that is claiming PIP, whether for yourself or someone else.

Cover price £17.00 | CPAG member price £14.45 | September 2024

Previously Announced

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 | Out now

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 | Out now

Previously Announced

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

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

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 £16.00 | CPAG member price £13.60 | November 2022

CPAG PUBLICATIONS

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

BOOKS FROM OTHER PUBLISHERS

ANNOUNCED CPAG TITLES

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TITLES FROM OTHER PUBLISHERS

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Payment Method

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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 8000 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

Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland

The Forsyth Building

Suite 4.2

5 Renfield Street

Glasgow

G2 5EZ

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.