Welfare reform is hitting people with disabilities particularly hard, with lots of them losing income and wanting to appeal decisions about Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance. Universal Credit also includes cuts in amounts payable to people with disabilities and if Universal Credit’s not with you yet, it soon will be! Come and learn how to make sure that the people with disabilities who you support know about and can assert their rights.
This course is for people who provide advice and support to people with disabilities. It provides an overview of the benefits available to people with disabilities as well as information about the rules for individual benefits and the impact of benefits like Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit. It will give participants an understanding of:
- the financial help that is currently available to people with disabilities in a wide range of circumstances;
- the impact of recent and future changes to the benefits system which will have a significant impact on people with disabilities
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMISSION THIS AS AN IN-HOUSE COURSE TAILORED TO YOUR ORGANISATIONAL NEEDS PLEASE CONTACT INFO@DEVONCOMMUNITIES.ORG.UK
Aims and Objectives
The course will enable participants to:
- identify key conditions of entitlement to all disability-related benefits;
- understand the basics of ‘means-testing’ and how disability- related benefits may increase entitlement;
- identify options to support claimants who wish to challenge decisions.
About your tutor
Vincent has worked for the Citizens Advice service in Devon since 1985. As an experienced trainer, he has provided benefits training for many years to voluntary and statutory sector staff, covering all aspects of the benefits system from introductory courses to Tribunal Representation. He has been a benefits caseworker throughout his working life, having taken cases up to the Upper Tribunal level. He continues to work as a benefits caseworker, providing advice and assistance to families with children with disabilities and to young people with disabilities. He also provides benefits advice as part of the Devon Advice Service for Working Age Carers and is the Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Teignbridge.
Special requirements
Please let Support Services know if there is anything that would affect your learning and if there is anything we can do to enable you to fully participate in our courses and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Call Support Services on 01392 248919 or email info@devoncommunities.org.uk
