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Welfare benefits overview
This course will provide participants with an excellent introduction to the welfare benefits system, and a practical guide to claiming the most important benefits. The aim of the course is to help participants to identify and understand the benefits that tenants/clients are entitled to receive, in order to maximise benefit income.
This course is available training through Homeless Link’s short course programme and can be delivered direct to your organisation as in-house training . If you feel that a currently unscheduled or unlisted course would meet a training need in your region please email training@homelesslink.org.uk with full details.
Who is this course for?
Anyone involved in helping service users claim benefits, such as support, advice, and project workers.
What does this course cover?
Help with claiming benefits is one of the most important services that housing and homelessness organisations can provide - especially as many homeless and poorly housed people, confused by the bureaucracy or defeated by all the regulations, do not receive their full entitlement.
This course will provide participants with an excellent introduction to the welfare benefits system, and a practical guide to claiming the most important benefits. The aim of the course is to help participants to identify and understand the benefits that tenants/clients are entitled to receive, in order to maximise benefit income.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Recognise the differences between the different groups of benefits (means-tested, contributory, and universal benefits)
- Know which benefit is which and who can claim them
- Understand who can claim Income Support
- Understand who can claim Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Calculate Income Support/Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB) and check that all the appropriate premiums are being awarded
- Know which offices claimants should attend to claim specific benefits
- Be aware of the time limits for challenging decisions, and the importance of acting in time.
Training methods
This is a practical course, which will use a mixture of training methods. These include short tutor inputs, and small and large group work. The use of case studies will give participants the chance to practice applying their new knowledge. Comprehensive course handouts will be provided for each participant.