Introduction to benefits (rent rebate only)

This course is an excellent beginner to intermediate training course for new entrants to benefits assessment, whose remit is to deal with HB/CTB and council tax benefit cases only, or as a refresher for current staff. Suitable for: customer services officers, housing officers, visiting officers, welfare rights officers This course is also very suitable for local authorities which are striving to achieve a multi-disciplinary workforce.

 Duration: 4 days

This course has proven to be an effective introduction to benefits. The course covers areas of HB/CTB legislation and administrative best practice in relation to rent rebate, council tax benefit and an overview of council tax. The  course is supported by group discussion, practical exercises at the end of each module and desk aids.

Learning outcome

At the end of this course new entrants to benefits will have a good knowledge of HB/CTB. The course covers the regulations relating to: date of claim; applicable amounts, income and capital; evidence requirements to VF standards; calculation of rent rebate; CTB, change of circumstances and overpayments. Delegates who attend will be able to manually process HB/CTB claims.

Further training recommended

Subsequent to this course, delegates can improve their knowledge relating to local housing allowance and rent allowance. Delegates can also enhance their knowledge/ skills level in more complex processing areas including: overpayments, student claims, self-employed claims, backdating & decision making, subsidy & assessment related issues, persons from abroad, appeals and fraud.
 

Day one

Making a claim

  • The application form
  • Customer management system
  • When and where claims may be made
  • Pensioner claims
  • Exercise

Date of claim

  • Standard claims
  • Income support claims
  • New liability
  • Backdating
  • Exercise

Eligibility to claim

  • Liability to pay rent
  • Persons treated as not liable to pay
  • Occupation as a home
  • Benefit on two homes
  • Absence from home
  • Exercise

Day two

Eligible rent

  • Liability to pay rent
  • Eligible / ineligible services
  • Exercise

Council Tax

  • Overview of liability, billing and collection
  • Maximum Council Tax Benefit
  • Exercise

 Household and applicable amounts

  • Household composition
  • Civil partnerships
  • Applicable amounts
  • Non dependants and deductions
  • Exercise

Day three

Capital

  • What is capital?
  • Tariff income
  • Valuation of capital
  • Pensioners
  • Exercise

Income

  • Income support and JSA(IB)
  • Unearned income
  • Pension and tax credits
  • Earnings and earnings disregards
  • Self employed and students – basic rules
  • Childcare costs
  • Other income
  • Exercise

Evidence and supporting information

  • Interventions
  • Identity and NI No.
  • Evidence of income, rent, changes
  • How evidence is requested
  • Exercise

Day four

Calculation of benefits

  • Calculating Housing Benefit
  • Calculating Council Tax Benefit
  • Calculating Second Adult Rebate
  • Exercise

Change in circumstances

  • Revision/supersession
  • Changes of address / liability frequency / rental amount
  • Death of claimant
  • Starting work and extended payments
  • Non-dependents
  • Pensioner rules
  • Exercise

Suspending benefits

  • Suspension and stopping of payments
  • Exercise

Overpayments of benefit

  • Period and calculation
  • Classifying
  • Underlying entitlement and offsetting
  • Recoverability and choosing from whom to recover
  • How to recover
  • Exercise