Introduction to HB and CTB – 6 days

About this course:

This course has proven to be a most effective induction course for benefits staff. The course covers all the main areas of HB/CTB legislation and administrative best practice, including local housing allowance, rent allowance and overpayments, plus a basic overview of council tax law. The course is supported by group discussion, practical exercises at the end of each module and a desk aid. In addition to this, an informal assessment using the LA's own standard forms and stationery will be carried out by each delegate.

Learning outcome:

At the end of this course new entrants will have a comprehensive understanding of the benefit scheme, with an in-depth knowledge in many areas. Those with greater existing knowledge at the outset will find their knowledge is enhanced and will leave the course feeling more confident and able to deal with more complex areas of work. All delegates who attend will be able to manually process Rent Rebate, Rent Allowance, Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax benefits claims.

Suitable for:

• New starters (as an induction)
• Experienced assessors (as a refresher)
• Team leaders

Content

Day One:

Introduction to course

• Overview of state benefits scheme
• Means tested/non-means tested benefits
• Basic rules for claiming benefits and Tax / Pension Credits
• Help and advice for claimants
• Sources of information

Making a claim

• The application form
• Customer Management System
• When and where claims may be made
• Pensioner claims
• Date of claim
• Standard claims
• Passport claims
• New liability
• Entitlement date
• Backdating

Day two:

Eligibility to claim

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

Rent

• Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance?
• Liability to pay rent
• Eligible / ineligible services
• Maximum rent
• Rent Restrictions
• Rent officer determinations
• Size criteria
• Broad rental market areas
• Applying the LHA
• Payment on Account

Council Tax

• Overview of liability, billing and collection
• Maximum Council Tax Benefit
• Second Adult Rebate

Day three

Household and applicable amounts

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

Capital

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

Income

• Income support and JSA(IB)
• Unearned income
• Pension Credit
• Tax Credits
• Earnings and disregards
• Childcare costs

Day four

Evidence and supporting information

• Interventions
• Identity and NI number
• Evidence of income, rent, changes of circumstance, etc.
• How evidence is requested

Calculation of benefits

Day five

Payment of benefits

• Payment of HB/LHA
• How we pay
• Who we pay
• 8 weeks arrears and disputes
• Advance or arrears payments
• Safeguards for LHA claimants
• Deductions from payments
• Shortfall of benefit
• Discretionary housing payments
• Suspension and stopping payments

Change in circumstances

• Revision/Supersession
• Change of address / liability frequency / rental amount
• Death of claimant
• Starting work and extended payments
• Non-dependents
• LHA changes
• Pensioner rules

Day six

Overpayments of benefit

• Period and calculation of overpayment
• Classifying the overpayment
• Underlying entitlement and offsetting
• Recoverability and choosing from whom to recover
• How to recover overpayments

Decisions, notifications and appeals

• What, who, how to notify
• What to include in notification letter
• Disputes and reconsiderations
• Appeals

For more information about our training services please call us on 0800 072 9844 or email us.