Why Do This Course?
Universal Credit is the biggest change to the benefits system for a generation. It is slowly being introduced to replace all the means-tested benefits (except council tax support) for people under pension age.
I offer many different versions of this course from short introductory zoom sessions through to three-day regulation-based training for welfare rights advisers.
Whichever version you do, by the end of the course you will:
- Understand the structure of the benefits system and UC’s place within it
- Know what UC is and how it works
Content:
The depth of content of the course varies according to the time available for the session.
There are some topics that I always cover to some degree. Other optional content depend on the group members and the work that they do.
Essential Content:
- Different types of benefit – means-tested, non-means-tested and one-off
- Moving onto UC – Migration and transitional protection
- Capability for Work and for Work Related Activity
- Calculating UC – Maximum Amounts – What factors affect these?
- Calculating UC – Housing Costs Element – What factors affect these?
- Calculating UC – Income
- Calculating UC – The effects of work
- Calculating UC – Relationships between UC and non-means-tested benefits
- Claims, administration and payments
- Conditionality and sanctions – the basics
Optional Content:
- Social justice and social security
- Pension Age and mixed-age couples
- Living together in the same household as husband and wife
- Responsibility for a child – in the context of domestic abuse
- Benefit advances
- 16 and 17 year olds
- Education
- Presence in Great Britain
- Mixed nationality couples.
- Good reason
- Conditionality and sanctions – the details
- Payments to landlords and other third parties.
And many more…