*Please note, there is a 10% early bird discount available if you book at least 4 weeks before the course date. The discount will be shown automatically at the Eventbrite checkout. The cost indicated includes the Eventbrite booking fee.
Who should attend this course?
This course, run by Citizens Advice Devon, is specifically designed for Benefits Advisers who want to assist people with challenging decisions about benefits. It will help to develop the necessary skills to increase the frequency and quality of effective advocacy and tribunal representation in respect of social security appeals, ultimately helping more people win their appeal.
Introduction and Aim
Lots of people are turned down for benefits like Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance when they shouldn’t be and lots of people on Universal Credit are underpaid. People don’t necessarily realise that a benefits decision may be wrong, that they can challenge a decision. Even if they do, they often don’t know how best to challenge a decision. Attending this course will decrease the number of incorrect decisions that are allowed to stand.
The cost of living crisis is making it more important than ever for people to be able to maximise their income by exercising their right of appeal when they have grounds to do so. With 80% of appeals being successful where people receive help, it is important for individuals to have access to the help they need.
Objectives
This course will enable participants to learn the procedure for challenging decisions and how to set out an effective written challenge. It will also help to:
- Explain the structure for settling disputes relating to decisions about entitlement to benefits
- Identify grounds for appeal
- Compose written challenges – requests for reconsiderations and appeals
- Identify and obtain relevant evidence
- Explain what happens at appeals
About your tutor:
Vincent Wilson - 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 for most of his working life, having taken cases to the Upper Tribunal level. He has been involved with national Health Education England in the design of an e-learning module on social welfare legal support and money guidance for social prescribers and has provided training locally on the financial support available to people worst affected by the rise in the cost of living. He is Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Teignbridge.