Welfare Rights Service

Training Programme

Course Information

Employment and Support Allowance

Background:

Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) is a new benefit, which came into force from 27 October 2008. It has replaced Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) for new claimants who are incapable of work due to illness or disability. There are significant changes to tests that claimants are required to pass in order to qualify for either the Support element or the work related activity components of this benefit. In addition, the way the points are scored for the claimants to pass the test have changed as have the decisions that can be appealed

Aims:

The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the this new benefit highlighting the changes which have been introduced to the tests that potential claimants have to pass in order to qualify for this benefit and how they can be placed into the two different groups; work related activity group or the support group. The course will also provide an opportunity to develop an understanding of the workings of the new benefits as well as areas that may cause problems to claimants who thus need to appeal unfavourable decisions.

Dates and Times:

Thursday 15 September 2011 (9.30am- 12.30pm)
Venue - Committee Room 2, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6DL 

Thursday 29 September 2011 (9.30am - 12.30pm)
Venue – Ashton Fire Station Community Room, Slate Lane, off Ashton Moss Way, Audenshaw M34 5FS

Thursday 3 November 2011 Venue – Ashton Fire Station Community Room, Slate Lane, off Ashton Moss Way, Audenshaw M34 5FS

Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance

Background:

Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are crucial benefits to help people with care and mobility needs meet the financial cost of their requirements and so promote independence. We are increasingly seeing DLA/AA awards being reduced or turned down. If benefit is awarded at the appropriate rate, we find that the renewal claim form can often arrive less than a year later. Therefore the number of forms we are being asked to help people complete is increasing and decision makers are becoming more and more reliant on evidence from GPs, Psychiatrists, Consultants, Social Workers, CPN's and other health professionals to support claims.

Aims:

The aim of this course is to provide an opportunity to develop practical skills in identifying possible claims, completing claim forms and how to access and give supporting evidence. There will also be time to discuss any particular areas you have come across which have caused difficulties.

Dates and Times:

Thursday 13 October 2011 (9.30am- 12.30pm)
Venue - Stalybridge Fire Station Community Room, Rassbottom Street Stalybridge SK15 1RF

DLA and AA – making successful claims. This course is aimed at participants with some experience of these benefits who actively help to make and support claims as part of their job, and would like to know how to maximise the chances of a successful claim.

Thursday 1 December 2011 (9.30am-12.30pm) venue – Stalybridge Fire Station
Community Room, Rassbottom Street, Stalybridge SK15 1RF

Basic Debt Awareness

Background:

Debt isn’t just a problem about money. There are far reaching consequences of being in debt causing relationships to suffer, people to lose their homes or liberty and families to struggle. It is estimated that 1 in 4 households will suffer from mental health problems as a result of financial difficulties.

With the current economic climate, redundancies, cuts to benefits and rising costs of household bills, unmanageable debt is becoming more widespread. A significant number of people who suffer from ill health or who are on benefits or are in low paid work could be said to be at an increased risk of getting into debt.

Aims:

To increase debt awareness amongst workers, and to enable them to give advice and assistance on very simple/one off debts. Participants will learn some common strategies for dealing with debts. All those who attend the training will be given a debt advice information pack that includes useful material such as budgeting schemes, an income & expenditure form and copies of standard letters.

Dates and Time: 

24 November 2011 and 28 November 2011 (9.30am - 12.30pm)
Venue - Stalybridge Fire Station Community Room, Rassbottom Street Stalybridge SK15 1RF

28 November 2011 (9.30am - 12.30pm)
Venue - Stalybridge Fire Station Community Room, Rassbottom Street Stalybridge SK15 1RF

Pension Credit

Background

Pension Credit is the means-tested benefit for older people. It replaced the Minimum Income Guarantee as the benefit that will ensure a basic weekly income for single people and couples over the age of 60. In addition to the Guaranteed Credit there is also a Savings Credit for people aged 65 or over that is to reward people who have contributed to occupational pensions or who have some savings. This means that there are a number of people who are entitled to a means-tested benefit for the first time.

Aims:

This half day training session will look at how Pensions Credits are claimed and calculated, how they interact with housing benefit and what the rules are governing capital.

By the end of the course you will be more aware of who can claim and so be able to promote take-up of Pension Credit.

Date and Time: 

Thursday 6 October (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Venue - Stalybridge Fire Station Community Room, Rassbottom Street Stalybridge SK15 1RF

If you are interested in any of the above courses please use the booking form 14.17 KB . Places are limited to 18 per course and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.

These courses are free to Tameside MBC staff and Voluntary Sector Agencies.  For other organisations the charge is £50 per person per session.
Please note this fee is fully chargeable for cancellations made within 7 days of course date.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Welfare Rights Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne OL6 6DL  View local map
0161 342 3494
0161 342 2168