Universal Credit in Depth (Advanced)

This is an ADVANCED two-part course for experienced professional advisors. If you have not had much previous experience of UC, plesae book onto our UC Overview course instead.

This course is run over 2 consecutive half days. To attend the whole course, please select 2-Part Discount ticket for £135 + VAT (you do not then need to book separately onto Part 2).

UNIVERSAL CREDIT IN DEPTH, Part 1:

• Eligibility & rollout issues
• Break
• The UC Calculation

Aims
UC in Depth, Part 1 looks at the current eligibility and rollout issues affecting Universal Credit claimants including who should pursue a UC claim during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. After the break we look at the UC calculation and issues that arise when awards are worked out. It enables participants to recognise when errors cause under and overpayments.

Objectives
By the end of the module participants will:

• Know who can claim Universal Credit including an awareness of restrictions in respect of mixed age couples, people from abroad, young people, students and people with capital;
• Have explored the effect of different changes of circumstances on legacy benefits including those that are typical during the coronavirus outbreak;
• Be able to recognise when it is appropriate to make a claim to UC and when it is not.
• Understand the eligibility rules for the various elements that can be included in a UC award;
• Be aware of how different forms of income affect a UC award;
• Be able to anticipate the make up of likely awards at the point of application and check that they are correct once an entitlement decision has been made.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT IN DEPTH, Part 2:

• Claims & payments issues
• Break
• The UC Calculation

Aims
UC in Depth, Part 2 looks at the issues that come up for people when trying to make and manage a claim to UC. It enables participants to help vulnerable claimants avoid UC payment related problems. After the break we consider the best courses of action to resolve a problem in UC to help participants to identify whether to use a mandatory reconsideration/appeal, a complaint and/or a threat of judicial review.

Objectives
By the end of the module participants will:

• Be able to help vulnerable claimants complete the UC application process;
• Understand how the UC assessment period works and how changes of circumstances affect the award;
• Have an awareness of when and how a deduction can be made to a UC award in respect of a DWP or third party debt.
• Be able to identify which decisions are likely to be appealable;
• Understand when a complaint may be needed instead/as well;
• Identify where non-appealable decisions may be subject to the threat of judicial review;
• Understand that often more than one approach is needed.

Methods of delivery
This course is delivered online live with a BTC trainer. It is a practical course delivered using a combination of trainer presentation, exercises and case studies, group discussion and games. Before the course, participants will be provided with a Dropbox link to supporting material including PowerPoint slide handouts and a comprehensive training pack pdf.

Intended audience
This course is for professional advisors with considerable experience of Universal Credit and the wider system who want to explore the more difficult areas of UC. Please consider carefully whether our Universal Credit Overview course may be more suitable for you before you book onto this course and contact us if you are unsure.

Certificates & post course support
Named participants completing the whole course (Parts 1 & 2) will receive an e-certificate and regular benefits news updates and guarantees access our free 12 months post-course advice service.