Citizens Advice Devon: Challenging Benefits Decisions

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This course has now taken place. To see all our current training and learning opportunities, visit www.devoncommunities.org.uk/courses or contact info@devoncommunities.org.uk to discuss bespoke training arrangements for your organisation.
Course Category: Voluntary Sector and Governance, Benefits and Money Advice

Please note, this is an online course which will be held using Zoom software. 

price

  • £38.32*: Members of Devon Communities Together
  • £49.10*: Charities, Community Groups or Parish and Town Councils that are not members of Devon Community Together
  • £70.66*: Private Sector organisations and Statutory Local Authorities

*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.

*The discounted membership price on many of our training courses is one of a number of benefits provided to members of Devon Communities Together and is available to new and existing members. With annual membership starting from just £24 for individuals and small organisations, up to £50 for larger organisations, taking out a membership can be a great way to save money on your training needs. To find out more and join DCT today, call 01392 248919 or visit our membership page

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Advice on entitlement to benefits is needed for three main reasons: because lots of people don’t know they are entitled; because the process of claiming and challenging decisions is not ‘user-friendly’; and because many initial decisions are wrong. If you work with people who might be entitled to benefits, you need to know not just which benefits they might be entitled to, but also that many decisions can be disputed and that in many cases it’s worth disputing them. This course will help.

The course provides an explanation of the process used for disputing benefit decisions and considers how challenges might be constructed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course you will be able to:

  • Identify the options for challenging benefits decision, whether by way of revision, supersession or appeal, including relevant time limits

  • Use a set structure for composing written challenges

YOUR TUTOR: VINCENT WILLSON

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 providing benefits training for Citizens Advice Devon since 2017. He is the Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Teignbridge.

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