Who should attend this course?
This course is suitable if you work in one of the following sectors:
- Small voluntary sector organisations who provide help to members of the public e.g. foodbanks, caring organisations, community transport
- Social prescribers
- Housing providers or housing associations
- Local authorities
- Anyone who meets older people in the course of their work who are struggling to make ends meet
It aims to provide participants with a system that allows them to check potential entitlement for their clients or peers, and by explaining how the system works and where people can find out more.
Introduction and Aim
Many people of pension ages miss out on the financial assistance available to them (over and above their State Pension), either because of a lack of knowledge of their rights or because they may not know they are entitled to Pension Credit and are reluctant to claim. Many people are also not aware about the benefits available to older people, so unable to advise or help them. With Winter Fuel Payments in 2024 being restricted to people in receipt of means-tested benefits, it’s more important than ever that people entitled to Pension Credit are able to claim it.
The aim of this course, run by Citizens Advice Devon, is to help participants who work with or interact with people of pension age to identify grounds for entitlement and support them with claims.
Objectives
By attending this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify key conditions of entitlement to a range of individual benefits, including Winter Fuel Payments and Pension Credit
- Understand the basics of how Pension Credit is calculated
- Identify and access resources to support people to make claims
How much does this course cost to attend?
DCT Members & Citizens Advice Employees - from £39.71
Charities/Community Groups, Parish/Town Council - from £49.46
Private Sector Organisations and Local Authorities - from £73.84
*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.
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.
