Moving into work benefit training bite-size workshop

The government is introducing much stricter job-seeking requirements and will pilot a new ‘Work for Your Benefit’ scheme from October 2010 onwards. At the same time, lone parents are being forced to transfer from Income Support to Jobseeker’s Allowance when their youngest child reaches seven.

The rate at which benefits are withdrawn when claimants move into or increase their hours of work, the loss of passported benefits, and the complexity of the system have been highlighted as barriers to work.

Clients who are considering whether to start work need clear advice on the possible effect on benefit and tax credit entitlement. This course will enable delegates to support clients through the transition of welfare to work.

You will learn:

• How benefits and tax credits are affected by starting work
• Permitted work for ESA and incapacity benefit
• Better-off issues between working part-time or full-time
• Help with childcare costs
• Benefit run-ons and other help when you start work
• 'Back to work' provisions from Jobcentre Plus
• Help with other costs such as school meals and health costs
• Linking rules for reclaiming benefit.

Who should attend?

Housing association and local authority staff who need to help clients make long-term decisions about work and benefits. Delegates will need a familiarity of the benefits system.

Our trainer

Alison Markantonis has spent over 20 years in the field of benefits prior to becoming a consultant and trainer. Her approach is participative and interactive, using case studies and her own frontline experience to take the complex, and make it not only simple, but applicable.

Our all-new bite-size workshops are half-day events that provide a cost-effective way of gaining essential knowledge and skills.

HQN has a track record of helping organisations achieve real and lasting performance improvements. If you are interested in accessing this training package please contact us by emailing training@hqnetwork.co.uk