| Certificate in Council Tax and Housing Benefit Calculation & Administration
About the Course
Whatever your level or experience, we are dedicated to maximising your chances in today’s highly competitive job market. If you are looking for work in the area of housing, you should feel excited and enthusiastic about getting your next job.
However, we know that sometimes you can still worry about certain areas you will be expected to handle in your new job, particularly in specialist areas. This might mean that you approach interviews without much confidence, or you dread being asked certain questions about particular tasks. It can be horrible when someone tells you that you don’t have enough experience to do a job and you don’t know how to prove them wrong. This is often the case when you know you will be asked about your “practical experience” or what you would do in a “real life” scenario. This is why we have put together this workshop – so you can practise the things you will be doing in a ‘real’ job and then you will be able to convince employers that not only do you have the knowledge they need, but you have the ability to put it into practice.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to:-
· Demonstrate understanding of the structure of the social welfare system
· Analyse the welfare administration framework
· Calculate the council tax and housing benefit entitlement for various clients
· Provide advice and counselling on council tax and housing benefit related issues
· Demonstrate understanding of the welfare appeals system
Target Audience and Students Profile
Senior housing experts who recruit staff themselves teach this very practical workshop. They will teach you the skills and inside information that other candidates don’t have, so you can still win the best jobs, even if other candidates have more experience than you do. Employers want to know that you really understand the detail and that you can calculate the figures manually. We want you to get the job you are looking for as quickly as possible. This workshop will achieve these aims
.
This course is suitable both for you if you are new to housing and welfare and for those of you who already have previous experience. It is also suitable for those who are interested in making a career in council tax and housing benefit administration.
Course Contents
Part one – Introduction
1. Social Welfare & Structure of the Department for Work & Pensions
2. Administration and Classification of benefits
3. Introduction to National Insurance Contributions
4. Overview and background to Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB)
5. The Immigration rules and Public Funds
Part two – Administration of the Benefits
6. Who is entitled to benefit?
7. Persons from abroad
8. The Claimant’s household
9. Making a claim
10. Effective claims
11. Referrals to the rent officer
12. Determination, notification and payment
13. Overpayments
14. Appeals and Appeal Procedures
15. Benefits affecting HB and CTB
Part three - Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Calculation
16. Maximum Housing Benefit
17. Maximum Council Tax Benefit
18. Eligible Rent and Ineligible Rent
19. Rent Referrals
20. Council Tax Benefit – Main adult rebate
21. Council Tax Benefit – Second adult rebate
22. Applicable amount
23. Income and capital
24. JSA/IS Claimants
25. Claimants on other benefits
26. Self-employed claimants
27. Student claimants
28. Employed earners
29. Claimants with non-dependents
30. Claimants with mortgages
31. Categories of overpayments
32. Changes in entitlement
33. Interview and assessment questions
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements. However, students should be able to cope with advanced studies.
Assessment
Assessment is by means of essay-based assignments and practice sessions in the classroom
Mode of Study and Duration
Taught (intensive)
2 Weeks (Saturdays) 10 am – 5.30pm
Course Fees
£240 (This fee is expected to be reviewed in January 2010)
£180 only (For students who have already completed the Advanced Practice Certificate in Housing and Welfare Management course
Course Commencement Dates
This course is run every month of the year
Further Studies
Students who complete this course may proceed to study our Advanced Practice Certificate in Housing and Welfare Management course.
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