1. Benefits 1: Which Benefit
A training session as part of the CAB Service’s Adviser Training Programme for new advisers
The material contained in this presentation is the copyright of The Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux – Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish charity number SC016637) and may not be reproduced, except by bureaux, without the written consent of the CAS Training Team.

2. Objectives
Identify common benefits that clients in different circumstances may be able to claim
Identify the possible range of benefits to which a client may be entitled, given their circumstances
Categorise the most common benefits into means-tested benefits, means-tested tax credits, contributory benefits or non-contributory benefits
Identify the main information needed from the client in order to identify their benefit entitlement.
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

3. Why have a benefits system?
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

4. Groups of people
In this session, we will look at benefits for people who:
are of working age
are responsible for children
are over state retirement pension age
pay for housing and council tax
have ill health or a disability
are carers
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

5. People of working age income support (IS): not required to work
income- or contributions- based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA): seeking or available for work
Income or contributions- based ESA
working tax credit (WTC): working a minimum of 16 or 30 hours
Universal Credit (UC)
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

6. People with children available to the primary carer child benefit (CB)
paid for every child, income over £50k may be liable to pay tax
child tax credit (CTC)
paid at varying levels, depending on family income
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

7. People over state pension age
state retirement pension
based on NI contributions
(when reach state pension age)
guarantee
pension credit
means-tested
(state retirement pension age and over)
savings
pension credit
if have some savings
provision
(over 65)
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

8. People who pay housing costs
rent covered by housing benefit (HB)
mortgage interest covered by:
income support (IS)
income-related employment and support allowance (i-r ESA)
jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) or
pension credit (PC)
council tax covered by council tax benefit (CTB)
Universal Credit Housing Element
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

9. People who have ill health
statutory sick pay (SSP)
contribution-based employment and support allowance (c-b ESA)
income-related employment and support allowance (i-r ESA)
Removed IS as is no longer paid on grounds of ill-health RS
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

10. People who have disabilities
Personal Independence Payments (PIP):
under 65
attendance allowance (AA):
65 and over
Daily Living
Mobility
Care
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

11. People who are carers
carer’s allowance
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

12. Four categories of benefits
Client on low or no income (means-tested)
Client with other needs (non-means-tested)
Means-tested benefits
ensure that people with low or no income have a minimum amount to live on
Contributory benefits
replace earnings for people who have paid enough NI contributions
Means-tested tax credits
provide an amount for people (eg working, with children) who have low or no income
Non-contributory benefits
are for people with special needs due to their personal circumstances (eg disability)
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

13. What do I consider first?
first, check contributory benefits
(paid if client has made enough NI contributions) 1
next, check non-contributory benefits
(paid if eligibility criteria met) 2
finally, check means-tested benefits and tax credits
(paid if eligibility criteria met, and based on benefits calculation) 3
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

14. Client information needed
client’s immigration status
client’s personal/family circumstances
housing status and costs
health / disability issues in household
employment income and hours worked
other income
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

15. Benefits checklist
checklist can be found in the Which Benefit unit and the Trainee Support Pack
available on the CAS intranet
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

16. Benefits checklist (continued)
your bureau may have its own checklist
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

17. Summary
Which Benefit
List
There are common benefits that people in different circumstances/groups can claim.
Benefits can act as a safety net, or help meet costs for other circumstances.
You will need to match the eligibility criteria and principles of each benefit to fit these different circumstances.
Clients may be entitled to more than one benefit.
Benefits can be divided into four categories.
Benefits 1: Which Benefit

18. Summary (continued)
Which Benefit
List
You will need to gather a lot of information about the client for benefits enquiries, but the checklist will help you with this.
You’ll always need to check the information system – you don’t have to remember details about the various benefits.
Don’t worry! – there will always be people to help you.
Even just gathering client information will be a big help.
Your cases will be checked, so if you miss something, someone else will pick it up.
Benefits 1: Which Benefit