Personal independence payment (PIP) was introduced on the same day as universal credit back in 2013 and PIP is now the main disability benefit for working age claimants. 

The DWP’s record of PIP decision-making accuracy is possibly the worst of all social security benefits, with nearly 70% of appealed decisions reversed by tribunal judges in favour of claimants. On the downside, many claimants elect not to appeal poor refusal decisions. 

This training course looks at how to ensure that a PIP revision or appeal should work to the best advantage of claimants. A good PIP challenge means getting the PIP entitlement arguments right.  

A well-argued and well-structured revision or appeal should also mean fewer improper refusals. In this way, many claimants will not have to wait 6 months or so before having to go through a formal PIP hearing. To help achieve the best level of success at challenge, this course looks at the full use of available PIP regulations, case law and guidance. 

This  training course explains how the universal credit (UC) ‘Complex Needs’ rules work, who is covered, and what this should mean for UC claimants. It also covers how you can ensure the Department for Work and Pensions recognises ‘Complex Needs’ status.  

The course covers: 

• The challenges that UC presents to claimants
• Evidence of how claimant vulnerability can affect a UC claim or award
• Implications of ‘Complex Needs’ for the UC claimant
• What does ‘Complex Needs’ mean to the DWP?
• Who is most likely to attain ‘Complex Needs’ status?
• What this status should then mean for claimants
• How can we help the DWP to accept Complex Needs status?
• Requesting ‘Complex Needs’ status 

This course summarises how the personal independence payment (PIP) claim process or ‘journey’ works and the importance of the PIP2 questionnaire.

It looks at what makes a good PIP claim, and also at the limitations of the PIP2 questionnaire. We look how it can be optimised using the regulations, guidance and case law.

The course covers:

• A summary of the legal basis of PIP entitlement
• How points flow from PIP ‘activities’ and ‘descriptors’
• The role of the PIP2 questionnaire to generate information
• How PIP2 matches up or fails to match up to PIP ‘descriptors’
• How a defective questionnaire response can cause trouble
• How to use PIP regulations 7 and 4(2A) to assist in making good claims
• How PIP case law provides very useful guidance to advisers
• How to improve on the standard PIP2 form
• How to complete the questionnaire with an eye to tribunal judge scrutiny, if an appeal becomes necessary

This course is essential for anyone who wants to challenge decisions of the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) effectively. The main aim of the course is to give you an understanding of what is an error of law, and practice in finding errors of law in the First-tier Tribunal statement of reasons.

The course covers:

• Exploring other ways of changing First-tier Tribunal decisions
• Finding errors of law in the statement of reasons
• Format of an application of appeal to the Upper Tribunal
• Procedures from First-tier to Upper Tribunal
• Preparing submissions to the Upper Tribunal

This course is aimed at advisers with knowledge and experience of being able to find relevant law.

About this course

This course gives a basic grounding in representing clients at the First-tier Tribunal. Through mock tribunals, participants gain experience in a safe environment where there is nothing to lose.

The course covers:

• Making an appeal
• Tribunal procedure
• Case preparation – getting evidence and applying the law
• The role of the chair
• Rules of evidence
• Basic advocacy and presentational skills

This course is aimed at advisers with a working knowledge of benefits and little or no experience of representing at tribunals.