Skip to main content
What types of page to search?

Popular pages: Undergraduate Postgraduate PhD Accommodation Research International students

Alternatively use our A-Z index.

Your benefits and the law: Introduction to Welfare Rights

8 weekly sessions online from Tuesday 27 January, 6- 8pm

Overview

This is an introductory course, suitable for volunteers, trainees and others in the advice sector who want to increase their knowledge of the benefits system. The course will start with an overview, establishing the distinction between means-tested, contribution-based and other benefits. Further sessions will look at individual benefits in more detail, and will include sessions on Universal Credit, disability and sickness benefits, support for housing, and migrants’ rights to benefits.

The course should provide participants with an overall knowledge of the benefits system, equip them to give advice on benefits issues and to know where to seek further information. 

Syllabus

  1. The course consists of 8 weekly sessions: 
  2. An introduction to the benefits system:  Means-tested, contribution-based and Non-means-tested, non-contribution-based benefits
  3. Contribution-based benefits 
  4. Disability and the benefits system 
  5. Means-tested benefits: Pension Credit and Housing Benefit
  6. Means-tested benefits: Universal Credit 
  7. Illness and the Work Capability Assessment 
  8. The roof over your head: Help with housing costs 
    Benefits and migrants 

Course lecturer

Ruth Knox is an experienced welfare rights advisor, having worked with RAISE Advice for over 10 years, and since retirement with Vauxhall Law Centre as a volunteer benefits adviser. Since 2018 she has taught various courses on Welfare Rights with the Continuing Education department of University of Liverpool. 

Course fee

  • Standard fee: £125
  • Concession fee: £65