How do I learn about benefit rules?

David160

I want to learn the benefit rules. Is there a good book or manual that gives a good and detailed examination of the rules about benefits. What is the name given to the actual regulations about benefit rules? How do the benefit employees know what the rules are? Do they have a manual? How do I get a copy?

David160

job seekers allowance, employment support allowance, disability living allowance, severe disablement allowance, income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit, child tax credits, child benefit, working tax credit.

zagfles

Tax credits manuals are on the HMRC site http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/thelibrary/manuals-subjectarea.htm#A11

Upsidedown_Bear

Child Poverty Action Group publish a number of books.
The "Welfare Benefits and Tax credits" book sounds like what you mean.
http://www.cpag.org.uk/bookshop/wbtch

Normal cost is £45 but £12 to "unwaged claimants of means-tested benefits"
http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/discounts-claimants

ETA
Might be worth checking if your local library has a copy.

thorsoak

I have just googled "how do I learn about benefits" - and (within 15 second) came up with this:- https://www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser

I suggest that you read,learn and inwardly digest!

I wonder why you came on here to ask and did not do what I did? Looking for the easy life?

rogerblack

thorsoak wrote: »

I have just googled "how do I learn about benefits" - and (within 15 second) came up with this:- https://www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser

I suggest that you read,learn and inwardly digest!

I wonder why you came on here to ask and did not do what I did? Looking for the easy life?

Because that does not answer the question asked.
It leads to calculators aimed at determining a given claimants position - and gives no understanding of the overall rules.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/decision-makers-guide-staff-guide - are the rules used by decision-makers.

ohreally

As advised, get the CPAG book.

fed_up_and_stressed

For housing benefit and council tax support

Shelter's Guide to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Rebate 2013-2014 Sam Lister and Martin Ward ... But this will be superceeded in June 2014 by

Guide to Housing Benefit 2014-2017
Sam Lister and Martin Ward

ISBN 978 1 905018 53 6

mro

David160 wrote: »

job seekers allowance, employment support allowance, disability living allowance, severe disablement allowance, income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit, child tax credits, child benefit, working tax credit.

Good luck, there's a lot to learn.

More importantly you can't understand just by reading, it is not light reading, you need experience of each benefit & real life.

Mr_Lawnmower

Another option for a fairly good guide book is Disability Rights UK's Disability Rights Handbook.

Benefits are a constantly moving target as there are ongoing small (and not so small) changes in the regulations, alongside decisions by the Upper Tribunal and the courts that clarify how the law is to be applied.


If you're seriously into this sort of thing, it's worth getting some sort of formal training, possibly as an advisor for a charity providing welfare rights support. Formal legal qualifications are always useful.


The list in your second post contains one benefit that has been abolished (Council Tax Benefit) and another that only exists for a small pool of long term claimants awaiting migration to ESA (Severe Disablement Allowance). The list omits all retirement age benefits (Retirement Pension, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance), as well as Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit.

Personal Independence Payment is replacing DLA for those who were under 65 on 8 April 2013 but are over 16.

Universal Credit, if it can ever be made to work outside a tiny number of claimants in the pathfinder areas, is a massive change.

ArtoDeeto

What are you trying to become a benefits advisor?
If you want to know the rules look up the government legislation.