1 / 25

Introduction to Benefits

Introduction to Benefits. Law Centre (NI) January 2009. Aims & Objectives. Learners will be able to state the different categories of social security benefits Understand the concept of fraud and the consequences of making a fraudulent claim. Schedule - PM. 1.30 Introduction to Benefits

Download Presentation

Introduction to Benefits

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Introduction to Benefits Law Centre (NI) January 2009

  2. Aims & Objectives • Learners will be able to state the different categories of social security benefits • Understand the concept of fraud and the consequences of making a fraudulent claim

  3. Schedule - PM 1.30 Introduction to Benefits 1.40 Means Tested & Non-Means Tested Benefits 2.30 Tea Break 2.40 Claims, fraud & decision making 3.35 Evaluation & Home Study 3.45 Finish

  4. Categorising benefits • Means - tested - test of ‘means’ - income and capital low enough - some conditions • Non means – tested- satisfy certain conditions - limited consideration of means

  5. Non means tested • Contributory - National Insurance Fund - National Insurance Contribution Record - Contribution Tests • Non - contributory - General Taxation - Conditions of entitlement e.g. Residence test

  6. Non means – tested • Contributory • Contribution Based Jobseekers Allowance • Incapacity Benefit • Bereavement Allowance • Bereavement Payment • Widowed Parents’ Allowance • Retirement Pension A and B • Graduated Retirement Pension • Employment and Support Allowance (Contribution based)

  7. Non means – tested • Non Contributory • Attendance Allowance • Child Benefit • Disability Living Allowance • Carer’s Allowance • Industrial Injuries Benefits • Retirement Pension • Statutory Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Pay • Statutory Sick Pay • Maternity Allowance • Guardians Allowance

  8. Overlapping benefits • Earnings replacement benefits • Only one benefit payable • Adult dependant addition: • only one • none where a person gets own benefit

  9. Means tested benefits • complex rules re entitlement • assessment of needs and resources • some are passported benefits

  10. The main means – tested benefits • Income Support • Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Tax Credits • Pension Credit • Housing Benefit • Social Fund • Health benefits • Employment and Support Allowance (Income based )

  11. CATEGORIES Means Tested Non-Means Tested Contributory Non-Contributory

  12. PASSPORTING BENEFITS

  13. Health benefits • free prescriptions • free NHS dentures and dental treatment • vouchers for glasses and free eye tests • free wigs and fabric support • fares to hospital • free milk and vitamins [IS, JSA(IB), Child Tax Credit only and gross income below £15,575]

  14. Making a claim • usually in writing • appropriate SSA form • discretion of Secretary of State • ‘onus of proof’ rule (exemptions)

  15. Time limits Three months backdating • Child Benefit • Carer’s Allowance • Guardians Allowance • Maternity Allowance • Incapacity Benefit/Employment & Support Allowance • Bereavement Allowance • Child Tax Credit • Working Tax Credit • Housing Benefit • Pension Credit

  16. Varying backdating rules • Retirement Pension and Bereavement Payment up to 12 months • Housing Benefit • Up to 6 months if show continuous good cause and under 60 years of age. • IS, JSA 1 to 3 months if special circumstances.

  17. Notification • written decision • target times for notification • statement of reasons • if not received, request within one month

  18. Benefit Fraud • Deliberately misleading the department • Fails to notify promptly a change in circumstances • Allows another person to fail to notify change of circumstances

  19. Benefit Fraud Two offences: • False representation • Dishonest representation

  20. Benefit fraud • Formal Caution • Penalty • 30% of recoverable overpayments • Prosecution • magistrates court • £5,000 fine • 6 months imprisonment • benefit sanctions for 13 weeks • stiffer penalties in higher courts

  21. Department for Social Development - most benefit claims Board of HMRC - some benefits DSD/ Board of HMRC - decision makers Representatives Social Security Agency - decision makers HMRC - HMRC Officer Decision makers

  22. Sources of law • Legislation - primary - secondary • Case law - law developed and interpreted by judges in cases - doctrine of precedent • European Law - legislation and case law precedence over UK law

  23. Tribunals • adjudicate on issues re welfare benefits • less formal/legalistic than courts • one, two or three members • allowed representation • legal aid not usually available

  24. Types of tribunal • Appeal Tribunals (Social Security) • Industrial (IT) • Mental Health Review

  25. Law Centre (NI) ADVICE REPRESENTATION TRAINING Telephone Belfast : (028) 9024 4401 Telephone Derry : (O28) 71 262433 Website: www.lawcentreni.org

More Related