This module is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain a working knowledge of a key aspect of advice work provision in a diverse society; to develop problem solving skills and use of number skills in the following areas of welfare benefits:

- Means-tested, contributory and non-contributory benefits, and tax credits; how these may be claimed; and how to challenge decisions; how benefits interact with each other.
- How to undertake benefit checks and `better off' calculations using paper-based information systems;
- Particular attention will be given to the law relating to the availability for, and actively seeking work; fitness and incapacity for work; claims for means tested benefits and tax credits; disability benefits; social fund: poverty traps in the benefits system; and habitual residence and living together as a couple.

Students will not be expected to commit large amounts of information to memory, but will be expected to be able to locate relevant sources of information and accurately apply them.
The content of the module conforms to National Occupational Standard LA 49, and CLS Quality Mark standard for Generalist Help.

A case study assignment (Learning outcomes 1 - 4)

Additional Assessment Details:

Welfare benefits case scenarios will be used to test the student's ability to access, interpret and apply relevant information, and to accurately calculate entitlement to benefit and tax credits.

Formative Assessment: Case study exercises will be used throughout the module, and the module tutor will provide regular feedback.

Whole group sessions (11x2hrs)

These will be inter-active teaching and learning sessions (100%) which will involve some formal teaching but will rely heavily on case study, worksheets, small group discussion and experiential learning strategies in which students are expected actively to participate.

Independent Study (128 hours) include the following:
Students are expected to prepare for the whole group session by reading preparatory materials and completing exercises when required (10%)

Students are expected to spend time after each whole group session completing exercises, consolidating their learning and ensuring that they fully understand the material (10%)

Students are expected to spend time exploring additional sources of information, (particularly web based), updating their knowledge in line with developments and changes. This will include accessing materials on Blackboard (50%)

Preparation for and completing the assignment (30%)

Any of the following:
Child Poverty Action Group: Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (latest version), Child Poverty Action Group, London
Disability Rights Handbook (latest version), Disability Alliance, London
Welfare Benefits 2003 (or latest version), Keith Puttick, EMIS Professional Publishing Ltd

A computer with access to the internet

Access to Blackboard
Access to Blackboard study skills material SHWSTUDYSKILLS-A