PoCKit Helper

Welfare Benefits and Disabled Facilities Grants Calculation System for Advisers on the Move

Background / Overview

The ability to calculate welfare benefits and disabled facilities grants (DFGs) outside the office, perhaps in the client's own home, is an essential requirement for many advisers.

The Solution

PoCKit

Ferret's PoCKit Helper is the new pocket computer based system for those on the move. Pocket computers are small, easily carried in a pocket or handbag, yet the program can carry out detailed calculations and save the case information.

PoCKit Question dialog

PoCKit Helper calculates means tested welfare benefits and pension credit entitlement. It also determines eligibility for tax credits in the short and medium term. And by asking a few additional questions can, if required, calculate their entitlement to a DFG.

PoCKit Helper's easy-to-use step by step intelligent dialogue ensures all the relevant data is sought. And, to make input easy, it will accept information in whatever form you have it - weekly, monthly or annually.

Prompts or questions are supported by extensive context sensitive help, allowing assessments to be made by members of staff who are not necessarily specialists in benefits or DFGs.

PoCKit Helper runs on inexpensive handheld PDAs using Microsoft Windows operating systems. A range of machines are available with varying facilities some of which are combined with mobile phones.

Product Benefits

• Enables the user to accurately and simply assess the claimant's likely entitlement to welfare benefits and tax and pension credits
• Is easy to use and intuitive and requires little training
• A context sensitive help system, provides comprehensive user support. Help is also readily accessible separately.
• Minor changes can easily be made to case input to examine "what if" situations.
• An inbuilt "plug-in", asking a few additional questions, will calculate DFG entitlement based on the benefits situation.
• Cases can be saved, loaded and quickly reviewed or amended.
• Welfare benefits case files are interchangeable with Ferret's PC based Maximiser software.
• The current and medium term Tax Credits calculations enable longer term advice based on the likely situation in future years.
• The system is fully supported and kept up to date and accurate.
• Printed output is available by connection to your PC or using a portable printer if required.
• Small in size so is less of a security risk than a laptop.
• Runs on a range of PDAs using the Windows Pocket 2003 Second Edition and Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0 Classic and Professional operating systems.
• Pocket PCs (PDAs) are 1/3 of cost of ownership of Laptops (Source O2)).
• Can be up and running virtually immediately.

PoCKit Calculation

PoCKit Helper provides an immediate calculation of benefit entitlement and details of the component figures of calculations can be viewed if required.

PoCKit Helper can transfer data to and from desktop PC, print case output, and case information is interchangeable with Ferret's PC based Maximiser software.

Tax Credits

PoCKit Helper's tax credits calculation facility determines Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit based on the previous year, TC currently in receipt, or on a short term or medium term basis. This enables the adviser to present a longer term picture rather than "snapshot" advice and can help identify whether it is in the client's interest to ask the Inland Revenue for a reassessment based on the current year. TC calculations can also be adjusted for employment for a part of a year.

Disabled Facilities Grants

By asking a few additional questions PoCKit Helper's in built "plug-in" can calculate DFG entitlement based on the client situation already entered.

DFG Calculation screen

PoCKit Helper includes the renowned Ferret helpline service for system support, and queries around welfare benefits, tax credits, DFGs and the law behind them.

PoCKit Helper is easily updated via your PC from a CD or by internet download for speed and convenience. Ferret's constant monitoring of law and precedent ensures the software is always accurate and up to date.

Ferret software is used in LAs, housing associations, CABx, advice agencies and many other large and small organizations.

PoCKit Helper is Ferret's latest development in handheld benefits calculators following on from its very successful predecessors Helper for Psion II's, Helper-3, and Helper PDA.

PoCKit Helper in action. Just contact us on 029 2064 3333 and we'll be delighted to send you a fully functioning demonstration copy so you can see for yourself the ease and power of PoCKit Helper.