Means testing for Disabled Facility Grants (Advanced)

Overview

Anyone needing adaptations to be made to a dwelling to facilitate occupancy by a disabled person can apply to their local authority for financial assistance in carrying out the work.

Any grant made will depend on the cost of the work to be done, and of the financial circumstances of the disabled person.

Course purpose

This course is designed for experienced practitioners who wish to investigate in more detail some of the problem areas in and around the means-test. Time is given for practical exercises/group work, which will allow participants to consider some of the most common problems that arise in more depth.

These are exercises in judgment, not calculation. The course notes will include relevant extracts from the Housing Renewal Grant Regulations so that the legislative framework is understood. There will also be reference to broader benefits caselaw.

The course will try to cover any questions raised by participants, who are encouraged to bring along details of cases that have caused them problems.

The specific topics to be covered will include:

• Grants for children and young people
• Age rules – how do they actually work?
• Passporting – what the legislation actually does to achieve this
• Doing calculations where there are 2 (or more!) relevant persons
• Premium oddities – lone parent premium/disabled child premium
• The incomes of company directors and the self-employed
• Income and capital from trusts
• Policies of life assurance
• Houses, land and other forms of capital
• Voluntary deprivation of resources – a caselaw approach

Course objectives

• Understand the legislative background
• Adopt a more structured and logical approach to problem cases
• Know how and where to find out more about these issues

Course structure

• On screen presentations
• Detailed notes with extracts from the Housing Renewal Grants regulations
• Practical group work on example “awkward” cases
• Open discussion

Who this course is for

Those with considerable experience of the housing grants system, and/or who have attended the Introductory course, and/or who have attended the Intermediate course and who wish to look at the more complex problems that can arise in practice.

Who this course is NOT for

Those entirely new to means-testing for housing grants, who should attend the Introductory course first. Those with some experience of means-testing and/or who have attended the Introductory course in the past and want a structured “refresher”, who would probably be more comfortable attending the Intermediate course.

Course Feedback

Tutor – Clive Martin

Advanced Means Testing for Disabled Facilities Grants course

Cost

There is an additional £20 surcharge for London based courses.

The fee is inclusive of training materials, lunch and refreshments. Please indicate when booking if you have any special dietary requirements.