Means-testing Self-Employed People and Company Directors for DFG

This online course looks at the issues for those carrying out the DFG means-test when confronted by a self-employed earner or a company director. Although not common, such cases are often difficult to assess.

Course purpose

To enable participants who are have some experience of the the housing grants system to understand how to make financial assessments properly in respect of self-employed earners and company directors.

Course objectives

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

• Identify who is a self-employed earner and who is a company director
• Calculate the net income for means-testing purposes of the self-employed, including:
  • What evidence should be sought and/or taken into account
  • What expenses are allowed and what expenses are not allowed
  • Apply the rules correctly in terms of the net income after deductions for income tax, National Insurance, etc.
• Understand the unique legal status of company directors
• Calculate the net income for means-testing purposes of company directors, including:
  • What income and capital elements should be taken into account
  • What income and capital elements should be disregarded

Course delivery

The course will be delivered using the Zoom platform. Although you can download and run the Zoom application, you can simply run Zoom in a browser window if you wish. There will be:

• On screen powerpoint presentation
• Short “polls” to confirm understanding
• Open discussion

Attendees will also be provided with a .PDF Course Text comprising the powerpoint presentation combined with extensive course notes. This will be emailed to the attendees prior to the event.

(Please note: where the Zoom app is not installed, individual browser setting can, in some instances, prevent visibility of pop-up polls.)

Course structure

The course will be delivered by a 1 x 1.5 hour long session.

Who this course is for:

Anyone carrying out the housing grants means-test who needs to have a better understanding of how to means-test these notoriously “tricky” cases.

Who this course is NOT for:

Those with little or no experience of administering the housing grants means-test. (Who are advised to start by attending our online Introductory course.)

Who will deliver the course

The course tutor will be our experienced trainer and consultant Clive Martin. Clive offers a humorous and often irreverent approach to what could be seen as a rather dry subject.

Feedback

Tutor – Clive Martin

Fantastic trainer. Informative and very knowledgeable – A1 Housing

Very knowledgeable and interested in the subject area – Selby DC

Entertaining & Informative – South Tyneside Council

Brilliant tutor, clear, concise and fun too – Eastbourne BC

Clive was very informative and engaging – Colchester BC

Excellent style of teaching – Warwick DC

Cost

£48 (+ VAT) per attendee.

Bookings are for specific dates and times.

Confirmation of the dates and times of the Zoom webinars will also be emailed to attendees, the email to include training notes in .pdf format, and instructions on how to access the webinars.

In House Training

The course is available as an in-house online event, catering for up to 16 attendees, at a cost of £288 (+VAT)