qbc qbc cases. aims of training know how qbc works what is set out in screens know what is available...
TRANSCRIPT
QBC
QBC cases
Aims of training
• Know how QBC works• What is set out in screens• Know what is available• Know how to do a better off calculation• Know how to enter tax credits• Know options available for tax credits• Aware of how to change QBC• Aware of how to manage QBC with casesNov 2008 2SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How QBC works – what it is trying to do
• 3 main WR problems– Administration– Entitlement– Amount
• QBC is a calculator – it focuses on the Amount• Adviser must know rules of entitlement so
check that the QBC is accurate
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 3
Aim of QBC
• The aim is to calculate the amount of benefit someone can get
• The calculation is finished when you get a print out of the claimant’s benefit amount
• The QBC does not aim to tell you if someone is entitled or not to benefit
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 4
How to make the QBC work• The QBC works by entering information on
screens.• It starts and ends with a main screen from
which you can access the other screens.• The main screen displays a summary of the
claimant’s benefit and income.• The main screen assumes that the claimant is
single; aged 25 and is on income support or income based jsa without and housing costs.
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 5
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 6
The start of the caseNote that the claimant is aged 25; is on Income Support or Income Based JSA; is single and has no housing costs.
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 7
The end of the case
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 8
Screens
• Screens are how the QBC works• Screens help you to get a print out (the aim of the program)• 2 types of screen– Input screens for entering claimant’s eligibility– Review (display) screens for checking accuracy of
entitlement• There is no final screen – that is the print out• The main screen gives you a summary of the case – many
users think of that as the final screen
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 9
How to use the screens with the QBC
• Use the layout as a type of template or checklist of factors.
• Start at the top of screen and work way down the left hand of screen entering information (other than for premiums).
• Start at top and then work your way down the right hand side with screen
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 10
QBC – main pageThis is the starter screen and the end screen.
Nov 2008 11SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Main Screen
• You move to other parts of the QBC from this screen
• You will see a summary of the case calculation on this screen
• You can access all menu features.
Nov 2008 12SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Main screen - aims of screen
• Control use of QBC• Start cases and get a finish summary of the
case• Allows you to check information about the
accuracy of QBC identifying entitlement to premiums set out in screen.
Nov 2008 13SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Children Screen
Nov 2008 14SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Child Screen – how it works
• Add each dependant child• Add child’s age• State if child has disability • Repeat for each dependant child• Tell QBC if claimant is entitled to Family
Premium – Lone Parent rate for HB/CTB
Nov 2008 15SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Child screen - effect
• Calculates and totals amount of – Tax credit– Applicable Amount for IS/IBJSA/– Child Benefit
• You can alter the amount of Child Benefit
Nov 2008 16SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Notes about this screen
• Screen is for dependent children – non-dependent children are entered in the rent/ctax/ndeps screen.
• If a child is entitled to DLA put that in this screen even though the payment goes to the parent.
• Housing Benefit Premiums – if a claimant is entitled to HB Lone Parent family premium put that here.
Nov 2008 17SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Work Screen
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 18
How it works
• Add information about the claimant’s work and earnings
• Calculates net earnings from gross income• Tells you if under minimum wage• Can calculate gross earnings from net earnings• Calculates amount of child care charge• Use for women on maternity• Enter child minding details for income*Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 19
Effect of entering information
• Used to determine if claimant is eligible for income support if work over 16 hours
• Income used for affect on means-tested benefit• Income used for tax credits• Clicking on done after entering earnings does 2
things – raises the income worksheet screen – and the QBC calculates tax credit – regardless of user input
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 20
Notes about the screen – tax credits
• The QBC calculates tax credits automatically • There is no “off” button• You can trick the QBC into saying that
someone gets Tax Credits• You can defer child tax credit for some
claimants
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 21
Other income
Nov 2008 22SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
• Move down left hand side then down right hand side.
• Enter information on any income which is not earnings or benefit income
• Enter deferred state pension on this screen• Enter maintenance for a spouse and for child on this
screen separately• Maintenance for a spouse is entered twice.• Enter assessable and non-assessable income on this
screen
Effect of entering information
• Assessable income is used for benefit purposes
• Non – assessable income is in the print out
Notes about screen
• Non-assessable income is ignored for the purposes of income projection calculation
• It is shown in the print out• Specifying the amount of maintenance for a
spouse means that the QBC can assess SPC claims accurately
ESA
Nov 2008 26SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
Effect of entering information
Notes about screen
Benefit screen
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 30
How it works
• Move down left hand side and then right.• Choose one of the earnings replacement
benefits from the drop down “None”.• You can accept the figure suggested or enter
your own.• AA will appear if you have entered the
claimants age as 65 or more.
Effect of entering information
• Information is taken to calculation for income for applicable amount
• Enables calculator to calculate premiums and elements
• Enables QBC to calculate HB income with discretionary disregard from War Widows Pension.
• Can enter information on non- assessable benefit income here.
Notes about screen
Benefit income screen
• Start on the left hand side• Choose “Earnings
Replacment Benefits”• Choose any appropriate
benefits.• Move down checklist• Move to right hand side• Move down checklist• The total amount taken
into considration
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 34
Nov 2008 35SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
Effect of entering information
Notes about screen
Mortgage Housing costs•Enter amount of outstanding loan•Must know when the loan started•There is a cap of £100,000 but the QBC will allow you enter more than £100,000•For the calculation to work you must enter the number of weeks the claimant has been claiming benefit•Th
Nov 2008 39SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
Effect of entering information
Notes about screen
Tax Credits Main ScreenThis screen muddles the distinction between “checking” screens and input screens
From this screen you can :
go to 2 other tax credits’ screens
You can set the dates for the relevant period (called a calculation period)
You can over-ride the recommended way of calculating tax credits and enter income differently.
Nov 2008 43SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
Effect of entering information
Notes about screen
Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit This is a review screenUse this to check the accuracy of the HB/CTB calculationE.G.Is the applicable amount correct?Allowances?Premiums?Is the eligible rent correct?Is the income correct?Are earnings disregards correct?Has the Lone Parent Premium been awarded? If not then do that.
Nov 2008 47SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
Effect of entering information
Notes about screen
Tax Credit calculation screen
How it works
.• This is a review or check screen setting out
what you can claim • One important exception• You can over-ride the award and enter your
own award by going to “existing award”
Notes about screen
• You can enter how much someone says that they are getting in tax credit. So the claimant can accept the award from HMRC and work out the effect on benefits
• You can use the HMRC figures to assess HB awards.
Income worksheet
Nov 2008 54SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
You add income to the claimant’s tax credit income
It covers all types of incomeClick AddThe income type “employment “ appearsYou can choose the various types of incomeYou must set the correct year.
Effect of entering information
Notes about screen
Nov 2008 58SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How it works
• There is a
Effect of entering information
Notes about screen
• A mistake often made is not to set the accurate year.
• The default year is last financial year.• If information is transferred from other parts
of the program which take you to this screen it sets this financial year. Always check
Right hand side• Has client got dependent children? – – Click Children Screen to go to dependent children
• Is the client working?– Click Work screen to enter work
• Does the client have income other than earnings or benefits?– Click other income screen to enter information on
income like maintenance• Does the client claim Employment Support
Allowance?– Click ESA screen if getting ESA
Nov 2008 62SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
• Does the client have benefit income?• Does the client pay rent or council tax or
service charges or have non-dependent children or others?
• Does the client have a mortgage?
Nov 2008 63SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
How to do a case
• Use the format of the QBC as a checklist• Start at the top of each screen and work your
way down• Start at the top on the left hand side• Go to the bottom• Move to the right – start at the top go to the
bottom• Click Done and choose the next screen
Nov 2008 64SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Tax Credits
Nov 2008 65SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Better off
Nov 2008 66SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Changing the program
Nov 2008 67SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Using windows (XP)to manage the QBC
Nov 2008 68SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Using 3rd party applications with the QBC
Nov 2008 69SQuare 1 Training.co.uk
Entering information – which ones first
• Tick if have partner• Enter age• Enter savings• Enter children• Enter benefit income• Enter
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 70
Nov 2008 SQuare 1 Training.co.uk 71