qbc qbc cases. aims of training know how qbc works what is set out in screens know what is available...

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


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.


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.


The end of the case


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


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


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.


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.


Children Screen


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


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


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.


Work Screen


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


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


Other income


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


• 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


How it works

Notes about screen

Benefit screen


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.


• 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


How it works

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


How it works

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.


How it works

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.


How it works

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


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.

Notes about screen

How it works

• There is a

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


• 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?


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


Tax Credits


Better off


Changing the program


Using windows (XP)to manage the QBC


Using 3rd party applications with the QBC


Entering information – which ones first

• Tick if have partner• Enter age• Enter savings• Enter children• Enter benefit income• Enter


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