CII R05 State Benefits and Welfare 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Universal Credit has replaced several legacy benefits. Which of the following has it NOT replaced?
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Correct answer)
- Working Tax Credit
Correct answer: Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Universal Credit replaced six legacy benefits: income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a separate disability benefit that has not been incorporated into Universal Credit and continues to be claimed independently.
Question 2: What are the qualifying conditions for new-style contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?
- The claimant must have no savings above £6,000
- The claimant must have paid or been credited with sufficient Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in the relevant tax years (Correct answer)
- The claimant must be over state pension age
- The claimant must have been employed for a minimum of 5 continuous years
Correct answer: The claimant must have paid or been credited with sufficient Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in the relevant tax years
New-style (contributory) ESA requires the claimant to have paid or been credited with sufficient Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in the two complete tax years before the benefit year in which the claim is made. It is not means-tested, so savings and a partner's income are not taken into account.
Question 3: A client's spouse has died. Under Bereavement Support Payment, which of the following would make the surviving spouse ineligible?
- Having dependent children
- Being above state pension age at the time of the spouse's death (Correct answer)
- Having a mortgage
- Being in full-time employment
Correct answer: Being above state pension age at the time of the spouse's death
Bereavement Support Payment is only available to surviving spouses or civil partners who are under state pension age at the time of their partner's death. Those above state pension age are not eligible, though they may receive an inherited State Pension instead. Employment status, children, and housing circumstances do not affect eligibility.
Question 4: The state benefit system provides for 'waiting days' before Statutory Sick Pay is payable. How many waiting days apply?
- Zero — SSP is payable from day one
- 3 qualifying days (Correct answer)
- 7 qualifying days
- 14 qualifying days
Correct answer: 3 qualifying days
There are 3 waiting days at the start of a period of incapacity for work before SSP becomes payable. These waiting days are the first 3 qualifying days in the period of incapacity. SSP is then payable from the 4th qualifying day onwards. If the employee has linked periods of incapacity (within 8 weeks), waiting days may not need to be served again.
Question 5: Which component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is specifically related to a claimant's ability to get around?
- The daily living component at enhanced rate
- The mobility component (Correct answer)
- The care component
- The attendance allowance element
Correct answer: The mobility component
PIP has two components: the daily living component (covering needs such as preparing food, washing, dressing, and managing medications) and the mobility component (covering the ability to plan and follow journeys and to move around). Each component is paid at either a standard or enhanced rate depending on the level of need.
Question 6: A Funeral Expenses Payment from the Social Fund is:
- Available to everyone regardless of income
- A means-tested payment available to those receiving certain qualifying benefits to help with funeral costs (Correct answer)
- A flat-rate payment of £1,000 to all bereaved families
- Only available if the deceased had life insurance
Correct answer: A means-tested payment available to those receiving certain qualifying benefits to help with funeral costs
A Funeral Expenses Payment is available from the Social Fund to help with funeral costs. The claimant must be receiving a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or income-related ESA. It covers necessary funeral costs but is usually recoverable from the deceased's estate if there are sufficient assets.
CII R05 State Benefits and Welfare 2
Universal Credit has replaced several legacy benefits.
Which of the following has it NOT replaced?