Welfare benefits update: 16 April and 14 May 2026

Part of ACO’s tailored training programme, this webinar will refresh your welfare benefits knowledge and bring you up to date with the latest developments affecting claimants.

The session is designed for staff who already have experience supporting applicants and want to strengthen their understanding of current policy and practice. You’ll explore recent changes across the system, what they mean in practice, and how they may affect the people your charity supports.

Dates and times
16 April, 9:30am – 12:30pm
14 May, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Price
£45 ACO members
£75 non-members

After attending, you will be able to:

• Understand recent welfare benefits developments from the past 12 months
• Recognise how changes may affect claimants and their income
• Gain insight into the direction of the welfare system
• Feel more confident discussing benefit issues with applicants
• Know when to seek or signpost to specialist advice

About the trainer

Tom is Support Team Manager at the Chartered Accountants Benevolent Association (caba). Before joining caba, he worked across a range of organisations including Auriga Services, Age UK, the Charity for Civil Servants, Coventry Law Centre and National Debtline.

He has strong experience within grant-giving organisations, alongside many years delivering debt and benefits advice, giving him a practical understanding of the situations many charity beneficiaries face. At Auriga Services he managed funds and services on behalf of grant-giving charities such as the British Gas Energy Trust, Severn Trent Trust Fund and the Physiotherapy Benevolent Fund.

Tom completed a Masters in Social Welfare Law, Policy and Advice Practice at Staffordshire University in 2018, where he studied the impact of Universal Credit on advice-giving charities. He also works as a freelance trainer on benefits and debt.