Understanding Universal Credit - Entry / Basic level

NASMA are pleased to host a launch event for National Student Money Week 2024, delivered by Kellie McAlonan, NASMA Chair.

The theme this year, as voted on by our members, is Survive & Thrive: Building Financial Resilience, taking place the week of 3rd to 7th March 2025.

At this event we will showcase the Campaign Pack and resources that will be available to help you deliver this campaign on your campuses, as well as the external partnerships that have been developed to support this national campaign. 

Join us to kick start you National Student Money Week 2025 planning.

This online event is also open to non-members, who are keen to engage in National Student Money Week activity. 

NASMA are pleased to host National Student Money Week 2025 Discussion Forums. These events will provide a platform for discussion and sharing best practice, to help you kick start your campaign planning. 

Tell us what you are doing in your institution, what has worked and what hasn't. This is also a great platform to ask questions of fellow members if you are new to National Student Money Week. 

Space is limited as we want to keep the numbers of participants at a level conducive to an effective discussion, so please book quickly to avoid disappointment. 

There are two different sessions to choose from. Due to high numbers we can only accept one session booking per member. If more than one member of your team wishes to attend, we recommend attending different sessions to benefit more fully from the varied discussion we expect.

NASMA are pleased to host National Student Money Week 2025 Discussion Forums. These events will provide a platform for discussion and sharing best practice, to help you kick start your campaign planning. 

Tell us what you are doing in your institution, what has worked and what hasn't. This is also a great platform to ask questions of fellow members if you are new to National Student Money Week. 

Space is limited as we want to keep the numbers of participants at a level conducive to an effective discussion, so please book quickly to avoid disappointment. 

There are two different sessions to choose from. Due to high numbers we can only accept one session booking per member. If more than one member of your team wishes to attend, we recommend attending different sessions to benefit more fully from the varied discussion we expect.

Learn from TOTUM’s latest annual cardholders’ satisfaction survey how students are spending their money. Discovering, how, why, and where students are spending their money today and how their spending habits have changed over the course of time.

This course is for experienced advisers who have a good understanding of the UC system and its place within the benefits field.

Learners will receive a detailed overview of the complex legislation surrounding disabled students and their entitlement to UC. By the end of the course learners will be able to complete a calculation of a student’s entitlement to UC by looking at student income, student finance award letters in conjunction with UC award notices, and will be able to challenge adverse UC decisions.

There is two dates for this session. You only need to attend one.

This course is for experienced advisers who have a good understanding of the UC system and its place within the benefits field.

Learners will receive a detailed overview of the complex legislation surrounding disabled students and their entitlement to UC. By the end of the course learners will be able to complete a calculation of a student’s entitlement to UC by looking at student income, student finance award letters in conjunction with UC award notices, and will be able to challenge adverse UC decisions.

There is two dates for this session. You only need to attend one.

This one-hour session will give professionals an overview of research which explores the influences on gaming and gambling harms within LGBTQ+ communities. It will also draw upon findings from Public Health England and include research undertaken by Dr Reece Bush-Evans of Bournemouth University.

By the end of the session, you will:

- Understand what is meant by gambling and gambling harm.
- Understand why LGBTQ+ people might game/gamble.
- Understand why LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk of experiencing gambling harm.
- Recognise the relationship between gaming/gambling, mental health, and LGBTQ+ life stressors.
- Know where to access available treatment and support.

Topics covered include:

- Gaming/Gambling harms.
- Research from Bournemouth University.
- Mental health and life stressors within the LGBTQ+ community.
- Influences and advertisement.
- Where to find help/support.

The session will include: taking a look at the rationale behind the recent changes that have been made to the customer journey and the benefits that we have seen so far as a result of these changes.  It will also include a walkthrough of the application process, highlighting key action points for students and how to support them in their journey. The session will also cover the escalation channels and detail where students and practitioners alike can find further help. Finally, the session will take a look at the current engagement strategy and how your FIS Account Managers can help you provide feedback for future improvements.

The outcomes:

• Delegates will be able to  confidently promote DSA's to students they meet.
• Delegates will have a clear understanding of the changes that have been made to the customer journey and know how to access the escalation routes.
• Delegates will understand the feedback routes that they have access to help promote and support continuous improvements to the customer journey. 

By the end of the session learners will understand the basic entitlement conditions for claiming UC, the different elements that make up an award of UC, and how to make a claim. Learners will also receive an introduction to scenarios involving students and UC. Furthermore, learners will be able to identify when a claimant may need signposting for specialist advice when common problem issues arise.