Job Description

Benefits Assessment Officer

East London Hybrid
Rate: £28.07 per hour (Umbrella)
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Initial Contract Length: 4 Months
Start Date: ASAP
Working Hours: 36 Hours per Week

Role Summary

This customer-focused role is centred on helping residents who are experiencing, or are at risk of, financial hardship by administering crisis payments, maximising household income, and providing long-term financial resilience support.

You will work directly with residents, partner organisations, and internal teams to ensure vulnerable households receive timely financial assistance and access to wider support services, while also contributing to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support processing where required.

What You Will Do as a Benefits Assessment Officer

- Process Crisis Support Payment and Housing Payment applications accurately and in line with council policies and procedures.
- Assess urgent and vulnerable cases, making timely decisions and escalating safeguarding concerns where appropriate.
- Contact residents to identify opportunities for income maximisation, including benefit entitlement checks, grant applications, and financial support options.
- Provide practical advice to help residents reduce household expenditure, manage debts, and improve financial resilience.
- Make referrals to internal services and external support agencies, including debt advice organisations and voluntary sector partners.
- Process Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims and changes as required, ensuring compliance with legislation and performance targets.
- Support debt prevention and recovery activities, promoting sustainable repayment arrangements and early intervention approaches.
- Contribute to service improvement initiatives, identifying trends and helping develop more effective customer-focused processes.

What You Will Need as a Benefits Assessment Officer

- Previous experience working within Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support assessment within a local authority environment.
- Strong knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation, Council Tax Support schemes, and welfare benefits.
- Experience assessing claims, processing changes in circumstances, and managing benefit caseloads.
- Knowledge of income maximisation, financial inclusion, debt prevention, or welfare support services.
- Ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise urgent cases, and make sound decisions within policy and legislative frameworks.
- Experience using benefits and case management systems within a local authority setting.

What's On Offer

- £28.07 per hour Umbrella.
- Hybrid working arrangement with an East London Local Authority.
- Opportunity to support vulnerable residents and make a positive impact within the community.
- Initial 4-month contract with potential for extension.
- Immediate start available.

If you are an experienced Benefits Assessment Officer with a strong background in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support administration, we would like to hear from you.

Apply today or get in touch for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.