Benefit Assessment Officer - London, United Kingdom - Business Smart Solutions

Business Smart Solutions
Business Smart Solutions
Verified Company
London, United Kingdom

1 week ago

Tom O´Connor

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter
Description

Rate:
£26.44 per hour (umbrella)


Term:
Until 27/04/2025 initially

Hours per week: 35

Location:

Starting off with one week in the office at Laurence House, Catford SE6 and then after that Hybrid working will be available at one or two days a week in the office.


Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties:

  • Ensure Housing Benefit & Council Tax Reduction claims are processed efficiently and effectively and in accordance with regulations and agreed procedures including awards of discretionary housing payments
  • Deal with enquiries promptly in writing, by telephone call or on-line
  • Provide effective advice including budgetary support to customers to ensure awareness of welfare reform and prevention of homelessness
  • Maintain spreadsheets and databases and prepare statistics as required
  • Ensure overpayments are correctly identified and classified for subsidy purposes and action is taken in accordance with agreed procedures
  • Respond to enquiries from all external bodies including Lewisham Homes, DWP, Housing Needs and Housing Associations
  • Process system output and reports as required
  • Prepare casework for The Appeals Service
  • Maintain a working knowledge of all relevant legislation, procedures and technology and welfare support provision including employment schemes and
training opportunities

  • Represent the council at court or The Appeals Service as necessary
  • Adhere to and promote the council's core values
  • Promote and implement the council's Equal Opportunities Policies
  • Take positive action to promote the take up of benefits where appropriate and help to participate in outreach work eg customer surgeries
  • Liaise with all sections of the Customer Services Directorate and other relevant departments of the council. Have contact with elected Members as required
  • Have an understanding of and commitment to the council's Health and Safety Policy and promote and implement the Council's Equalities and Diversity Policies
  • Ensure all necessary action is taken to deliver and administer services efficiently and effectively

Top requirements

  • Experience of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 & Decisions & Appeals Regulations 200
  • Experience of working in a Revenues and Benefits environment are essential for this placement

Knowledge

  • Detailed knowledge of all legislation and issues relating to the administration of benefits and benefit subsidy
  • Knowledge of Housing Benefit and all associated computer systems
  • Understanding of performance objectives that are set to measure individuals, teams and the Benefit Section

Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent computer skills to ensure that benefit claims are updated accurately
  • Good time management skills
  • Ability to conduct home visits, telephone, or face to face contact to provide welfare advice and support
  • Ability to process benefit claims accurately in the office, during face to face interview or through telephone calls.

Experience

  • Experience of assessing housing and council tax benefit claims within a benefits environment
  • Experience of dealing with customers enquiries by letter, telephone or in person
  • Experience of working accurately under pressure to targets and timescales
  • Experience of dealing with challenging customers
  • Experience of dealing with customer enquiries and complaints to a satisfactory conclusion
  • Experience of explaining and resolving complex or difficult enquiries in a straightforward way

Pre-Compliance Checks for Successful Applicants:

At BSS, we uphold the highest standards of screening and trust for every role. Successful applicants will undergo a comprehensive pre-compliance process in line with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).


This includes:
-
Identity Verification: Confirming the authenticity of your identity documents.
-
Employment History Checks: Reviewing your occupation history for the past 3-5 years (depending on client requirement).
-
Right to Work Verification: Ensuring you have the legal right to work in the UK.
-
Unspent Conviction Check: Conducting a Basic DBS Check to reveal any unspent convictions.


These checks are crucial in ensuring a secure and trustworthy work collaboration, aligning with best practices used in government and public sectors.

While primarily standard in these sectors, our adoption of pre-compliance checks across all roles reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and trust in our recruitment process.


Job Types:
Full-time, Temporary contract

Contract length: 12 months


Salary:
£26.44 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week


Schedule:

  • Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

  • Do you have detailed knowledge of all legislation and issues relating to the administration of benefits and benefit subsidy?
  • Do you have excellent written and verbal communication skills?
  • Do you have experience of assessing housing an
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