Benefits & Welfare Officer
We have an excellent opportunity for a Benefits & Welfare Officer to join our Welfare Assessments Team at Wokingham Borough Council. As a Benefits & Welfare Officer you will administer and deliver the Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund, providing timely, fair, and legally compliant financial assistance to residents facing exceptional hardship. Working closely with internal services and external partners, you will assess applications against eligibility criteria, gather and verify financial information, and make evidence-based decisions to help residents stabilise their circumstances and build long-term resilience.
Responsibilities
* Assess and determine applications to the Crisis and Resilience Fund in line with agreed policy, eligibility criteria and financial thresholds.
* Provide advice and signposting to welfare benefits, debt advice, housing support and other relevant services to promote longer-term resilience.
* Work collaboratively with internal teams (including Housing, Revenues, Adult Social Care and Customer Services) to coordinate support for residents.
* Gather, verify and evaluate financial and personal information to make proportionate, evidence-based decisions.
* Process payments accurately and promptly, ensuring appropriate audit trails and controls are maintained.
* Identify safeguarding and risk factors, escalating concerns appropriately and providing expert advice and signposting to welfare benefits, debt advice and housing support.
Qualifications
* Experience in benefits, welfare, financial inclusion, or customer support, particularly in administering discretionary funds and working with vulnerable residents.
* Ability to work on your own initiative and take ownership as well as working as part of a team.
* Ability to manage a varied workload.
* Strong customer care skills and the ability to put customers at ease and explain complex procedures effectively.
* Resilience and calmness when dealing with challenging or emotive situations.
* Ability to interpret, extract and assess important information.
* Successful candidates will undergo Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and other employment checks.
Benefits
* Generous Annual Leave – 28 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays.
* Local Government Pension Scheme.
* GP Helpline – Available 7 days a week.
* Employee Assistance Programme – Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline.
* Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines.
* Free Onsite Gym – Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham.
* Local & Lifestyle Discounts – Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more.
* Move through Menopause Course.
* Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more.
* Learning & Development Opportunities.
* Employee Networks.
* And more!
Wokingham Borough Council is an equal opportunities employer.
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