What's involved with this role: Job Title: Benefit Assessor Ref: Cheshire W 5272881 Pay rate: £18.00 per hour PAYE The role: We’re looking for a motivated and detail-oriented individual to help assess Housing and Council Tax Benefit claims, ensuring they’re processed accurately and efficiently in line with legislation and council procedures. Working under the guidance of the Senior Benefit Assessor, you'll play a key role in delivering a high-quality service that meets targets and supports the community. You'll also be a friendly and helpful point of contact for customers – whether over the phone, face-to-face, or during visits – and work closely with colleagues and partners to put residents’ needs first and provide outstanding customer care. Key responsibilities: Process all work assigned by Benefit Team Leaders, meeting performance targets and following office procedures Assess all Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit applications—including students, self-employed, various tenures—calculate overpayments, and verify claims to agreed standards Accurately maintain customer records using the online systems, ensuring compliance with Data Protection and security protocols Provide clear, accurate advice to customers, promoting full take-up of Housing and Council Tax Benefits, and other welfare benefits to maximise their entitlement Identify and recover overpaid benefits, classify overpayments for subsidy purposes, and communicate effectively with claimants and stakeholders. Support, train, and mentor colleagues and partners as needed Conduct quality control checks on team members’ work, flagging errors and reporting findings to the Benefits Team Leader Carry out home visits (with a colleague if needed) to assist with benefit enquiries Handle telephone queries and assist One-Stop-Shop staff with complex issues and conduct customer interviews when necessary Collaborate closely with Council Tax Billing, Recovery, and Fraud teams to address common issues Liaise with DWP, Rent Officer Service, Housing Associations, and landlords on individual cases Provide frontline customer service and process Housing Benefit claims at main and alternative venues Detect and refer potential fraud cases to the Fraud Team, supporting investigations as required What the client is looking for: Skilled in assessing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims, including complex cases (students, self-employed, varied tenancies) Accurate in calculating entitlements and overpayments Up-to-date knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation and council protocols Detail-oriented in maintaining customer records and ensuring compliance Confident communicator – in person, by phone, and during home visits Able to clearly explain benefit entitlements and application steps to customers Proficient with online claim systems and data security best practices Team player who collaborates well across departments and with external partners Strong written and verbal communication with stakeholders and claimants Experienced in identifying overpayments and potential fraud, and taking appropriate action How to Apply Quote the Job Title and Reference Number in your application. Submit your CV in Word format. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—early submission is recommended. We will also add your details to our mail out lists. Please note you may receive details of roles outside of your immediate vicinity, as many candidates are able to relocate temporarily for work. Please disregard any such emails that are not of interest and let us know if you would rather not receive such mailouts and/or if you wish us to delete your details and prefer to apply direct to our advertised roles. If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in working with us. Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for. "XI JE Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please.