We are working closely alongside a Local Authority in North Yorkshire to assist with the appointment of a Benefits Officer, on a 3-month contract, likely to be extended at clients discretion. Please apply with your CV for immediate consideration.
Rate of Pay: £19.00 - £24.07 per hour
Summary:
The Benefits Officer will play a key role within North Yorkshire Councils Welfare & Benefits Service, which supports a wide range of residents across the county. The post holder will be responsible for the accurate and timely administration of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments, and Exceptional Hardship Awards, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, case law, and local policies.
Working as part of a dedicated team, the Benefits Officer will deliver excellent customer service by providing clear advice, guidance, and support to residents, colleagues, and external partners. The role requires high attention to detail, the ability to interpret complex legislation, and strong interpersonal skills to manage sensitive enquiries with professionalism and empathy.
Responsibilities:
* Process and assess Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims (new and changes in circumstances) in line with legislation, case law, and council policy.
* Accurately handle complex claims such as self-employed, students, and persons from abroad.
* Act as first point of contact for enquiries by face-to-face, telephone, email, and written correspondence.
* Maintain accurate, secure, and confidential data and records.
* Contribute to achieving service performance targets and KPIs.
Qualifications:
* GCSE or equivalent in English & Maths (essential).
* IRRV Benefits/Revenues qualification (desirable).
Knowledge & Experience:
* Experience working in a customer-focused environment, dealing directly with clients on a one-to-one basis.
* Recent experience of assessing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims.
* Ability to deliver high levels of accuracy and efficiency in high-volume transactional work.
* Experience interpreting and applying legislation, financial, and technical information.
* Practical knowledge of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction regulations in England & Wales.
* Understanding of GDPR, Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, and other relevant policies.
* Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) for letters, reports, and data presentation.
Please note:
* You should be available to work immediately or at a short notice.
* You should have right to work in U.K
* This role requires an Basic DBS
Disclaimer: Brackenberry Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. We are committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Unless otherwise stated all of our roles are temporary, though assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.
Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary. Your DBS must be either through us or be accompanied by a subscription to the DBS updating service.
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