Benefits Assessment Officer
Kettering
Contract
£18.52 per hour
Our client is looking for an experienced Benefits Assessment Officer.
In accordance with current legislation and Council policy establish eligibility for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support and, once established, collate and verify the necessary information required to accurately determine claims ensuring that both the correct entitlement is awarded and the correct Housing Benefit subsidy, if applicable, is applied. Receive and determine all changes in circumstances as appropriate within defined timescales.
Principal responsibilities
1. Receive via post, counter, email and online Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support applications and determine eligibility depending upon claimant’s age, accommodation type and personal circumstances in accordance with primary, secondary legislation and Council policy.
1. Once eligibility is established, request all necessary documentary evidence required in order to determine the claimant’s entitlement, from the claimant, landlord, third party, Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC as appropriate. This includes proactively telephoning customers to request information to enable their claim to be dealt with more efficiently.
1. Assess the eligible claims for Housing Benefit in accordance with the appropriate scheme and in line with current legislation. Assess claims for Council Tax Support, in line with current legislation and the authority’s own Council Tax Support Scheme. Convey the decision made to the customer and landlord if appropriate.
1. Receive, check and record on the system for accuracy all change of circumstance information received from the claimant, landlord, third parties, ATLAS, VEP, and UCDS and amend claims as required within defined timescales and current primary and secondary legislation.
1. Be proactive in identifying false and fraudulent claims and refer to the Fraud and Error Service at DWP when appropriate
1. Maintain accurate, current and accessible records of all claims on the computerized system, with details of all decisions made clearly annotated.
1. Arrange the periodic review of claims as appropriate.
1. Issue invoices for Housing Benefit Overpayments to claimants and landlords in line with current legislation and case law.
1. Recovery of Housing Benefit Overpayments from ongoing entitlement to Housing Benefit and other methods available where appropriate and in line with current legislation and case law.
1. Deal with enquiries in respect of all claims by correspondence, telephone, email and personal interview as appropriate.
1. Provide advice to the public on their entitlement to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support, but provide additional advice regarding DWP benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
1. Liaise with colleagues in other departments such as Council Tax, Social Inclusion Team, Customer Services and Housing Options and promote good relationships with external parties such as landlords and appointees.
The first part of our recruitment process is to send your CV. Should you be short listed Colbern Limited will contact you within 5 days or we may contact you about other job opportunities. Colbern Limited along with our clients
are an equal opportunities employer