Enfield, United Kingdom | Posted on 03/06/2026
We are looking to recruit an experienced Appeals Officer to provide short-term specialist capacity to progress a defined set of Housing Benefit appeals relating to Specified Accommodation (Exempt Accommodation).
Many of the appeals are identical and will be progressed using a test case approach (i.e., preparing a sample of cases for submission to the First-tier Tribunal, with consistent submissions/bundles to support the wider cohort).
Due to the length of the contract (3 Months), the postholder is not expected to represent the Council at First-tier Tribunal hearings. The focus of the role is on preparing Tribunal‑ready submissions and bundles to the required standard and timescales.
Key responsibilities
1. Review and manage a defined caseload of Housing Benefit appeals relating to Specified / Exempt Accommodation.
2. Prepare First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) documentation, including (as appropriate):
o Statements of Case / written submissions
o Evidence schedules and indexed, paginated bundles
o Chronologies and issue summaries
o Consistent “test case” submission packs where appeals are identical
3. Ensure submissions meet Tribunal expectations and statutory/procedural deadlines.
4. Maintain accurate case notes/records on relevant systems and ensure information governance requirements are met.
Requirements
1. Substantial experience in Housing Benefit administration, with a strong focus on appeals or dispute resolution.
2. Proven experience preparing appeals for the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber), including drafting submissions and compiling evidence bundles.
3. Strong working knowledge of Specified Accommodation / Exempt Accommodation, including the care, support and supervision tests and how to evidence findings.
4. Ability to interpret and apply Housing Benefit legislation, relevant guidance and case law to produce defensible decisions and submissions.
5. Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, structured and legally robust documents.
6. Strong organisational skills, able to work at pace, manage deadlines, and prioritise to deliver outputs within a short fixed‑term assignment.
7. Experience dealing with appeals involving Community Interest Companies (CICs), including issues such as contrivance, commerciality, and breach of asset lock arguments.
8. Experience supporting a lead/test case strategy across multiple linked appeals.
The role will cease once identified Housing Benefit Specified Accommodation appeals have been prepared and submitted to Tribunal.
Here’s what you can look forward to
We believe employee benefits should go beyond just a free drink or fruit bowl. What’s more, we believe you should get to choose perks that suit your lifestyle. That’s why we’ve partnered up with the global benefits and rewards provider Perkbox, to offer something for all of our people.
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* Free monthly lifestyle perks; such as free coffees, breakfasts, cinema tickets, etc.
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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.
Business Smart Solutions are a Recruitment Agency – We hire talented and passionate people from a variety of backgrounds because we want our global worker base to represent the wide diversity of our clients. If you’re excited about a role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every bullet point listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about working for a role in local government and share our company values, we encourage you to apply.
BSS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. BSS considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable UK law. If you need assistance or an accommodation made due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.
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* No member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen.
* In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
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