Benefit Assessment Officer

WARRINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL; Warrington; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Warrington is looking for a Subsidy Officer to manage and monitor benefit expenditures and ensure compliance with regulations. This role requires strong organizational and communication skills, as well as knowledge of relevant legislation. The ideal candidate will assist in identifying funding opportunities and deliver training to colleagues, while also ensuring quality service delivery.

Benefits

26 days annual holiday, rising to 31 after 5 years

Competitive benefits package

Health & Wellbeing Programme

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support and Social Security Benefits legislation.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines in a fast-changing environment.
• Good level of computer literacy including data entry and report generation.

Responsibilities

• Validate and monitor expenditure on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Collate, validate, and submit information on benefit and support expenditure.
• Work with Head of Service and Assessment & Support Manager on funding opportunities.
• Monitor performance indicators and recommend improvements.
• Assist in training on subsidy-related matters.
• Prepare and update procedural notes and documentation.

Skills

Knowledge of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support and/or Social Security Benefits legislation

High standard of oral and written skills

Ability to work as part of a team

Ability to achieve targets

Good level of computer literacy

High level of organisational skills

Good communication skills

Commitment to maintaining high professional standards

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated to join our Benefits Service team. This role is key to ensuring accurate expenditure, effective monitoring, and continuous improvement of our services in line with statutory guidelines and council policies. As a Subsidy Officer, you will validate and monitor expenditure on a weekly and monthly basis, ensuring compliance with statutory regulations and council policy while maximising subsidy from the DWP and minimising losses. You will also be responsible for collating, validating, and submitting information on benefit and support expenditure to support annual account closures and in-year estimates. Working closely with the Head of Service and the Assessment & Support Manager, you will play an active role in identifying and securing additional sources of income, exploring both internal and external funding opportunities, and reporting on successful outcomes. You will monitor policies, procedures, and performance indicators within the Benefits Service, providing recommendations for improvement to senior management, while also reviewing work for accuracy and highlighting areas where further development may be required. In addition, you will track expenditure on discretionary benefit payments, providing regular forecasts, and support both internal and external auditors by ensuring accurate validation of information. Part of your role will also involve assisting with the delivery of training on subsidy-related matters to colleagues in Benefits and Exchequer Services. To ensure efficient and effective service delivery, you will prepare, maintain, and update procedural notes, manuals, and documentation, and work collaboratively with other teams and agencies to uphold high standards. You will contribute to the development and implementation of systems and procedures, adopting a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement in working practices. From time to time, you may also represent the service in forums, meetings, and presentations, ensuring accurate reporting and timely follow-up on agreed actions. This is a varied and rewarding role that requires excellent attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a proactive mindset. You will be expected to undertake any additional duties relevant to the purpose of the role, as required by senior management.

Responsibilities

• Validate and monitor expenditure on a weekly and monthly basis, ensuring compliance with statutory regulations and council policy while maximising subsidy from the DWP and minimising losses.
• Collate, validate, and submit information on benefit and support expenditure to support annual account closures and in-year estimates.
• Work closely with the Head of Service and the Assessment & Support Manager to identify and secure additional sources of income and explore internal and external funding opportunities, reporting on successful outcomes.
• Monitor policies, procedures, and performance indicators within the Benefits Service, providing recommendations for improvement to senior management, and review work for accuracy.
• Highlight areas where further development may be required and track expenditure on discretionary benefit payments with regular forecasts.
• Support internal and external auditors by ensuring accurate validation of information.
• Assist with the delivery of training on subsidy-related matters to colleagues in Benefits and Exchequer Services.
• Prepare, maintain, and update procedural notes, manuals, and documentation; work collaboratively with other teams and agencies to uphold high standards.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of systems and procedures; identify opportunities for improvement in working practices.
• Represent the service in forums, meetings, and presentations, ensuring accurate reporting and timely follow-up on agreed actions.
• Undertake any additional duties relevant to the purpose of the role, as required by senior management.

Qualifications

• A knowledge of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support and/or Social Security Benefits legislation and administration procedures.
• High standard of oral and written skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to achieve targets and work to tight deadlines in a fast changing environment.
• A good level of computer literacy with experience of using PC based systems, including data entry, producing reports, using MS packages and databases.
• Ability to work to set targets with a high level of organisational skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Commitment to maintaining high professional standards.

Benefits

• 26 days annual holiday - rising to 31 after 5 years of service (pro-rata).
• Access to our attractive and competitive benefits package.
• Access to our Health & Wellbeing Programme.
• Flexible working.