Benefit Support Worker (5 Posts)

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council's Welfare Rights Service invites applications for a Benefit Support Worker. In this role you will help pension-age residents access welfare benefits and financial assistance, guiding them through applications and gathering supporting evidence.

You will work with Welfare Benefits Officers to ensure residents receive the correct entitlement, using sensitive, person-centred support delivered across telephone, video, written communication and home visits where appropriate.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with older people or vulnerable adults.
• Ability to gather and record information accurately and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills with a wide range of individuals.

Responsibilities

• Identify unclaimed benefits and assist with benefit applications.
• Gather supporting evidence and liaise with relevant agencies.
• Support residents throughout the claims process to maximise entitlement.
• Provide home visits and work with Welfare Benefits Officers to ensure correct entitlements.

Job description

Benefit Support Worker

Closing date for applications: Sunday 18 October 2026

Crisis and Resilience Fund Project

Closing date for applications: Sunday 18 October 2026

Provisional Interview: 11-13 November 2026

Job reference: JOB/26/02719

Why this role matters

Many pension-age residents are missing out on benefits and financial support that could significantly improve their quality of life. By helping people access the income they are entitled to, you will play a vital role in reducing financial hardship, improving wellbeing, and supporting older residents to remain independent within their communities. The impact of this work can be life changing, providing greater financial security and peace of mind to those who need it most.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Derbyshire Welfare Rights Service as a Benefit Support Worker within our new Crisis and Resilience Fund Project. This rewarding role will support pension-age residents across Derbyshire to access welfare benefits and financial assistance, helping them improve their financial security and overall wellbeing.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund Project is focused on supporting older residents who may be experiencing financial hardship, managing increasing living costs, or facing barriers to accessing the support available to them. Through practical assistance and targeted income maximisation activity, the project aims to help residents achieve greater financial stability and resilience.

As a Benefit Support Worker, you will work directly with pension-age residents to identify unclaimed benefits and financial support, helping them navigate what can often be a complex and challenging system. You will provide practical assistance with benefit applications, gather supporting evidence, liaise with relevant agencies, and support residents throughout the claims process to help ensure they receive their full entitlement.

A key aspect of the role will involve building trusted relationships with residents, many of whom may be experiencing ill health, disability, bereavement, social isolation, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that affect their financial wellbeing. You will provide support in a sensitive and person-centred way, helping individuals understand their options and access the support available to them.

The role will involve regular contact with clients by telephone, video, written correspondence, and face-to-face appointments, including home visits where appropriate. You will work closely with Welfare Benefits Officers and Senior Welfare Benefits Officers to ensure residents receive the right level of support and that more complex issues are referred appropriately.

Working as part of a dedicated countywide team, you will contribute to an ambitious project that combines practical support with meaningful outcomes for older residents. You will work alongside colleagues across the Welfare Rights Service and partner organisations to help deliver a high-quality, responsive, and accessible service across Derbyshire.

We are looking for individuals who are organised, compassionate, and committed to delivering excellent customer service. Experience of working with older people, vulnerable adults, or within advice, support, housing, health, social care, customer service, or financial inclusion services would be advantageous, while experience of providing benefits advice would be highly desirable. Above all, we are seeking people who are passionate about helping others and able to communicate confidently with a wide range of individuals.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage a varied workload. You will be comfortable gathering and recording information accurately, maintaining confidentiality, building positive relationships, and working both independently and as part of a supportive team. A willingness to develop and maintain knowledge of welfare benefits and related support services is essential.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working directly with people, solving problems, and making a meaningful difference to the lives of others. It offers an excellent opportunity to develop specialist knowledge while contributing to an ambitious project that will support older residents across Derbyshire for the next three years.

Benefits and Conditions

• Travel across Derbyshire may be required as part of the role.
• Hybrid working arrangements will be considered subject to service need.
• These posts are funded through the Government's Crisis and Resilience Fund and are fixed-term until 31 March 2029.

Please refer to the Job and Person Profile for full details of the knowledge, skills, and experience required. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate clearly within their personal statement how they meet each of the essential criteria.

This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check due to regular contact with vulnerable adults and/or children. A criminal record will not necessarily prevent appointment, as each case will be considered individually.