Benefits & Housing Needs Officer

Connect2Hackney; City Of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government support service is looking for a dedicated Benefits and Housing Needs Officer. This role involves assessing residents' circumstances, providing financial relief, and liaising with landlords. Ideal candidates will possess a strong understanding of welfare benefits and excellent communication skills. If you are empathetic and passionate about helping others, apply now!

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of welfare benefits and income maximization.
• Experience assessing Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs).
• Proficiency in administrative support, preferably in welfare or social care.

Responsibilities

• Contact and assess residents for financial support options.
• Review and triage incoming applications daily.
• Collaborate with landlords to prevent evictions.

Skills

Understanding of welfare benefits

Excellent written and verbal communication

Organizational skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Empathy and sensitivity

Tools

Academy

Comino

Searchlight

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about providing direct support to residents and preventing homelessness? Connect2Hackney, the internal talent team for the London Borough of Hackney, are recruiting for Hackney's vital Here To Help service for a dedicated and empathetic Benefits and Housing Needs Officer.

This is a crucial role where you will be the first point of contact for residents struggling with their housing costs. You will take a holistic and hands-on approach, using your expertise to provide immediate financial relief while empowering residents to achieve long-term financial stability. You will manage a varied caseload, where every day brings a new challenge and a new opportunity to make a tangible difference in someone’s life.

Responsibilities

• Casework and Assessment: Contacting residents to understand their circumstances and decide on the best package of financial and non-financial support to help them; Assessing, awarding, and processing Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs), using your discretion in line with internal guidance; Conducting comprehensive benefit checks with residents to identify underclaiming and maximise their income across benefits like Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit, and Pension Credit; Working with residents to develop shared plans to sustain their tenancy, which may include advice on downsizing or increasing working hours.
• Triaging and Administration: Reviewing and triaging incoming applications daily, assigning them to the correct officer or work tray; Managing the shared team inbox and responding to resident queries, especially those relating to supermarket vouchers; Processing payments for cash support schemes using BACS transfers; Maintaining accurate and secure records on systems including Academy and Jigsaw.
• Collaboration and Support: Liaising with landlords, with resident consent, to prevent evictions; Working closely with colleagues across Here To Help and other services to ensure joined-up support for residents with complex needs; Writing clear, empathetic, and tailored decision letters that explain the support being offered.

Qualifications

• Essential Experience & Knowledge: A strong understanding of welfare benefits and the ability to spot opportunities for income maximisation; Experience assessing DHPs in line with policy and guidance; Proficiency in using benefits systems, including Academy, Comino, and Searchlight; Proven experience in an administrative or support role, preferably within a welfare or social care environment; Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with care and integrity.
• Skills and Abilities: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to show sensitivity and empathy when dealing with people in challenging situations; The ability to remain calm and focused under pressure; Strong organisational skills with a keen attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently; A collaborative, team-player attitude and a flexible approach to changing priorities.

Commercial Services Trading Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy