Benefits Manager

Vivid Resourcing Ltd; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in East Midlands is seeking an experienced Benefits Manager to oversee the Revenues & Benefits service. This role involves managing housing benefits, compliance with DWP regulations, and leading a team to deliver high-quality benefit administration. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in local authority benefits services and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience working in a local authority benefits service.
• Strong knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation and DWP guidance.
• Experience managing benefits systems and implementing changes.
• Ability to produce and analyze performance data and audit returns.
• Proven track record of leading a team and managing performance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of Housing Benefit and other welfare benefit schemes.
• Manage the council's benefits subsidy claim and ensure compliance.
• Maintain relationships with DWP and external auditors.
• Lead on system management and update benefits software.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement procedural changes.

Skills

Experience in local authority benefits service

Knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation

Strong communication skills

Team leadership and management

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced, proactive and technically capable Benefits Manager to lead the council's Revenues & Benefits service in delivering efficient, accurate and customer‑focused benefit administration. This role has responsibility for subsidy management, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), managing key benefit systems, liaising with the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) and ensuring compliance with legislation and audit requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction (or Support), Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) and other welfare benefit schemes the council administers.
• Manage the council's benefits subsidy claim: preparing, reconciling, submitting returns and ensuring compliance with DWP subsidy rules and audit requirements.
• Maintain strong working relationships with DWP, external auditors, software providers, and other statutory bodies.
• Lead on system management: ensure benefit / revenues software is updated for legislative changes, test new releases, maintain accuracy of calculation formulas, manage user access and controls.
• Monitor and report performance metrics: accuracy, timeliness, overpayments, processing targets etc.
• Draft and implement policies / procedural changes in response to legislative or regulatory changes in welfare / benefits law.
• Manage budget forecasts for benefit payments, subsidy income, DHP and any discretionary funds.
• Lead, develop and support the benefits team: training, performance management, managing resources to ensure high quality service delivery.
• Handle enquiries, appeals, complaints related to benefits, including liaising with members of the public, internal departments, and external stakeholders.
• Ensure data quality, record‑keeping and system controls are robust, and data protection / confidentiality standards are met.

Person Specification

• Essential Qualifications & Experience: Substantial experience working in a local authority benefits service, including experience of subsidy management and DWP interaction.
• Strong knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation, DWP guidance, local Council Tax Support/Reduction schemes and related welfare law.
• Experience managing / configuring benefits systems (software) and implementing system changes.
• Demonstrable ability to produce, analyse and interpret performance data, financial information, audit returns etc.
• Proven track record of leading a team, managing performance and motivating staff.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal & written); ability to liaise with DWP, auditors, software providers, councillors, members of the public.
• Desirable: Experience with Discretionary Housing Payments administration and budget management.
• Experience of digital transformation / implementing system upgrades / integrations.
• Audit experience (internal / external) specific to benefits & subsidy.
• Experience working in a hybrid environment / handling multiple stakeholders.

Vivid Resourcing are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships or any other characteristic protected by law