Benefits Officer

North Norfolk District Council; East Runton; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

A local government council in East Runton is seeking a part-time Benefit Officer to support financial wellbeing among residents. Responsibilities include assessing claims for Housing Benefits and Council Tax Support, along with providing excellent customer service. The ideal candidate has experience in benefits assessment and strong communication skills. This role offers a supportive team environment and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Employee assistance program

Salary sacrifice schemes

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Detail-oriented and able to work independently.
• Experience in a customer-focused role preferred.
• Strong communication skills to assist a diverse range of individuals.

Responsibilities

• Support residents with financial wellbeing and assistance.
• Assess Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims.
• Handle customer inquiries and maintain records.

Skills

Experience in benefits assessment or similar role

Good communication skills

Detail-oriented and organized

Job description

About The Role

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Benefit Officer to join our friendly and welcoming team and be part of our ever-improving service delivering financial support to residents of North Norfolk. You will:

• Make a real difference and support those who need it most
• Recover Housing Benefit overpayments
• Maximise income for local residents
• Make full assessments of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims
• Deliver high quality customer service
• Support in the administration of the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund
• Be at the heart of our mission to support financial wellbeing and prevent hardship

We are looking for a self motivated individual with a willingness to learn to join our team. Through a programme of training and learning the post holder will acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to fully perform the role.

Working in a team you’ll be trained to deal with the administration of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support and related Discretionary Awards. This includes maintaining computerised records and dealing with routine claims, changes of circumstances, correspondence and customer enquiries.

This is a part time post, working 24 hours per week. Days of work will be set, but are not predetermined and can be discussed at interview.

Please note this is a career graded post £27,254 - £32,597

About You

We are looking for someone who has experience in benefits assessment or a similar customer focused role.

You will be detail-oriented, organised and able to work independently.

You will have good communication skills, in order to communicate clearly and with compassion to a wide range of people, ensuring that individuals and families receive the help they need.

You will help support local residents, through using various data sources to ensure they are in receipt of all available help to maximise their income. You\'ll work closely with other services to provide wraparound support to some of our most vulnerable residents.

If you want to be part of an enthusiastic and forward thinking team, with a varied and challenging workload and thrives in a team that is committed to making a difference - we would love to hear from you.

Application Information

The post requires a BPSS check.

Closing Date
11.59pm on Sunday 5th October 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applicants.

Interviews
Monday 13th October 2025 and Tuesday 14th October 2025

Get in Touch

For an informal discussion please contact Ian Dance 01263 516421 or Karen Swash on 01263 516115

About Us

North Norfolk is a fantastic place to live, work and visit. It covers 360 sq miles of coastal and rural environment, with over 100,000 people living in 120 distinct communities. Our district is one of England\'s top holiday destinations and a place where people positively choose to live.

We\'re committed to promoting equality of opportunity for the people and communities of North Norfolk. We respect and value differences in our district and across our workforce, and we want everyone to feel included and able to play their part in making North Norfolk a great place to live, learn, work and visit. Our coast and environment are extremely important to us.

Recognising that North Norfolk faces a very real threat from climate change, the Council has declared a climate emergency. We have developed a Net Zero strategy to support our ambitions and all staff have a role to play in meeting our carbon reduction targets.

We have a supportive culture that enables our people to learn and grow through attending courses, e-learning, and their daily job roles. We provide excellent opportunities for communication through updates from Directors and the Chief Executive. Our onsite recognised union is UNISON.

Our Cromer office is clean, modern and light, with onsite lunchtime catering and free onsite parking. As one of the largest employers in the district, we offer several benefits to all our employees:

• employee assistance program
• discounts portal
• salary sacrifice schemes (bikes, home electricals and EV car leasing - available after completion of probation period).

You will also enjoy:

• a good work-life balance, with many roles following our hybrid approach to work (if your role supports hybrid working, all we ask is that you have a stable and reliable internet connection)
• 25 days\' holiday per year, plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years\' service (assuming the role is full-time)
• access to an excellent local government pension scheme based on your local authority career average earnings

We encourage applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.