Debt and Welfare Benefits Officer

West Northants Council; Northampton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established local authority is seeking a dedicated Debt and Welfare Benefits Officer to join their dynamic Debt and Money Advice team. This role is crucial in addressing the increasing demand for financial support due to the cost of living crisis. You will engage with residents to complete financial assessments, assist with benefits eligibility, and negotiate with creditors. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of welfare benefits and debt advice, along with exceptional communication and negotiation skills. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to making a positive impact in the community and enhancing the lives of residents.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of welfare benefits and debt advice casework is essential.
• Ability to explain complex government legislation effectively.

Responsibilities

• Complete financial assessments to maximize income for residents.
• Assist residents with eligibility checks and appeals processes.
• Negotiate with creditors and support debt solutions.

Skills

Welfare Benefits Knowledge

Debt Advice Casework

Communication Skills

Negotiation Skills

Advocacy Skills

Numeracy Skills

Literacy Skills

Education

Qualification in Debt Advice or Welfare Benefits

Job description

West Northamptonshire Council has been on a dynamic journey of transformation since becoming a unitary authority in April 2021. We have an exciting opportunity in our Debt and Money Advice team as a Debt and Welfare Benefits Officer. The team offers a full range of debt and benefit support to our residents, including maximising income, reducing debt, and providing budgeting advice.

The successful candidate will be appointed to support the recent increase in demand due to the cost of living crisis, ensuring we continue to deliver valuable services to the residents of West Northamptonshire.

The role is based at One Angel, with work at other offices as required, including offsite home visits.

What will you be doing?

1. Completing financial assessments to seek opportunities to maximise income and minimise expenditure for residents.
2. Assisting with checking eligibility for benefits, completing forms, and supporting residents with the appeals process, including court representation where necessary.
3. Exploring an extensive range of debt options for residents and supporting them in executing those debt solutions.
4. Negotiating and liaising with creditors.
5. Liaising with internal and external partners to ensure full support for residents.
6. Recording outcomes and maintaining a comprehensive account of work completed on our software system.

About you

An in-depth knowledge of welfare benefits and/or debt advice casework, as well as the ability to understand and explain complex government legislation, is vital to this role. Excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills are essential.

You will also demonstrate the ability to work both as part of a team and independently, adapting flexibly to changing needs.

Skills and experience needed:

1. A recognised qualification in debt advice or welfare benefits, or qualified by experience.
2. A high degree of numeracy and literacy skills.

At West Northants Council, we value our people—those who thrive with ambition, bring new ideas, demand better ways of working, care about details, and embrace challenges. Our culture offers new experiences and opportunities to grow your career alongside like-minded colleagues.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit, and thrive’. We are committed to our corporate values—THRIVE: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate, and Empower—which underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council: https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU

We are dedicated to promoting diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner.

Watch our video explaining what DEI means to us.

If you require additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including alternative formats or languages for the job description, please email [e-mail].

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.