HAR-012812 – Senior Housing Benefit Officer

• 23.25 per hour
• 40 hours per week
• Hybrid

Job Purpose:

This post is responsible for delivering the Housing Benefits and Council Tax Benefit Service and Fairer Charging Financial Assessment Service to some 21,000 households. It is also responsible for ensuring maximum recovery of some £3.1 million overpaid benefit and that subsidy of in excess of £120 million is maximised.

Main Duties:

• Responsibility for undertaking full assessments to entitlement/contribution for the more complex cases including the carrying out of home visits where necessary. This requires the post holder to evaluate and be responsible for any review to the entitlement/contribution for the more complex cases as highlighted below:
• Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit including more complex calculations in respect of self-employed, students, etc.
• Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit claims relating to Registered Social Landlords, Housing Tenants, and Council Tax Benefit.
• Fairer Charging/Supporting People, Respite Care, and Residential Care.
• Other assessments such as concessionary fares using relevant Regulations.
• All in accordance with Best Practice, Statutory Requirements, Verification Framework, and SAFE scheme while maximising the use of technology to improve the experience of the customer.
• Responsible for providing quality checking of Benefit assessments made by Assessment Officers/Assistants in accordance with current Department for Work and Pensions Performance Standards and local policies/procedures.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulations and guidance, in particular:
• Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987
• Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992
• The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001
• Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997
• The HB and CTB (State Pension Credit) Regulations 2003
• Managing appeal cases and attending panels and court hearings as necessary.
• Responsibility for quality checking work carried out by Assessment Officers.
• Provide support where necessary to Access Harrow.
• Ensure that Housing Benefit Subsidy of some £120 million is maximised by satisfying the annual audit undertaken by external audit of the Financial Assessments undertaken against the complex regulations and guidance of the Department of Work and Pensions.
• Ensure quality and performance targets for the services are met.
• Ensure that in excess of £1.5 million overpaid benefit each year is recovered.
• Provide advice and guidance to up to 14 highly skilled Financial Assessment Officers and Assistants with regard to complex Finance Assessments ensuring consistency of advice across the Service.

Contact: rebeccabentum@carringtonblakerecruitment.com