Housing Benefits Officer

Adecco Portugal; Croydon; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote Working

Temporary contract

Job summary

Adecco Group UK & Ireland is recruiting a Housing Benefits Officer on a remote working basis to support a Local Authority's Revenues and Benefits team. The role focuses on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, with HBMS reviews under DWP guidance.

You will assess and administer claims, gather evidence, and issue notifications while ensuring compliance with legislation and performance targets. Strong HBMS experience is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Benefits Assessor within a Local Authority environment.
• Strong knowledge of Housing Benefit assessment and administration.
• Extensive experience assessing Council Tax Support claims.
• Experience reviewing and processing DWP HBMS cases.
• Excellent decision-making and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Assess Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims accurately and efficiently
• Review and process DWP Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) cases
• Investigate discrepancies identified through HBMS data matches
• Gather and verify evidence to support benefit assessments
• Apply Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support legislation, regulations, and guidance
• Make informed decisions and issue clear decision notifications
• Maintain accurate case records and audit trails
• Ensure reviews and assessments are completed within prescribed timescales
• Manage a varied caseload whilst maintaining high levels of accuracy and quality
• Provide excellent customer service and respond to benefit-related enquiries
• Work independently and effectively with minimal supervision

Skills

HBMS experience

Housing Benefit knowledge

Council Tax Support

Data matching analysis

Communication skills

Tools

NEC Northgate

NEC Document Management System

Job description

Housing Benefits Officer (Housing Benefit & Council Tax Support)

• Remote Working
• Local Authority Contract
• 3 month Temporary Contract
• £20.38 per hour PAYE or £27.03 per hour Umbrella

Adecco are recruiting on behalf of a Local Authority for an experienced Housing Benefits Officer to join their Revenues and Benefits team on a remote working basis.

This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled benefits professional with extensive Local Authority experience to support the delivery of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support services, with a particular focus on DWP Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) reviews.

The Role

The successful candidate will be responsible for assessing and administering Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims, ensuring that all cases are processed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with current legislation.

A key element of the role will be managing and progressing HBMS review work received from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), investigating discrepancies identified through data matching exercises, gathering evidence, making decisions, and issuing appropriate notifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims accurately and efficiently
• Review and process DWP Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) cases
• Investigate discrepancies identified through HBMS data matches
• Gather and verify evidence to support benefit assessments
• Apply Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support legislation, regulations, and guidance
• Make informed decisions and issue clear decision notifications
• Maintain accurate case records and audit trails
• Ensure reviews and assessments are completed within prescribed timescales
• Manage a varied caseload whilst maintaining high levels of accuracy and quality
• Provide excellent customer service and respond to benefit-related enquiries
• Work independently and effectively with minimal supervision

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience as a Benefits Assessor within a Local Authority environment
• Strong knowledge of Housing Benefit assessment and administration
• Extensive experience assessing Council Tax Support claims
• Sound understanding of Housing Benefit legislation and guidance
• Experience reviewing and processing DWP HBMS cases
• Experience investigating and resolving HBMS discrepancies
• Excellent decision-making and analytical skills
• Ability to manage workloads and meet performance targets
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience maintaining accurate case records and documentation

Desirable Requirements

• Experience using NEC Northgate
• Experience using Enterprise (NEC) Document Management System
• Experience working with complex benefit cases and overpayment reviews
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing legislation and service requirements

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a proactive and knowledgeable Benefits professional who can hit the ground running, work independently, and deliver high-quality outcomes within a busy Local Authority setting. Experience of managing HBMS review work is particularly important for this assignment.

The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.