Revenues and Benefits Officer

Hastings Borough Council; St Leonards; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the United Kingdom is seeking a Revenues & Benefits Officer to manage the assessment of financial support claims for residents in temporary accommodation. Key responsibilities include processing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims, advising customers on their entitlements, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation. Successful candidates will have experience in similar roles, excellent communication skills, and a detail-oriented approach to their work. This position offers a 12-month contract with hybrid working options.

Benefits

Flexible working

Pension scheme

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in assessing Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Discretionary Housing Payment claims.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation is essential.
• Ability to handle high-pressure situations while managing workloads.

Responsibilities

• Assess and process claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax.
• Administer the billing of Council Tax and achieve collection rates.
• Be the main contact for the Housing Options team.

Skills

Assessing Housing Benefit claims

Understanding Housing Benefit legislation

Excellent communication skills

High attention to detail

Competency in case management software

Education

IRRV qualification or equivalent

Tools

NEC Revenue and Benefits system

Information@Work system

Job description

Revenues & Benefits Officer - Generic

Location: Hastings Borough Council (Hybrid working)

Salary: Career Grade 10 – 8

Hours: Full Time - 37 Hours per week

Contract: 12 Month Contract

Hastings Borough Council is seeking a detail‑oriented and customer‑focused Revenues & Benefits Officer to join our Revenues & Benefits team. In this role, you will play a vital part in ensuring residents who live in temporary accommodation receive the financial support they are entitled to, including Housing Benefits, Council Tax Support, and Discretionary Housing Payments.

You will carry out timely and accurate assessments of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and Discretionary Housing Payment claims in accordance with legislation as well as the council’s local scheme, policies, and procedures, ensuring all service performance targets are met. You will administer the billing and recovery of Council Tax, working to achieve desired collection rates and targets. Additionally, you will serve as the main point of contact for the Housing Options team responding to queries relating to placements, benefit entitlements, and the prevention of homelessness.

This role involves providing clear advice to customers, collaborating with colleagues and external agencies, and delivering a high‑quality service that complies with legislation and council policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess and process Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Discretionary Housing Payment claims and changes in respect of residents living in temporary accommodation in line with regulations and best practice.
• Administer the billing and recoveries of Council Tax in line with the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, the Council Tax Regulations and all associated policies and procedures, ensuring that collection rates and targets are successfully achieved.
• Be the main point of contact for the Housing Options team and respond to queries relating to temporary accommodation placements and the prevention of homelessness.
• Liaise with claimants, landlords, and other stakeholders to verify claim information and resolve queries.
• Provide clear advice and guidance to residents on benefit entitlements, council tax liabilities, and billing.
• Verify income and circumstances using DWP and HMRC systems, ensuring compliance with data protection.
• Manage changes promptly to maintain correct benefit levels and minimise overpayments.
• Handle appeals, disputes, and revisions in accordance with legislation and council procedures.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
• Assist in identifying and preventing fraudulent claims and refer potential fraud cases to the DWP Single Fraud Investigation Service.
• Keep up to date with changes in benefit and council tax legislation as well as the council’s own policies and procedures.
• Adhere to the principles of the Data Protection Act and UK General Data Protection Regulations to ensure citizen data is kept secure and nor shared or disclosed unlawfully.

About You

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Experience assessing Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Discretionary Housing Payment claims.
• Strong knowledge of Housing Benefit and Council Tax legislation.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly.
• High levels of numeracy, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Competency in IT systems and case management software (experience with NEC Revenue and Benefits and Information@Work systems is desirable).
• The ability to work under pressure, manage a busy workload, and meet deadlines.

Desirable

• IRRV qualification or equivalent.

Why Join Us?

At Hastings Borough Council, you’ll be part of a supportive team committed to making a real difference in the community. We offer benefits such as flexible working, pension scheme, training opportunities.

Apply online today: www.hastings.gov.uk/jobopportunities