Welfare Benefits Officer (3 Posts)

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Derbyshire Welfare Rights Service at Derbyshire County Council is seeking a Welfare Benefits Officer to join the Crisis and Resilience Fund Project. You will manage a caseload of carers and pension-age residents, guiding them through the benefits system to maximise income and financial resilience.

The role involves high-quality advice, casework, and representation, including preparing appeals and tribunal involvement. Hybrid working from Parkwood, Alfreton with some home-working is available.

Qualifications

• Experience of welfare rights advice and casework.
• Good knowledge of social security legislation.
• Experience supporting vulnerable clients and preparing appeals.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload providing welfare benefits advice and support.
• Help clients understand rights and entitlements and maximise income.
• Prepare appeals and represent clients at tribunal hearings when required.

Skills

Welfare rights experience

Communication skills

Advocacy

Job description

Welfare Benefits Officer (Crisis and Resilience Fund Project)

Grade 9: £33,414- £35,449

Closing date: 11 October 2026

Fixed Term: until 31 March 2029

Location: Parkwood, Alfreton (with some working from home available)

Provisional interview date: 23 October 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Derbyshire Welfare Rights Service as a Welfare Benefits Officer within our new Crisis and Resilience Project. This role will play an important part in helping carers and pension-age residents across Derbyshire maximise their income, improve their financial resilience, and access the financial support they are entitled to.

The Crisis and Resilience Project is focused on supporting older people and unpaid carers who may be experiencing financial hardship or missing out on valuable welfare benefits and other forms of support. Through high-quality advice, casework, and representation, the project aims to improve financial wellbeing and help people remain independent within their communities.

As a Welfare Benefits Officer, you will manage your own caseload, providing welfare benefits advice and support to carers and pension-age residents across Derbyshire. You will help clients understand their rights and entitlements, identify opportunities to maximise income, and support them through all stages of the benefits process.

A key aspect of the role is supporting people whose financial circumstances are affected by age, disability, ill health, caring responsibilities, bereavement, or significant life changes. You will undertake detailed casework, assist clients with benefit claims and challenges, prepare appeals, and represent clients at tribunal hearings.

You will work directly with individuals who may be facing complex situations, helping them navigate welfare benefits legislation and access the financial support available to them. By securing benefit entitlement and resolving benefit issues, you will make a meaningful difference to the lives of carers, older people, and their families.

Working as part of a supportive team, you will receive guidance from senior colleagues while contributing your own ideas, knowledge, and expertise. You will be expected to maintain high standards of case recording, client care, and professional practice, ensuring that advice provided is accurate, timely, and person-centred.

We are looking for someone with welfare rights experience and a good understanding of social security legislation. Experience of providing welfare benefits advice, undertaking casework, preparing appeals, and supporting vulnerable clients is a key part of this role.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and advocacy skills, a commitment to delivering outstanding customer service, and the ability to manage a varied caseload effectively. You will be able to build positive relationships with clients and partner organisations while maintaining a strong focus on achieving the best possible outcomes.

This role would suit an adviser who enjoys helping people, solving complex problems, and making a real difference through welfare rights work. It offers an excellent opportunity to develop specialist knowledge while contributing to an ambitious project that aims to improve financial resilience and reduce poverty across Derbyshire.

Travel across Derbyshire may be required as part of the role. Hybrid working arrangements will be considered subject to service need.

These posts are funded through the Government's Crisis and Resilience Fund and are fixed-term until 31 March 2029.

Please refer to the Job and Person Profile for full details of the knowledge, skills, and experience required. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate clearly within their personal statement how they meet each of the essential criteria.

This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check due to regular contact with vulnerable adults and/or children. A criminal record will not necessarily prevent appointment, as each case will be considered individually.