Welfare Rights Officer

Sunderland City Council; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer

Job summary

Sunderland City Council is hiring a Welfare Rights Officer to support vulnerable residents with income maximisation, benefit claims, and basic employment rights advice. You will work within the Welfare Rights Service on complex casework, prepare submissions, and represent clients at tribunals where needed.

Join a committed team delivering high‑quality, customer‑focussed services. DBS check is required; Disability Confident employer status applies. Closing date: 30 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Recent experience of providing welfare benefits advice and casework.
• Strong knowledge of the UK social security system, including Universal Credit and disability benefits.
• Experience of preparing appeals and representing clients at tribunal hearings.
• Understanding of basic employment rights and ability to provide general employment-related advice.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload and prioritise competing demands.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality, customer-focused services.
• Desirable: Wiseradviser qualification or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist welfare benefits advice and casework across a range of social security benefits.
• Assist residents to make and maintain benefit claims.
• Prepare written submissions and represent clients at First-tier Tribunal appeals.
• Provide basic employment rights advice and information, referring complex matters to specialist agencies where appropriate.
• Support residents affected by disability, illness, unemployment, low income and other financial challenges.
• Work closely with council services, partner organisations, voluntary sector agencies and community groups.
• Contribute to the achievement of service performance targets and outcomes.
• Maintain accurate case records and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.

Skills

Welfare benefits advice

Tribunal representation

Communication skills

Advocacy

Caseload management

Negotiation

Education

Wiseradviser or equivalent

Job description

Welfare Rights Officer

Company: Sunderland City Council

Salary: £30,001 to £40,000 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Sunderland, SR1 3AA

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 12 Nov 2026

Closing date: 30 Nov 2026

Sunderland City Council's Welfare Rights Service is seeking an experienced and motivated Welfare Rights Officer to join our dedicated team. This is an exciting opportunity to support some of the city's most vulnerable residents to maximise their income, access welfare benefits, receive basic employment rights advice, and challenge incorrect benefit decisions.

Our award-winning service provides specialist welfare benefits advice, casework, representation, advocacy, and related support to residents across Sunderland. We are looking for someone who shares our commitment to tackling poverty, reducing financial hardship, and improving outcomes for local people.

The Role

• Provide specialist welfare benefits advice and casework across a range of social security benefits.
• Assist residents to make and maintain benefit claims.
• Prepare written submissions and represent clients at First-tier Tribunal appeals.
• Provide basic employment rights advice and information, including issues relating to pay, sickness absence, dismissal, redundancy, and employment status, referring complex matters to specialist agencies where appropriate.
• Support residents affected by disability, illness, unemployment, low income, and other financial challenges.
• Work closely with council services, partner organisations, voluntary sector agencies, and community groups.
• Contribute to the achievement of service performance targets and service outcomes.
• Maintain accurate case records and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.

About You

• Recent experience of providing welfare benefits advice and casework.
• A thorough knowledge of the UK social security system, including Universal Credit and disability benefits.
• Experience of preparing appeals and representing clients at tribunal hearings.
• An understanding of basic employment rights and the ability to provide general employment-related advice.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
• The ability to manage a varied caseload and prioritise competing demands.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality, customer-focused services.
• A recognised advice qualification (such as Wiseradviser or equivalent) would be desirable.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

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