Benefits Assessment Officer (PO1)

Who You Are

You are a dedicated individual with a strong commitment to supporting residents experiencing or at risk of financial hardship. You are customer-focused, empathetic, and proactive in providing effective support to improve the long-term financial resilience of residents. You have excellent communication skills and the ability to manage complex cases with empathy and precision. You thrive in a collaborative environment, effectively working with internal teams and external partners to deliver comprehensive support services.

What the Job Involves

As a Benefits Officer for the Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF), you will be responsible for administering Crisis Support Payments and Housing Payments. The role involves processing applications accurately and making timely decisions for urgent cases, ensuring that all awards are correctly assessed and recorded. You will provide holistic financial support advice and make referrals to internal services and external partners to support income maximization and expenditure reduction. Additionally, you will contribute to wider service delivery by processing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims, engaging in debt prevention and recovery, ensuring high standards of customer service, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

• Strong customer service orientation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage complex cases with empathy and discretion
• Proficient in data recording and reporting
• Knowledge of benefits processing and relevant legislation
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and collaboration
• Problem-solving and analytical skills
• Experience in financial advice and support
• Attention to detail and accuracy