Benefits Assessment Officer (NEC) Remote
Job description
Our good client in Berkshire is seeking 4 NEC/Northgate users / Benefit Assessment Officers
- Post 1 for 16 weeks primarily to help with assessment of temporary accommodation claims
- Post 2 for 8 weeks primarily to help with assessment of full case reviews
- Posts 3 & 4 for 12 weeks - general assessment work including ATLAS and some phone cover
What you'll achieve
To administer Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support Scheme, Discretionary Housing Payments, Discretionary Council Tax Support and Local Welfare assistance applications.
To support delivery of an integrated, high quality, customer focussed service support for those in need of assistance with rent, council tax or in financial hardship.
Main Responsibilities
1. To assess Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support and applications for discretionary funding accurately and within agreed performance and accuracy targets
2. To respond to customer enquires across a multitude of platforms including, face to face, telephone, or on-line, promoting at all times self-service and digital channels
3. To maintain detailed knowledge of and keep up to date with, government policies relating to Benefits legislation including Universal Credit eligibility criteria and working practices in the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support and Local Welfare.
4. Recognise, prevent and minimise fraud both internally and externally by knowledge of fraud awareness issues and counter-fraud provisions to identify and prevent the payment of fraudulent claims, adopting procedures according to current policies
5. Deliver a high quality, enquiry, verification, and assessment in accordance with local and national audit policies and requirements
6. Maintain accurate computerised records of data collected in respect of the administration and payment of benefit applications, exercising discretion in relevant areas as necessary.
7. Ability to process claims quickly and correctly in accordance with legislative requirements, to meet targets and specified performance deadlines and maintain any statistics and records needed to enable workloads and targets to be monitored
8. Maintain excellent knowledge of current Housing Benefit and local Council Tax Support legislation and computer system enhancements to ensure assessments meet minimum accuracy rate required.
9. Maintain knowledge of the functions, procedures and systems of Council Tax, Housing and Homelessness, Pensions Service, Rent Service, HM Revenue and Customs, DWP including Universal Credit and other areas impacting on the assessment of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support or where data is shared.
10. Maintain an effective knowledge of benefits and council tax legislation, the computer systems and IT skills and office procedures.
11. To have regard to Data Protection and freedom of information issues at all times.
12. Any other duties that may be reasonably required
Where you'll work
Suitable for homeworking but candidate will need to be able to attend office for ICT equipment.
A few things to note
- The rate for this role is £23.85 per hour Umbrella
- The terms for this role are dependent on the post. Please see above for details and inform your recruiter which post you would like to be submitted for
What we're looking for
We are looking for officers who can meet the following 2 prime attributes:
1. Experience of processing atlas files including Universal Credit files on Northgate benefits system
2. Must have at least 2 years experience of assessing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims
Skills you'll need to bring
Competence Summary (Knowledge, abilities, skills, experience)
- Knowledge of Housing Benefit Legislation and related Acts
- Knowledge of Council Tax Support schemes, discounts and exemptions
- Demonstrable experience in the interpretation of Housing Benefit & Council Tax Support Regulations
- Experience of Housing Benefit IT systems
- Experience of using DIP technology
- IT literacy Experience in various different Benefit environments
- Experience of dealing with outside agencies and other internal departments
- Knowledge of financial assessments and ability to undertake them.
- Understanding of and commitment to the requirements of safeguarding children, young people, vulnerable adults and promoting their welfare.
Work-related Personal Requirements
- Experience and ability to be empathise with customers.
- Good listening and influencing skills
Other Work Requirements
- A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
- The ability to converse easily with members of the public and respond effectively to questions in spoken English
Equal Opportunities
Business Smart Solutions are a Recruitment Agency - We hire talented and passionate people from a variety of backgrounds because we want our global worker base to represent the wide diversity of our clients. If you’re excited about a role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every bullet point listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about working for a role in local government and share our company values, we encourage you to apply.
BSS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. BSS considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable UK law. If you need assistance or an accommodation made due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 3 months
Salary: £23.85 per hour
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience of processing atlas files including Universal Credit files on Northgate benefits system?
- Do you have at least 2 years experience of assessing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims
- Do you have knowledge of Housing Benefit Legislation and related Acts?
- Do you have knowledge of Council Tax Support schemes, discounts and exemptions?
Experience:
- Local Government: 1 year (required)
Work Location: Remote
