At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to support residents with benefits and financial assessments.
- Company: London Borough of Waltham Forest, a vibrant and diverse community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, permanent role, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to suit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in benefits administration and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35520 - 42060 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: Scale 6 - SO2 £35,520 - £42,060
Contract Type: Full time - Permanent
Working hours per week: 36
Application Deadline: 25/06/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC
Reference: 2119
About Us:
Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.
London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.
About the role:
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is looking for an experienced Benefits Officer to join our Benefits Service. The primary focus of the Benefits Service is the administration of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction. The service also deals with Adult Social Care Financial Assessments, Sundry Debt recovery, Discretionary Housing and Council Tax payments, Local Welfare Assistance, the recovery of Housing Benefit overpayments, free school meals and many of the discretionary schemes introduced by central government as a response to the Cost of Living Crisis. The successful candidate will have proven skills and experience in a housing benefit environment, debt collection, financial assessments. Have a detailed knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance together with the ability to drive improvements across the team whilst meeting performance targets. We are a Home Office–licensed sponsor; however, for this specific role we are not able to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. To be considered, you must already hold a form of UK work authorisation that does not require sponsorship.
Key Responsibilities:
- To provide a customer focused service and accurately process Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Free School Meals and all discretionary schemes administered within the service including those introduced under Local Welfare provisions.
- To deliver all aspects of Housing Benefit overpayment recovery. The role will be within any processing team or the Housing Benefit overpayment team.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Experience working in a benefits environment
- Conscientious attitude and attention to detail
- Have expert knowledge of relevant legislation, policy, and practice.
- Have a working knowledge of local policies regarding CTR, DHP, LWA, Adult Social Care
- Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven experience of thriving under pressure
- A drive to learn and continually improve
- Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure
- Passionate about doing a good job and delivering results
- Flexible approach to work to accommodate the delivery of results
Terms and conditions:
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
- Satisfactory declaration of interest;
- Satisfactory DBS check;
- As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives:
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage
- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels.
- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all.
Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Yunus Kapadia (he/him), Benefits Team Manager at Yunus.Kapadia@walthamforest.gov.uk. If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk. The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.
Fraud Awareness Notice: The London Borough of Waltham Forest only advertises vacancies via our official website and approved recruitment platforms (e.g. Jobsgopublic). We will never ask for payment or request sensitive personal or financial information as part of our recruitment process. If you are contacted by a third party claiming to represent the Council, please verify the vacancy via our official careers website before sharing any information. If you have concerns about a job advert or communication, please report it to: fraud@walthamforest.gov.uk.
Benefits Officer - Internal Applicants Only in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to creating a healthy, fair, and inclusive workplace. With a strong focus on employee well-being, skills development, and diversity, the Council offers a vibrant work culture that encourages personal growth and innovation. Located in a culturally rich borough, employees benefit from a supportive environment that values their contributions and promotes a balanced work-life dynamic.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Benefits Officer - Internal Applicants Only in Walthamstow
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research the London Borough of Waltham Forest and its values. This will help you tailor your responses during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to benefits administration and customer service. We can even help you with mock interviews to boost your confidence before the big day.
✨Tip Number 3
Network, network, network! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events. This could give you insider tips about the role and the team, plus it shows your enthusiasm for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a simple gesture that can leave a lasting impression on the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Benefits Officer - Internal Applicants Only in Walthamstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement:Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your skills and experience align with the role of Benefits Officer. We want to see how you can contribute to our team, so be specific about your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Knowledge:Demonstrate your understanding of housing benefits and relevant legislation in your application. We’re looking for someone who knows their stuff, so don’t hold back on sharing your expertise!
Keep It Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and gets straight to the point.
Apply Early!:Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Waltham Forest
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of housing benefits, council tax reduction, and relevant legislation. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the role but also passionate about it.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that highlight your experience in benefits administration and debt collection. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Demonstrate Customer Focus
Since the role is all about providing a customer-focused service, think of ways you've gone above and beyond for clients in previous roles. Be ready to share these stories to illustrate your commitment to excellent service.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few questions prepared that show your interest in the role and the organisation. This could be about team dynamics, upcoming projects, or how the council measures success in the benefits service.
