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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to assess and process financial support for vulnerable residents.
- Company: Coventry City Council is dedicated to inclusivity and community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy a fantastic rewards package and opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a diverse and supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Good customer service skills and basic knowledge of welfare reforms are essential.
- Other info: Guaranteed interviews for specific groups and commitment to diversity.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Our Values
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.
Our Values are:
- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.
About The Team We Are Recruiting To
Coventry City Council’s Benefits Service is comprised of diverse, multi-talented teams who all have the same aim, to help the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Our work is varied and covers the assessment and administration of schemes that provide financial help and support for those in need.
Specifically, the teams are responsible for the delivery of:
- Housing Benefit and Discretionary Housing Payments which we administer on behalf of the Department for Works and Pensions. We also recover any overpaid housing benefit
- Council Tax Support which is a local scheme that helps residents with their Council Tax charges
- Free School Meals, by working closely with schools we aim to ensure every child who is entitled has a free school meal
- Community Support Grant Scheme which includes assistance in extreme emergency situations and can provide citizens help to resettle back into the community by providing essential furniture items.
We embrace the ONE COVENTRY approach, working closely with our external partners and other Council teams, such as the Housing and Homeless teams and Children’s teams, ensuring we have a holistic approach to supporting our residents.
What is the job role?
All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.
Are you looking for a new challenge, if so, then why not join our Benefit Service
We have full time permanent vacancies for pro-active, motivated individuals who, after a period of training, will be responsible for the assessment for customers receiving Universal Credit to award Local Council Tax Support and award Free School Meals.
You will work as part of a team of Benefit Officers to ensure prompt and accurate processing of claims on our Revenues and Benefits and document management IT systems.
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Who are we looking for?
If you have good customer service skills, a basic knowledge of welfare reforms: the effects of Universal Credit on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support and are used to working in a fast- paced changing environment, then this is the role for you.
- Possess a good level of numeracy skills to accurately assess claims for Council Tax support using an online system
- Have knowledge of Housing Benefit, council tax support and other Welfare Benefits including the importance of confidentiality
- Possess keyboard skills for efficient data input, retrieval, and email communication and excel.
- Be able to compose written responses to complex enquiries from customers and external agencies.
- Be able to organise and prioritise own workload effectively.
- Be able to deliver excellent customer service skills.
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled \’Coventry City Council Application Process\’
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme – As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you\’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled \’Coventry City Council Application Process\’.
If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.
Interview date(s): Assessment Date Tuesday 26 August 2025 -Council House
If successful Interview dates are – Thursday 28 & Friday 29th August 2025 -One Friargate Station Square Coventry
About Coventry
Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.
We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.
At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.
To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.
If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package – to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies
Coventry City Council
Attached documents
- RM-00037373-Benefits Officer-Job Description (1) PDF AUGUST 2025.pdf
- Coventry City Council Application Process (1).pdf
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BENEFIT OFFICER employer: Coventry City Council
Contact Detail:
Coventry City Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land BENEFIT OFFICER
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific benefits and support schemes mentioned in the job description, such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. Understanding these areas will not only help you during the interview but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your customer service skills by preparing examples of how you've effectively handled complex inquiries in the past. This will highlight your ability to communicate clearly and empathetically, which is crucial for a Benefit Officer.
✨Tip Number 3
Research Coventry City Council's One Coventry Values and think about how your personal values align with them. Be ready to discuss this alignment in your interview, as cultural fit is important to the organisation.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience in fast-paced environments. Think of specific instances where you successfully managed your workload under pressure, as this will demonstrate your ability to thrive in the dynamic setting of the Benefits Service.
We think you need these skills to ace BENEFIT OFFICER
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities of a Benefit Officer. Familiarise yourself with the specific duties mentioned in the job description, such as assessing claims for Universal Credit and providing support for Council Tax and Free School Meals.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the job requirements. Emphasise your customer service skills, knowledge of welfare reforms, and any experience in fast-paced environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for helping vulnerable residents and your commitment to diversity and inclusion. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you embody the values of the organisation.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread all documents for spelling and grammatical errors. A well-presented application shows attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial for this role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Coventry City Council
✨Understand the Values
Familiarise yourself with Coventry City Council's One Coventry Values. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs, especially around inclusivity, accountability, and community support.
✨Showcase Customer Service Skills
Since the role requires excellent customer service, think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully assisted customers or resolved issues. Be ready to share these during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Knowledge of Welfare Reforms
Brush up on your understanding of welfare reforms, particularly Universal Credit and its impact on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. This knowledge will be crucial in demonstrating your suitability for the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you would handle specific situations related to benefits assessment. Practise articulating your thought process clearly.
