Benefit Officer in Hertford

Salary £31,751 - £35,163 (inclusive of local weighting). Flexible/Blended home working offered.

Location: Wallfields. Reference: eastherts/TP/230/144. Contract: Permanent. Working hours: 25 per week. Number of positions: 1. Job category: Revenue and Benefits.

An opportunity for a Benefit Officer post has become available to work at Wallfields as part of the Benefits Team within the Revenues and Benefits Service. This is an exciting time for you to join us and develop your career as we continue to support our customers through Welfare Reform.

This motivated and highly professional team is looking for individuals committed to excellence in their work and with a passion for helping and supporting our residents. If successful, you will be processing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support awards across both East Herts and Stevenage Council areas. This will involve direct customer contact for the service, including face to face interactions, telephone contact and in writing.

• The efficient and accurate administration of all Benefit applications received, and overpayments identified in accordance with the appropriate regulations, legislation and guidance.
• Providing information to customers with general enquiries.
• Ensuring that the shared services performance standards and targets are met.
• Identifying possible irregularities in benefit claims and referring these cases to the relevant Fraud Service.
• Undertaking and evidencing appropriate checks and responding to queries in accordance with the relevant legislation and requirements of the service.
• Ensuring that all appropriate decision letters, overpayment invoices and reminders are issued in a timely manner.
• Ensuring that payments and overpayments are correctly coded for subsidy purposes.
• Liaising with and providing advice/guidance to other Council departments (across partner authorities), external agencies, Government bodies, organisations, stakeholders, Members and colleagues on all matters relating to Revenues and Benefits Shared Services as required to deliver a high standard of service.
• Contributing to the achievement of EHCs Service Level Agreements and key performance indicators.

This role will suit a self-motivated, confident, organised, focused, methodical, enthusiastic team player who enjoys a varied role in a performance-based service and customer facing environment.

• Proven relevant experience of processing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims in a local authority.
• Detailed knowledge of Housing Benefit administration and legislation and Council Tax Support legislation and procedures.
• Ability to prioritise and work accurately to targets and deadlines.
• Able to work on own initiative and without the need to be closely supervised.
• The ability to work as part of a team, willing to assist others, but also take responsibility for own work as required.
• Competency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a strong customer focus.
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders, from the public and private sectors.
• Ability and willingness to help support and provide guidance to colleagues and customers.
• The ability to work under pressure with a heavy and varied workload and be able to explain complex benefit/financial assessments.
• Experience of working on the Academy Benefits system or a similar software computer system.
• Organised and methodical with the ability to process claim information to produce accurate benefit assessments; to make fair and consistent decisions.

For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Neil Wright, Benefits Manager. Contact details are available via the apply button.

Closing date: 28 February 2026.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing diversity and maintaining a firm commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We believe that creating inclusive environments leads to stronger collaboration and better outcomes in our work.