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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Process Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims while supporting residents.
- Company: Join a dedicated team at East Herts Council, committed to community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in benefit processing and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a diverse and inclusive workplace.
The predicted salary is between 31751 - 35163 £ per year.
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.
About The Role
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.
Key Responsibilities
- 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.
About You
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.
The Ideal Candidates Will Have/be
- 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.
How To Apply
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.
Benefit Officer in Watford employer: Grupo Digital Mexicano, SA de CV
Contact Detail:
Grupo Digital Mexicano, SA de CV Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Benefit Officer in Watford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research East Herts and their Benefits Team. Understanding their values and current projects can help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! Since this role involves direct customer contact, being able to clearly explain complex benefit assessments is key. Try role-playing with a friend or family member to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local job fairs. Building relationships can give you insider info about the role and might even lead to a referral, which can be super helpful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at East Herts.
We think you need these skills to ace Benefit Officer in Watford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience in processing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for, so don’t hold back!
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of customer interaction, it’s crucial to demonstrate your excellent verbal and written communication skills. Use clear examples in your application to show how you’ve effectively communicated with customers or stakeholders in the past.
Be Organised and Methodical: We’re looking for someone who can handle a varied workload and meet deadlines. In your application, share specific instances where you’ve successfully managed multiple tasks or projects while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Grupo Digital Mexicano, SA de CV
✨Know Your Benefits Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support legislation. Familiarise yourself with the key regulations and procedures, as this will show your commitment to the role and help you answer questions confidently.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Since this role involves direct customer contact, prepare examples of how you've successfully handled customer enquiries in the past. Think about situations where you provided clear information or resolved issues effectively, as this will demonstrate your strong customer focus.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Skills
Be ready to discuss how you prioritise tasks and manage deadlines. You might want to share specific strategies or tools you use to stay organised, especially when dealing with a heavy workload. This will highlight your ability to work methodically under pressure.
✨Prepare for Teamwork Questions
As a Benefit Officer, you'll need to work well within a team. Think of examples that showcase your ability to collaborate with colleagues and support others. Be prepared to discuss how you take responsibility for your own work while also being a team player.
