At a Glance
- Tasks: Assess Housing Benefits and Council Tax Reduction to support residents in need.
- Company: Join Haringey Council, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Benefits: Enjoy 29 days leave, hybrid working, health support, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible work culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in Housing Benefits and strong numeracy skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 35520 - 36585 £ per year.
Contract Terms: Grade: SC6 Salary: £35,520 – £36,585 per annum Location: Hybrid working Contract Type: FTC – 2 Years (36 Hours per week) Closing Date: Sunday, 7th June 2026 Interview Date: Week commencing 15th June 2026 (TBC)
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Benefits Officer to join our Housing Benefit Team, playing a key role in providing a high-quality service to its residents, who need financial assistance with their rental liability and Council Tax. In this role, you’ll be responsible for accurately assessing Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and Crisis Resilience Fund ensuring timely and compliant decision-making. You will manage a varied caseload, applying your knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation – including other Welfare Benefits – to deliver high-quality assessments. Attention to detail, strong numeracy skills and the ability to interpret complex information are essential, alongside a commitment to delivering a responsive and customer-focused service.
About You
You are an experienced Housing Benefits and Council Tax Reduction Assessment Officer with a strong understanding of current legislations and processes. Ideally, you will have hands‑on experience using benefits systems such as NEC. You’re confident handling complex cases and sensitive situations, bringing a customer-focused approach and a commitment to delivering accurate, high-quality outcomes. Highly organised and adaptable, you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are motivated by making a tangible difference to residents’ lives.
You Will Bring:
- Knowledge of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction scheme.
- Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal and be able to manage your own workload.
- Ability to work accurately and to tight deadlines and able to work on your own and as part of a team.
- Ability to keep up to date with relevant legislative changes.
- Conscientious attitude and attention to detail.
- Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
- Enthusiastic about doing an excellent job and delivering results.
- Flexible approach to work to accommodate changing priorities.
- Consider and make recommendations on backdating benefit claims.
- Ability to deliver to agreed deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
- Ability to solve problems and make decisions.
- Strong numeracy skills with excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Experience using benefits systems, ideally NEC (or similar).
- The ability to manage and prioritise a busy and varied caseload effectively.
- A strong customer focus, with experience supporting vulnerable residents.
Working for Haringey
At Haringey Council we are committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included, and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce so we welcome applications from all ethnicities and communities so that we continue to make a difference to our residents and community. Our benefits package includes a leave entitlement of 29 days plus bank holidays, potential hybrid working opportunities, health and wellbeing support, a generous local government pension scheme and a range of discount schemes across leisure and culture that provide both financial and money‑saving discounts.
Benefits Officer employer: Haringey Council
Haringey Council is an exceptional employer that prioritises a supportive and inclusive work culture, ensuring all employees feel valued and empowered to excel in their roles. As a Benefits Officer, you will enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave entitlement, and access to health and wellbeing support, alongside opportunities for hybrid working. With a commitment to employee growth and a diverse workforce, Haringey Council offers a meaningful career path where you can make a tangible difference in the lives of residents.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Benefits Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the housing benefits sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a job opening or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation. Make sure you can confidently discuss how you’ve handled complex cases in the past. We want you to shine when it comes to showcasing your expertise!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to tailor your approach! When you apply through our website, highlight your customer-focused attitude and attention to detail in your conversations. Show us how you can make a real difference in residents' lives.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay calm and collected during the interview process. If you’re faced with tricky questions, take a moment to think before you respond. We appreciate candidates who can handle pressure and still deliver thoughtful answers!
We think you need these skills to ace Benefits Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. We want to see how your skills match the job description, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Show Off Your Attention to Detail:Since this role requires a keen eye for detail, ensure your application is free from typos and errors. We appreciate clarity and precision, so take the time to proofread your documents before hitting send!
Demonstrate Your Customer Focus:In your application, share examples of how you've supported vulnerable residents in the past. We’re looking for that customer-focused approach, so let us know how you’ve made a difference in people's lives!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Haringey Council
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on the latest Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction legislation. Being able to discuss recent changes or updates will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also proactive in staying informed.
✨Showcase Your Customer Focus
Prepare examples of how you've supported vulnerable residents in the past. Highlighting your customer-focused approach will demonstrate your commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes, which is crucial for this role.
✨Demonstrate Your Numeracy Skills
Since strong numeracy skills are essential, be ready to discuss how you've handled complex calculations or assessments in previous roles. You might even want to practice a few scenarios to feel confident during the interview.
✨Organise Your Thoughts
With a varied caseload, it's important to show that you can manage your workload effectively. Think about how you prioritise tasks and handle tight deadlines, and be prepared to share specific strategies or tools you use to stay organised.
