Benefits Officer (Civica OpenRevenues) in Essex

The purpose of this interim post is to assess the 2026 Housing Benefit Award Accuracy (HBAA) Reviews.

The Revenues and Benefits Service administers the billing and collection of Council Tax, Business Rates liabilities and corporate debt, the assessment of Housing Benefit and the Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme. The Service is responsible for ensuring that benefits are paid timely and accurately and that the tax base is protected. The post holder will ensure that decisions on Housing Benefit entitlement are made in accordance with law and policy guidelines. All staff must be mindful of potential fraud and that suspected irregularities are referred for investigation in all cases. Any member of staff may be called upon to act as a witness in proceedings in courts or tribunals to give factual evidence.

Accountabilities

• Day-to-day administration of benefits processes, whilst seeking to promote efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Interpretation of Council Tax and Benefits legislation, ensuring that processes and decisions apply in accordance with law and policy guidelines.
• Understand the impact that all assessments, accuracy and overpayments have on subsidy.
• Administer the Local Council Tax Support Scheme in accordance with local policy and guidelines.
• Make decisions in respect of Council Tax liability, exemptions, discounts, reliefs and Housing Benefit entitlement and that notices are issued in a timely manner, referring any matters of doubt to a Senior Billing and Benefits officer.
• Ensure the accuracy of the property and taxpayer database, including Housing Benefits and LCTS data, by updating the IT systems and agreeing totals to Valuation Office Agency where appropriate.
• Maintain an awareness of current legislation, policy and guidance relating to Council Tax, Housing Benefits and Local Council Tax Support.
• Respond to requests from customers for clarification of decisions, providing statements of reasons, correcting any errors discovered and reconsidering any decisions where appropriate.

A Few Things to Note

The rate for this role is £25.00 per hour (umbrella). The term for this role is 3 months initially.

Requirements

• At least 3 years experience working as a Benefits Officer.
• A good working knowledge of HB/CTR law and procedures.
• A skilled Civica OpenRevenues user.
• Professionally qualified to IRRV level.

Equal Opportunity Statement

BSS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, colour, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or other applicable legally protected characteristic. BSS considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable UK law. If you need assistance or an accommodation made due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

What We Offer

• Hundreds of global and local perks, available online 24/7.
• Free monthly lifestyle perks, such as coffee, breakfasts, cinema tickets, etc.
• Shopping discounts from the biggest brands, all year round.
• Additional savings on supermarket purchases and summer holidays.
• Wellness Hub with videos for yoga, strength training, HIIT workouts, mindfulness, meditation and sleep resources, plus a confidential mental health helpline.
• Celebration Hub with team recognition and company polls.
• Culture Hub with a single place to find company updates, photos and benefits information.