Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and guide a benefits team while managing complex casework and projects.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a hub of culture and opportunity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working options, and a commitment to diversity.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team dedicated to delivering high-quality services.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in benefits administration and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 41133 - 43680 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: PO1 £41,133 to £43,680
Contract Type: Full Time/Permanent
Working hours per week: 36 hours
Application Deadline: 17/05/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC
Reference: 2113
About Us: Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents. London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.
About the role: The London Borough of Waltham Forest is looking for an experienced Principal Benefits Officer to join our Benefits Service. The role is to provide support and guidance to one of the benefit teams and assist the Benefits Team Manager with the day-to-day organisation and operational efficiency of the team. The primary focus of the Benefits Service is the administration of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction. The service also deals with Adult Social Care Financial Assessments, Sundry Debt recovery, Discretionary Housing and Council Tax payments, Local Welfare Assistance, the recovery of Housing Benefit overpayments, free school meals and many of the discretionary schemes introduced by central government as a response to the Cost of Living Crisis. The role is also an opportunity to develop your own leadership skills. The successful candidate will have proven skills and experience in a housing benefit environment, debt collection, financial assessments. Have a detailed knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance together with the ability to drive improvements across the team whilst meeting performance targets.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assisting a team manager with the day-to-day supervision of one of the teams within the Benefits Service.
- Dealing with complex casework, projects, training and assisting other team members and contributing to the development and maintenance of policies and procedures in the Benefits Service.
- We are looking for a highly motivated and knowledgeable individual to assist in providing a professional, efficient, and high-quality service.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Experience working in a benefits environment
- Conscientious attitude and attention to detail
- Have expert knowledge of relevant legislation, policy, and practice
- Have a working knowledge of local policies regarding CTR, DHP, LWA, Adult Social Care
- Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven experience of thriving under pressure
- A drive to learn and continually improve
- Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure
- Passionate about doing a good job and delivering results
- Flexible approach to work to accommodate the delivery of results
Terms and conditions:
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks
- Satisfactory declaration of interest
- Satisfactory DBS check
As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role. This requirement does not refer to any particular English language qualifications, regional or international accents, dialects, speech impediments or the tone of conversations. It does not require staff to speak only in English.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives:
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage
- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels.
- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all.
Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit here.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Maria Hayzer (Benefits Team Leader) at maria.hayzer@walthamforest.gov.uk. If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.
*INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY* Principal Benefits Officer employer: LBWF
Contact Detail:
LBWF Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land *INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY* Principal Benefits Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to colleagues and connections within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights into the role that you won't find in the job description.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the Benefits Service. Understand their current projects and challenges. This will show your genuine interest and help you stand out as a candidate who’s ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to complex casework and team management. We all know interviews can be nerve-wracking, but being prepared will boost your confidence!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Waltham Forest.
We think you need these skills to ace *INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY* Principal Benefits Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Skills: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your relevant experience in the benefits environment. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Principal Benefits Officer, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Tailor it to reflect how your background and expertise make you a perfect fit for our team. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their experience with our needs.
Keep It Clear and Concise: We appreciate clarity! Make sure your application is easy to read and straight to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to break down your achievements and experiences – it helps us see your strengths at a glance.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can through our website. We’re excited to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at LBWF
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of housing benefits, council tax reduction, and relevant legislation. The interviewers will likely ask you about specific policies and practices, so being well-versed in these areas will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in a benefits environment. Think of specific examples where you've dealt with complex casework or improved team performance. This will help demonstrate your capability and how you can contribute to the Benefits Service.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since excellent communication skills are a must for this role, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You might want to do a mock interview with a friend to get comfortable discussing your qualifications and experiences.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations related to the role. For instance, how would you handle a difficult case or manage team dynamics? Think through your responses ahead of time to showcase your problem-solving skills and leadership potential.