The Role
Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.
Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.
This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled Housing Benefits professional with extensive Local Authority experience to support the delivery of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.
Sitting within our Benefits & Homelessness prevention service , you will play a critical role in delivering an efficient, high-quality, and customer-focused service for a diverse client group, including high numbers of vulnerable and disadvantaged households.
The successful candidate will play a critical role in delivering our Benefits & Homelessness Prevention service by assessing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims, updating case records to reflect changing circumstances. You will collaborate with team members throughout the department and liaise with external partners as required.
To succeed in this position, you must demonstrate an adaptable mindset, a dedication to delivering a high-quality, customer-focused service, and superior analytical skills when handling complex data.
About Us
To be considered for this position, you must have:
- Proven experience as a Benefits Assessor within a Local Authority environment.
- Experience using the Academy system.
- Excellent decision-making and analytical skills, with the ability to understand complex information.
- The ability to manage conflicting priorities in a pressurized working environment, meet performance targets, and deliver to tight deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, alongside the ability to explain complex legislative information in simple language to a range of audiences.
- Experience maintaining accurate case records, documentation, and a detailed knowledge of IT, data processing, and finance systems.
- A proven track record of effectively assisting vulnerable and challenging customers in a professional manner.
As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.
If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.
We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs.
To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.
As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.
We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.
Key Accountabilities
This application process replaces a supporting statement.
This Post is subject to a Standard DBS Check
Closing date for applications: 25 October 2026 (22:59)
Interview and assessment date:W/C 16 November 2026
We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our "PROUD" values: Purpose and Respect, where we foster belonging through active inclusion, kindness, and open dialogue; Ownership, where we champion proactive collaboration and accountability for our shared success; and Unity and Diversity, where we work as one Council to break down silos and champion anti-racist behavior.
Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.
The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk
