Benefits and Housing Needs Officer 120157

Job

Benefits & Housing Needs Officer

Reference: Hackney 120157

Pay: Approximately £164.60 per day PAYE

Contract: Temporary, Anticipated 6 months

Working Arrangement: On-site

Key Responsibilities

• Engage with residents to understand their circumstances and determine suitable financial or non‑financial support.
• Assess, award and process Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in line with internal guidance.
• Conduct benefit checks to identify under‑claiming and maximise residents’ income through schemes such as Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
• Develop personalised plans with residents to help sustain tenancies, including advice on downsizing or increasing income.
• Review and triage incoming applications, manage the shared team inbox and respond to resident queries.
• Process payments for support schemes and maintain accurate records across systems such as Academy and Jigsaw.
• Liaise with landlords (with consent) to prevent evictions and coordinate support with colleagues across services.
• Produce clear, empathetic and tailored decision letters explaining outcomes and available support.

What the client is looking for

• A strong background in welfare benefits, within housing teams in a local authority.
• Experience assessing DHPs in line with policy and guidance.
• Proficiency in using benefits systems including Academy, Comino and Searchlight.
• Proven experience in an administrative or support role, preferably within a welfare or social care environment.
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with care and integrity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to show sensitivity and empathy when dealing with people in challenging situations.
• Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
• Strong organisational skills with a keen attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently.
• A collaborative, team‑player attitude and a flexible approach to changing priorities.

How to Apply

Quote the job title and reference number in your application.

Submit your CV in Word format.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—early submission is recommended.

If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion.

IMPORTANT: By applying you give permission for us to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us otherwise.

Anticipated Length of Assignment

Unless otherwise stated, all of our roles are technically temporary, though occasional permanent vacancies arise. Opening assignments can be extended by clients and may sometimes become permanent.