Benefits Officer
North Yorkshire Council
Role
Who You Are
You are a motivated and detail-oriented professional with a strong background in benefits administration, specifically within a local authority or similar setting. You have a thorough understanding of housing and council tax benefit legislation, and are comfortable working in an environment that involves high-volume transactional processing. You possess excellent communication skills, enabling you to offer clear guidance and advice to a wide demographic of customers. Your ability to remain calm under pressure and handle complex situations with empathy and professionalism is key to your success.
What the Job Involves
The Benefits Officer is responsible for administering the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction schemes, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and policies. You will process and assess new claims and changes in circumstances, manage benefit overpayments, and promote digital communication methods. As a first point of contact for benefit applicants, you will provide advice and assistance, addressing queries and complaints as they arise. Additionally, you will contribute to achieving performance KPIs, work closely with other council services, and participate in training for your continuous professional development.
Skills
- Experience with NEC systems and document management
- In-depth knowledge of housing benefit and council tax reduction legislation
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- Proven ability to maintain accuracy under pressure
- Strong analytical and decision-making abilities
- Effective time and workload management skills
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team