Benefits Officer
£30,296 - £33,945 – Pay award pending
Rugby Borough Council is dedicated to both Community and Colleague growth. With a focus on wellbeing and personal development, we offer a range of career opportunities where you can take pride in the positive changes you help create. Join an organisation committed to the success of one of the Country’s fastest-growing boroughs and the people who make it thrive.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, diligent and experienced Benefits Officer to join our Benefits Team, to undertake the administration of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction claims, and Discretionary Housing Payment applications.
The role is hybrid working with a 60/40 weekly split, minimum of 40% office-based, so would suit someone who is a good team player but also confident working on their own.
We are a small team that works closely together but also alongside the Housing, Homelessness, and Council Tax teams to ensure we provide the best support to members of our community who come to us for help in meeting their rent and council tax costs.
Duties and Responsibilities will include:
* Processing claims correctly and quickly in accordance with legislative requirements and DWP targets.
* Maintaining knowledge of and keeping up to date with government policies relating to Benefits legislation including Universal Credit eligibility criteria and working practices of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Discretionary Housing Payments.
* Maintaining knowledge of functions, procedures, and systems relating to the assessment of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Discretionary Housing Payments.
* Responding to customer enquiries face to face, over the telephone, and online.
* Communicating effectively and appropriately with customers verbally and in writing.
* Maintaining accurate computerised records of data collected in respect of the administration and payment of claims.
Alongside your experience of processing Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction claims, and Discretionary Housing Payment applications and knowledge in this area, ideally, you will have experience of working with Civica OpenRevenues and Workflow systems, but this is not essential as training can be provided.
Benefits
* 35 days annual leave (including 8 Bank Holidays and 3 extra days normally applied at Christmas)
* Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
* Hybrid working up to 60%
* Flexi time scheme
* Annual leave purchase scheme
* Subsidised parking
* Structured Induction Program
* Learning and Development opportunities including Future Leaders programmes
* Payment of a professional subscription for approved professionals
* Family Friendly Policies
* Independent Support for your health & wellbeing
* Generous compassionate leave
* Extra Benefits including Retail Discounts, Car Salary Sacrifice & Cycle to Work scheme and more
For an informal discussion about this role, please call Zoe Chapman, our Benefits Team Leader on 01788 533486.
You can view full details of this job via our website www.rugby.gov.uk, where you can also apply online. If you are unable to apply online please contact 01788 533564, or e-mail: contact.centre@rugby.gov.uk for further assistance.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Closing Date: 6th October 2024
Interview Date: 15th October 2024
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