JOB DESCRIPTION

DIRECTORATE:Resources

JOB LEVEL:BENEFITS ADVISOR

GRADERANGE :Grade 5

REPORTING TO :Benefits Team Leader

PURPOSE

To administer Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, using the skills base given to optimise independent working, whilst providing a quality customer service to both internal and external customers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. To have an in depth knowledge of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction policy and legislation and a broad knowledge of other welfare benefits and Council Tax liability.
  1. To be responsible for the accurate verification, assessment and payment of

claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.

  1. To be independently responsible for making decisions on claims for backdates,

first stage appeals and any other area where the authority may exercise its

discretion.

  1. To ensure all notifications, payments and other notices are accurate and adhere to the prescribed rules.
  1. Initiate and optimise the recovery of benefit overpayments in line with

Council policy.

  1. Identify potentially fraudulent claims and refer them to the Corporate Anti-Fraud Officer.
  1. Advise and assist Universal Credit customers at interviews in relation to Personal Budgeting Support and Assisted Digital Support. To also advise and assist Housing Benefit/Council Tax Reduction customers where required.
  1. Liaise with internal and external bodies in connection with benefit matters.
  1. Maintain personal files and utilise the payments software as directed, in order

to produce accurate information regarding subsidy claimed and performance measures.

  1. To undertake any other duties that may be determined by the Head of Benefits.
  1. To undertake all duties in line with the Council’s Health and Safety and

Equal Opportunities policies.

JOB SIZE

BENEFITS ADVISOR

INDEPENDENT DECISION MAKING

Majority of duties require the ability to follow detailed instructions or

recognise procedures.

Independent action and initiative are frequently required in order to make judgements or decisions in respect of issues that arise from carrying out the normal routine work.

INTERACTION

Majority of contacts are with other members of staff, customers and outside bodies and consist of a mixture of routine and non-routine interactions.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

Requirement for specialist knowledge and expertise to a level consistent with an ability to undertake duties of both routine and complex natures. This can be demanding and requires high levels of numeracy, literacy and communication skills due to the level of attention and accuracy to detail required.

MANAGEMENT OF PEOPLE

There is a requirement to work with Customer Services Assistants to ensure free flow of work, but this does not include responsibility for their management.

PROBLEM SOLVING

In addition to the normal day-to-day problems there is a requirement to demonstrate initiative through independent action to overcome new and out of the ordinary demands. This will sometimes be of a more complex nature.

RESPONSIBILITY

Degree of responsibility to ensure that advice given is correct and that the law is adhered to in order to optimise payments made and subsidy claimed.

SERVICE DELIVERY

Work undertaken involves a direct and consistent impact on the community. Decisions taken would at any one time affect the customer and could have an internal impact on the work of other teams.