Benefits Assessor - Stoke on trent

Benefits Assessor – Revenue and Benefits – Stoke on trent£21.99 per hourContract – Full Time:Duties/Responsibilities:
To work as a member of a team providing a high standard of service to the public.

Use expert knowledge to ensure that customer demands are met.To accurately and efficiently assess entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, and all related activities associated with the assessment of a claim, ensuring that the right benefit is paid at the right time to the right person.Completing, verifying and assessing claims and changes of circumstance by customer visits, face to face interviews, telephone or post.To assist in the recovery of overpayments of Housing Benefit and Tax Support, and / or debt owed to the client.A flexible and adaptable approach to work is required as well as an ability to deal with several issues simultaneously.An understanding of the claimant’s needs should also be shown, in order to tailor the service to the individual customer needs.To ensure that thorough, accurate and up to date customer details are maintained and all data is kept secure and confidential in relation to both Tax and Benefits.To liaise with internal and external stakeholders, to build positive and mutually beneficial working relationships.Work with other members of the team to achieve excellent performance in accordance with legislation and corporate objectives.Maintain an expert, up to date knowledge of both Housing Benefit and Tax legislation and internal procedures and processes, and keep fully appraised of relevant changes.To keep up to date with changes in relation to Welfare Reform and Universal Credit in relation to the administration of Housing Benefit and Tax Support.To provide advice and support to customers in relation to Universal Credit by explaining the options available and also signpost to other services or client departments as appropriate.To interpret the relevant legislation, regulation, policies, procedures and any other guidance, assess the available evidence and apply these considerations when devising the appropriate course of action to take.Assess and decide claims so accurate payments of benefit are made within agreed timescales.

Perform manual calculations of benefit entitlement as required.Investigate payment queries and errors, liaising with the creditor payments team to resolve payment failures/issues.Conduct interviews with claimants in order to process benefit, at any of the Client’s amenities designated for such purposes or through a home visit in order to process benefit.
To find out more information please contact Lily at Lilye@4recruitmentservices.comRecruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices.

We are an equal opportunity agency.