Local Welfare Assistance Officer

Local Welfare Assistance Officer
Local Authority - West London
Remote Working (occasional visit to office, W5 2HL)
£22.02 PAYE / £29.17 Umbrella per hour
35 hours (Mon-Fri, between 7.30am - 6pm, must work core hours, 10am-2pm/3.30pm, with 1hr lunch)
4-week assignment (backlog of DHP & DCTD claims) - possibility of extension
ASAP Start

About the Role

We are seeking a dedicated Local Welfare Assistance Officer to join our Financial Assessments team. In this vital role, you will help residents access discretionary financial support, including Discretionary Housing Payments, Council Tax Support Hardship Fund, and Local Welfare Provision. You'll provide money and debt advice, carry out home visits, and work closely with internal teams and external organisations to ease financial hardship.

Key Responsibilities

Process applications for discretionary funds in line with council policies and statutory regulations.
Provide comprehensive welfare benefits advice and assist with form completion.
Manually calculate benefit entitlements and discretionary payments.
Liaise with internal departments and external agencies to support residents.
Conduct home visits and interviews to assess applications.
Advise on debt management and expenditure minimisation.
Maintain accurate records and supply statistical data.
Identify and refer potentially fraudulent claims.

What We're Looking For

Strong knowledge of welfare benefits legislation and experience in benefits assessment.
Comprehensive knowledge of Housing Benefits to administer applications for Discretionary Housing Payments
To process a ringfenced backlog of all Discretionary Housing Payments within agreed targets and timescales
Experience of working with Northgate Benefit systems (also known as SX3/IWorld)
Excellent analytical and communication skills.
Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, and ability to learn council IT systems.
Experience working in a pressurised environment with tight deadlines.
Commitment to continuous professional development and high standards of confidentiality.

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

By applying for this role your details will be submitted to Adecco. Our Candidate Privacy Information Statement explains how we will use your information - please copy and paste the following link in to your browser