Benefits & Housing Needs Assistant
Hackney
Job Role
To provide admin support in the administration of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Discretionary Hardship Payments schemes.
To provide an effective and efficient discretionary awards and money management advice service to customers to afford solutions to mitigate the impact of welfare reforms and the economic recession and prevent homelessness.
To actively develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of the full range of welfare provision, benefits and localised schemes that are applicable to customers and to work with them to identify the benefits and welfare support they are entitled to.
Key Accountabilities
To deal with all enquiries and referrals for discretionary awards, budgeting, money management and access to welfare benefits providing advice and information, where relevant in a professional and courteous way.
Recognising the root causes of problems, which need addressing, and participating in appropriate remedial action. Agreeing action plans with the client, and follow up where necessary.
Communicating and interpreting the relevant information to the customer and their representatives and exploring the options to enable the customer to make decisions. Acting, where necessary, on behalf of the customer to make telephone calls, negotiating with 3rd parties, drafting or writing letters or making appropriate referrals to other organisations.
