Housing Benefits Officer

Job Title: Senior Housing Benefits OfficerLocation: HybridEmployer: Pertemps Recruitment Partnership for Harrow CouncilContract Type: Temporary AssignmentHours of Work: 36 hours per week, Monday to FridayOverview of a Senior Housing Benefits Officer:Pertemps have an exciting opportunity within Harrow Council for a self-driven and motivated Senior Housing Benefits Officer to join an expanding team. The role of a Senior Housing Benefits Officer has a competitive pay rate of £ 18.21 - £20.74 per hour, increasing in line with Harrow Council Pay Scale increments. Other benefits include, accruing up to 28 days holiday per year (including Bank Holidays) and the opportunity to apply for any internal permanent roles within Harrow Council.The Main Purpose of a Senior Housing Benefits Officer:

• Work with HITS, CAFT, Access Harrow, Revenues, Finance, Adults and Housing and External Partners including the Department of Work and Pensions and where appropriate the Business Transformation Partner to ensure delivery and performance targets are met.
• Assist in implementing changes in processes as required by DWP business technical issues [eg.Government Connects/SHBE]
• Maintain up to date Knowledge of regulations and guidance in particular:
• Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987
• Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992
• The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001
• Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997
• The H B and C T B (State Pension Credit) Regulations 2003,
• National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992
• Responsibility for undertaking full assessments to entitlement/contribution for the more complex cases including the carrying out of home visits where necessary. This requires the post holder to evaluate and be responsible for any review to the entitlement /contribution for the more complex cases as highlighted below:
• Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit including more complex calculations in respect of self- employed, students etc
• Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit the Claims relating to Registered Social Landlords , Housing Tenants and Council Tax Benefit
• Fairer Charging/ Supporting People, Respite Care and Residential Care
• Other assessments such as concessionary fares using relevant Regulations
• "All in accordance with Best Practice, Statutory Requirements, Verification Framework and SAFE scheme and maximising the use of technology to improve the experience of the customer

About you, the successful Senior Housing Benefits Officer will have:

• You will need to work on your own initiative in a highly pressurised environment with ever changing and conflicting priorities
• Good understanding of the current and future technological developments and their potential application within and for the
• In depth knowledge of the Housing and Council Tax Benefits legislation
• Ability to gain knowledge of Social Security and Child Support Regulations, CRAG and Pension Regulations etc
• A minimum of 3 years experience of working in a Housing Benefits office

"If you have the necessary skills and experience for this role, please click 'apply'About Us" For almost 60 years, Pertemps Recruitment Partnership has been the market leader in providing permanent and temporary staffing solutions and we are one of the most established players within the recruitment industry. The Sunday Times has listed us as one of the Best 100 Companies to work for 14 years running. We are not a big scary faceless company, quite the opposite: we strongly believe in the personal touch with everything we do. We are proud to be an accredited 'investor in people' which is reflected across our business in the length of service and career progression of our employees." Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406." The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn