Disability Benefits Support Officer

Disability Benefits Support Officer
East London 
£27.12 p/hr umbrella 
Initial 3 to 6 month ongoing contract


Role Purpose 
In this role you will predominantly be supporting disabled people (or households with a disabled person) to access a full range of welfare benefits, discretionary support, reductions and exemptions. You will also lead and/ or attend Tribunal hearings.


Responsibilities 

• Identify residents who need financial assistance due to a disability, caring responsibilities, long-term illness and/or being unable to work due to physical or mental health barriers, and have responsibility for supporting them with long-term benefits uptake.
• Be proactive in providing support for residents to prevent them from reaching financial crisis.
• Learn and use digital tools, including the LIFT dashboard, to identify and engage with residents at risk of financial hardship due to disability, long-term illness, physical or mental health conditions, and caring responsibilities.
• To deal with all day-to-day correspondence and telephone calls in line with service standards. To provide written responses to enquiries for councillors, senior managers, and MPs and ensure that responses are provided within agreed timescales.
• To provide ongoing monitoring information for performance scrutiny to the Team Manager. 
• To actively participate in the reviewing of Income Maximisation policies and procedures.

Requirements 

• To have and maintain a detailed working knowledge of law, practice, council policy and guidance relating to: 1. Personal Independence Payments 2. Disability Living Allowance 3. Severe Disability Premium, Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Other disability benefits for carers And have experience with completing these forms on behalf of clients
• To have and maintain a detailed working knowledge of law, practice, council policy and guidance relating to other financial support, such as: 1. Housing Benefit 2. Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax Reduction 3.  Housing 4. Welfare Reform 5.Tenancy 6. Lettings 7. Benefits advice 8. Debt and money management. 
• Experience working in a housing association or council.

This period closes on Thursday December 12 2024 at 17:00.
If you are interested in this posititon and meet the requirements, APPLY NOW!