Disability Benefits Officer – SO2

Job Description

Job Title : Disability Benefits Officer – SO2
Job Category : Revenues / Benefits
Location : Hackney Service Centre, Hackney Council
Hours Per Week : 36.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £21.31

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
1. To have and maintain a detailed working knowledge of law, practice, council
policy and guidance relating to:
o Personal Independence Payments
o Disability Living Allowance
o Severe Disability Premium
o Carers Allowance
o Attendance Allowance
o Other disability benefits for carers
And have experience with completing these forms on behalf of clients.
2. To have and maintain a detailed working knowledge of law, practice, council
policy and guidance relating to other financial support, such as:
o Housing Benefit
o Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
o Housing
o Welfare Reform
o Tenancy
o Lettings
o Benefits advice
Debt and money management
o Income maximisation
o Security of tenure
o Discretionary schemes: DHP, HDCSS and CTRHDS
o East London sub-region and Pan London region
3. Ability to manage own workload and manage conflicting priorities in a pressurised
working environment that are subject to frequently changing circumstances in
order to achieve targets within challenging timescales.
4. Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your workload to deliver to
tight deadlines, targets and performance standards.
5. Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills and the ability
to communicate effectively with a range of audiences including partner services
and agencies and the ability to explain complex processes in simple language.
6. Experience of customer service; in dealing with people on the telephone and in
person
7. Experience of effective partnership working with agencies and stakeholders and
the proven ability in engaging, negotiating and consulting with a wide range of
audiences.
8. Ability to exercise good judgement.
9. Experience of reflective practice and peer support.
10.Comfortable with change, welcoming it as an opportunity to grow.
11. Ability to look positively for solutions rather than obstacles.
12.Ability to travel around the borough in order to attend community events.
13.Experience of working flexibly to meet the needs of the service and its customers.
14.Experience of assisting vulnerable and challenging customers.
15.Ability to mediate and negotiate effectively.
16.Experience of dealing with and advising customers in a user-centred manner.
17.Ability to adapt to new legislative, technological and financial developments whilst
maintaining services outcomes in periods of change
18.Ability to analyse and understand complex information.
19.Experience of building positive relationships with a range of both internal and
external customers and stakeholders.
20.Experience of cross-organisational working, taking into account the views of
others and arriving at solutions of mutual benefit.
21.Be available to work outside normal working hours including at weekends if
required
22.Must demonstrate an understanding and be committed to the Council’s Equalities
policy carrying out all duties with regard to the policy.
23.Must demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the importance of
confidentiality.
24.Must demonstrate an ability to carry out research independently using electronic
communication systems and other sources of relevant information.
25.Experience in or ability to learn digital tools such as the LIFT dashboard to
identify residents in or near financial hardship through a data-driven approach.
26.Ability to work on projects and contribute to shared outcomes.
27.Officers involved with Benefits and discretionary awards processi