Role Specification: Housing Benefit Processor
Location: Leeds
Reports To: Housing Manager / Finance Manager
Salary: As per the industry standard
Contract Type: Permanent / Fixed-term
Hours: Full-time / Part-time
Role Purpose
The Housing Benefit Processor will manage, process, and monitor housing benefit claims for service users within an all-male supported housing setting. The role ensures service users receive their entitled support in a timely and accurate manner, reconciles payments, challenges discrepancies, maintains up-to-date records across platforms including Airtable, and liaises with external agencies such as Leeds City Council.
Key Responsibilities (Prioritized)
- Ensure all housing benefit payments are received and monitor for missed or delayed payments.
- Complete changes of circumstances for service users, ensuring information is accurate and up-to-date.
- Complete reconciliations for service users whose housing benefit payments have been rejected or delayed.
- Challenge overpayments or discrepancies with Leeds City Council on behalf of service users.
- Process and manage housing benefit claims for service users, ensuring accuracy and compliance with local authority requirements.
- Liaise with Leeds City Council and other relevant agencies regarding housing benefit queries and claim status.
- Ensure all service users’ information is up-to-date across spreadsheets, Airtable, databases, and records.
- Maintain, update, and monitor spreadsheets, Airtable, and other databases of service users’ information, including rent payments, benefit entitlements, and personal details.
- Set and process rent settings for service users, including liaising with landlords and finance teams.
- Manage head leases for new properties, ensuring leases are completed and correctly documented.
- Advise service users on eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and application processes for housing benefits.
- Support service users in budgeting and financial planning as it relates to their housing benefit entitlements.
- Identify and escalate any issues or delays with housing benefit claims to the Housing Manager or Finance Manager.
- Collaborate with other team members to ensure service users’ housing needs are met and integrated with wider support services.
- Keep up-to-date with changes in housing benefit legislation and guidance to ensure compliance.
- Attend regular team meetings, supervision sessions, and training as required.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Experience working with housing benefit administration or related financial support services.
- Understanding of housing benefit regulations and local authority processes, including experience liaising with Leeds City Council.
- Experience maintaining and updating spreadsheets, Airtable and service user records.
- Ability to manage changes of circumstances, rent settings, and head lease administration.
- Experience reconciling payments and challenging overpayments with local authorities.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
- Commitment to supporting vulnerable adults in a residential setting.
- IT literate (Microsoft Office, Airtable, spreadsheets, databases).
Desirable:
- Experience working in supported housing or with vulnerable adults.
- Knowledge of welfare benefits beyond housing benefit (e.g., Universal Credit, Council Tax Support).
- Experience working in an all-male or gender-specific supported environment.
Values and Approach
- Respectful and non-judgmental approach to all service users.
- Committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Proactive, solution-focused, and able to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of service users.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £25,000.00-£27,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Leeds LS3 1JA: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:
- Administrative: 1 year (preferred)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (preferred)
Work Location: In person
