Job Purpose
The Income and Housing Benefit Officer is responsible for maximising rental income collection by producing and maintaining accurate rent schedules, ensuring Housing Benefit and Universal Credit housing element claims are correctly set up and kept in payment, and building effective working relationships with Housing Benefit (HB) departments and local authorities. The postholder will proactively identify and resolve discrepancies in rent and benefit payments to minimise rent loss and arrears, supporting tenants to sustain their tenancies.
Key Responsibilities
- Create, produce and issue accurate rent schedules for all tenancies, ensuring rent, service charges and other charges are correctly recorded and applied.
- Prepare rent schedules with partners and liaise with local authorities to ensure schedules are agreed and processed correctly.
- Review and reconcile existing rent schedules on a regular basis, identifying and correcting discrepancies, overpayments and underpayments.
- Update rent schedules following rent reviews, tenancy changes, sign-ups, terminations, transfers and void periods, ensuring changes are reflected accurately and promptly.
- Liaise directly with Housing Benefit departments and local authority welfare/benefits teams to establish, verify and maintain Housing Benefit and Universal Credit housing element claims for tenants.
- Ensure Housing Benefit and Universal Credit payments are brought into and kept in payment, chasing outstanding claims, missing information and delayed payments as required.
- Investigate and resolve queries relating to rent accounts, benefit claims, suspensions, overpayments and underpayments, working closely with tenants, local authorities and internal colleagues.
- Oversee Housing Benefit claims and rent accounts, monitor arrears, and take appropriate action in line with the organisation's income and arrears management procedures.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on housing management and financial systems in line with data protection requirements.
- Notify local authorities and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of relevant changes in tenancy circumstances, including rent changes, sign-ups and terminations.
- Work collaboratively with Income Officers, Housing Officers and other internal teams to support the wider income collection and arrears management service.
- Produce reports and management information on rent schedules, Housing Benefit claims and payment performance as required.
- Identify trends, delays or systemic issues in Housing Benefit processing and escalate these appropriately with local authorities or internal management.
- Contribute to the review and improvement of processes and procedures relating to rent schedules and Housing Benefit administration.
- Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and organisational policies, including data protection and safeguarding.
- Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role as reasonably required.
Person Specification
Essential
- Experience of producing, reviewing and reconciling rent schedules.
- Experience of liaising with Housing Benefit departments, local authorities or the DWP regarding benefit claims.
- Good working knowledge of Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and the housing element of welfare benefits.
- Strong numeracy skills and high attention to detail when working with financial and benefit data.
- Good working knowledge of housing management and/or income management IT systems.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with tenants, colleagues and external agencies.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines.
- A proactive and solutions-focused approach to resolving payment and benefit queries.
- Commitment to excellent customer service and to supporting tenants to sustain their tenancies.
- Understanding of data protection requirements and safe handling of sensitive personal and financial information.
Desirable
- Experience working within a housing association or registered social landlord.
- Relevant qualification in housing, welfare benefits or a related field.
- Experience of using housing management systems such as those common across the social housing sector.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed and amended from time to time in consultation with the postholder to reflect the changing needs of the organisation.
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Experience:
- housing and tenancy : 3 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
