Housing Benefit Officer

We are the Housing Network (THN), a purpose-led organisation working in partnership with the YMCA to support our communities. We are in an exciting period of growth and are looking for experienced and passionate people to help us support vulnerable individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
 

We are seeking an experienced Housing Benefits Administrator to join our newest supported housing team based in Luton. You will have great knowledge and experience of working within a Revenue and Benefits environment and a track record of effective claim management. This is an exciting time to join a new team and if you want to help us shape and create a great service for those who need us most, this could be the role for you!

• Looking for an opportunity to use your skills, experience and commitment to transform the lives of highly vulnerable people
• Highly experienced working within a Revenue and Benefits environment with specific understanding of supported housing exempt accommodation rules alongside   a demonstratable track record of effective claim management and income maximisation.

What you’ll be doing

• Accurately review and scrutinise all Housing Benefit (HB) payment schedules, posting payments to the relevant rent account in our digital housing management system, currently Omniledger.
• Analyse received HB payments against rent accounts to identify exceptions, using that data to highlight discrepancies and actively pursue HB revenue recovery.
• Work collaboratively with departmental colleagues (eg support workers) and wider organisational areas (eg finance team) to maximise revenue and minimise arears.
• Engage with external stakeholders and revenues teams to investigate discrepancies and identify / apply resolutions.
• Support the development of a new system to capture housing benefit income and related resident support plan.
• Provide direct support to residents where necessary to help resolve complex HB issues, ensuring appropriate trauma-informed communication and engagement throughout.
• Support the departmental management team and wider SLT in the generation of appropriate rent models, including exempt accommodation models.
• Maintain and manage the HB elements of our digital housing management system, ensuring accuracy and detail at all times, using that to support in the generation of KPI and performance data.
• Use your knowledge and experience to support in the development of best practice through a process of continuous improvement, which creates a sector leading level of performance.
• Liaise and meet regularly with colleagues in our finance team to ensure accurate reconciliation of HB payments and to minimise bad debts and arears.
• Build positive relationships with external stakeholders (eg revenue and benefits teams) to support us in achieving and maintaining trusted partner status for all of our HB based services.
• Take a personal interest in being part of the team that are supporting those individuals and families who have experienced homelessness and/or multiple disadvantage to overcome barriers and progress towards independence.

What you’ll receive

• Salary – from £33,000
• 23 days of annual leave
• Blue Light Card
• Referral programme