Specialist Welfare Benefits Appeals Officer

Reference: REQ7464

Description: Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / Permanent About the job As a Specialist Welfare Benefits Appeals Officer, you'll help people in Leicester challenge welfare benefits decisions and secure the income they are entitled to. You'll provide specialist Tier 3 welfare benefits advice, casework, advocacy and representation, including preparing legally literate appeal submissions, representing clients at Social Security, Disability and Medical Appeals Tribunals, and supporting cases that may progress to Upper Tribunal. Based in the Council's Welfare Rights Service, part of Revenues and Benefits, this role protects some of the city's most financially vulnerable residents, including people affected by disability, ill health, mental health difficulties and financial hardship. This is not generalist benefits advice. You'll use legislation, case law, evidence and advocacy skills to challenge decisions, negotiate with benefit authorities and support clients through complex systems at difficult points in their lives. You'll also work with statutory and voluntary sector partners to ensure residents receive joined-up support. Our values of confidence, clarity, respectfulness, fairness and accountability will shape how you work every day. What you'll be doing You'll manage specialist and complex welfare benefits appeal casework from referral through to resolution. A typical day could include reviewing a new referral, scrutinising benefit decisions and evidence, identifying legal arguments, contacting the Department for Work and Pensions or HMRC, preparing written submissions, liaising with medical professionals, updating case records, and representing a client at tribunal. You will: provide specialist welfare benefits advice and casework, which includes assessing complex client circumstances, interpreting welfare benefits legislation and case law, and give clear advice on options, risks and likely outcomes. prepare appeals and represent clients with benefit appeals, including First-tier Tribunal, Disability and Medical Appeals Tribunals and, where appropriate, Upper Tribunal matters. review referrals, identify the right course of action, gather evidence and liaise with clients, such as DWP, HMRC, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, health professionals, council services and advice partners. keep accurate case records, record outcomes and statistics, support service monitoring, contribute to a high-quality advice service, and stay up to date with welfare benefits legislation, case law and best practice. Your work will support the Council's wider aim of helping residents access their full entitlement, reduce financial hardship and receive fair treatment within the welfare benefits system. What you'll need We're looking for someone with substantial experience in a legal or advice setting, particularly in welfare benefits, health, disability and appeals work. You'll need strong specialist knowledge of welfare benefits legislation, case law, tribunal processes and the wider issues affecting people who rely on the benefits system. You'll have experience working with people who may be distressed, financially isolated or facing difficult personal circumstances. You'll need empathy, active listening skills and sound professional judgement. You'll also need good IT skills, including confidence using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet research and computerised case management systems. You must be able to travel within Leicester City and visit clients at home where necessary. Experience of working with the Specialist Quality Mark or an equivalent quality framework would be desirable, but what matters most is your commitment to accurate, ethical and client-focused advice. This role would suit someone who combines legal accuracy with humanity: someone who can build a strong case, explain difficult information clearly, and stand beside residents when they need expert help most. Appointment to this role is subject to a DBS check What we can offer you As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. You'll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working. We'll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from several flexible benefits, including discounts on city buses and trains. For an illustrative value of your benefits package, take a look at our benefits calculator. Join us We're committed to recruiting a diverse and highly talented workforce as we continue to build a Council that is fitting and representative of our great city. That's why we've designed our recruitment process to put you at your ease; make you feel welcome and bring the best out of you. We'll do all we can to make our recruitment process as fair as possible. To help you with your application, look at the ‘our approach to recruitment' page. If you'd like to have a chat before applying, feel free to contact Danni Smith at ***email_hidden***. Interviews / Assessments will take place on the 2nd of June

Region: Central

Location: City Hall

Salary: *GBP*39,152- *GBP*41,771 Per Year

Package: Total benefit value (includes pension contribution and full holiday entitlement): *GBP*56,957.66

Contractual hours: 37

Basis: Full time,

Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / Permanent

About The Job

As a Specialist Welfare Benefits Appeals Officer, you’ll help people in Leicester challenge welfare benefits decisions and secure the income they are entitled to. You’ll provide specialist Tier 3 welfare benefits advice, casework, advocacy and representation, including preparing legally literate appeal submissions, representing clients at Social Security, Disability and Medical Appeals Tribunals, and supporting cases that may progress to Upper Tribunal.

Based in the Council’s Welfare Rights Service, part of Revenues and Benefits, this role protects some of the city’s most financially vulnerable residents, including people affected by disability, ill health, mental health difficulties and financial hardship.

This is not generalist benefits advice. You’ll use legislation, case law, evidence and advocacy skills to challenge decisions, negotiate with benefit authorities and support clients through complex systems at difficult points in their lives.

You’ll also work with statutory and voluntary sector partners to ensure residents receive joined-up support. Our values of confidence, clarity, respectfulness, fairness and accountability will shape how you work every day.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll manage specialist and complex welfare benefits appeal casework from referral through to resolution. A typical day could include reviewing a new referral, scrutinising benefit decisions and evidence, identifying legal arguments, contacting the Department for Work and Pensions or HMRC, preparing written submissions, liaising with medical professionals, updating case records, and representing a client at tribunal.

You Will

• provide specialist welfare benefits advice and casework, which includes assessing complex client circumstances, interpreting welfare benefits legislation and case law, and give clear advice on options, risks and likely outcomes.
• prepare appeals and represent clients with benefit appeals, including First-tier Tribunal, Disability and Medical Appeals Tribunals and, where appropriate, Upper Tribunal matters.
• review referrals, identify the right course of action, gather evidence and liaise with clients, such as DWP, HMRC, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, health professionals, council services and advice partners.
• keep accurate case records, record outcomes and statistics, support service monitoring, contribute to a high-quality advice service, and stay up to date with welfare benefits legislation, case law and best practice.

Your work will support the Council’s wider aim of helping residents access their full entitlement, reduce financial hardship and receive fair treatment within the welfare benefits system.

What You’ll Need

We’re looking for someone with substantial experience in a legal or advice setting, particularly in welfare benefits, health, disability and appeals work. You’ll need strong specialist knowledge of welfare benefits legislation, case law, tribunal processes and the wider issues affecting people who rely on the benefits system.

You’ll have experience working with people who may be distressed, financially isolated or facing difficult personal circumstances. You’ll need empathy, active listening skills and sound professional judgement.

You’ll also need good IT skills, including confidence using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet research and computerised case management systems. You must be able to travel within Leicester City and visit clients at home where necessary.

Experience of working with the Specialist Quality Mark or an equivalent quality framework would be desirable, but what matters most is your commitment to accurate, ethical and client-focused advice.

This role would suit someone who combines legal accuracy with humanity: someone who can build a strong case, explain difficult information clearly, and stand beside residents when they need expert help most.

Appointment to this role is subject to a DBS check

What We Can Offer You

As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. You’ll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working. We’ll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from several flexible benefits, including discounts on city buses and trains. For an illustrative value of your benefits package, take a look at our benefits calculator.

Join us

We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly talented workforce as we continue to build a Council that is fitting and representative of our great city. That’s why we’ve designed our recruitment process to put you at your ease; make you feel welcome and bring the best out of you. We’ll do all we can to make our recruitment process as fair as possible. To help you with your application, look at the ‘our approach to recruitment’ page.

If you’d like to have a chat before applying, feel free to contact Danni Smith at ***email_hidden***.

Interviews / Assessments will take place on the 2nd of June