Benefits, Overpayments & Intervention Assistant, Pullar House, Perth - Internal

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Benefits, Overpayments & Intervention Assistant (Fixed Term until 31 March 2026) - PKC12582
£26,766 - £29,131
Pullar House, Perth

Please note: Only existing employees of Perth & Kinross Council may apply.

An opportunity has arisen for the post of Benefits, Overpayments & Interventions Assistant. As part of a busy team within the Revenues and Benefits service, the successful candidate will perform administrative duties to support the effective delivery of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.

The main duties of this post include:

• Administrative tasks to support the effective delivery of a Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction service.
• Run routine database reports and jobs as part of schedule or as directed by Team Leader or Benefits Officers.
• Handle incoming digital and postal communication to ensuring accurate recording on customer records.
• As part of a rota, handle incoming calls through our team's customer service line.
• Provide customers and stakeholders with general advice regarding Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.
• Provide support to customers to access our online and digital services.
• Instigate proceedings to successfully recover overpayments of Housing Benefit, negotiating affordable payment arrangements and monitoring.
• Issue written communication to commence reviews of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction entitlements.
• Request and gather information and evidence from customers.
• Play a key role in national fraud and error initiatives.
• Complete statistical returns to local and national Governments.
• Prioritise tasks to assist with accurate decisions, within timescales that allow for payment, preventing financial hardship.
• Work as part of a busy team providing support to colleagues to achieve the best outcome for our customers.
• Communicate with our customers regarding decisions, outcomes and reasoning using a variety of methods (including face to face, telephone, email and in writing).
• Provide a service to our customers which is considerate of confidentiality and handle sensitive information demonstrating dignity and respect.
• Accurate management of records, notes and files to ensure compliance with appropriate legislation and audit requirements.
• Working with internal and external customers to ensure that our customers receive support, guidance and advice from other services both inside and outside of the Council.

Skills & Experience Required

There is no requirement for a recognised technical qualification, however, the successful candidate must possess excellent numeracy and communication skills which can be demonstrated through attained qualifications or relevant experience.

To be effective in this role you will:

• Have excellent prioritisation and organisation skills to a manage a workload with minimal supervision.
• Work as part of a team.
• Be able to thrive in a fast paced and demanding environment.
• Exercise knowledge and understanding of the wider welfare system.
• Be customer focused.  Use a variety of communication methods to deliver a high standard of customer service which will show understanding, empathy and awareness of our customer's circumstances.  
• Demonstrate sensitivity when handling information, maintain confidentiality and support our customers with dignity and respect.
• Maintain a positive approach and be willing to make an effective contribution to the continuous improvement of service provision.
• Work with others both internally and externally to ensure that our customers receive the right help, support and advice at the earliest opportunity via onward referral processes.
• Be open to enhancing skills and play an active role in personal development.
• Have excellent IT skills with a good working knowledge of the Microsoft Office 365 suite of packages.
• Have a good knowledge of Local Government services and purpose.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs

We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Gordon Stewart, Team Leader on 01738 476139 to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses.  One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post.  Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments.  Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements.  That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists.  Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.