Overpayment Officer

PURPOSE:

To contribute towards the operation of a team under taking the collection and recovery of benefit overpayments together with the Business Improvement District Levy ensuring that work is efficiently processed within given timescales and customers receive accurate and timely information in accordance with legislation and Council policy.

Assist Payments Officer to ensure that housing benefit customers receive the correct payment within agreed time limits and that the necessary control mechanisms are applied.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Please note decision making must be included within the Principal Accountabilities

To contribute to the day to day operation of the overpayment team, providing an efficient and effective service in response to overpayment & BID levy queries from internal and external customers whilst ensuring minimum financial loss to the authority.

Statutory Obligations - Review and reclassify overpayment subsidy classifications to ensure the accurate recording of financial and statistical returns to central government.

Develop and maintain an advanced knowledge of current legislation, guidance and best practice. Within an ever changing environment, support colleagues to encourage innovation, motivation, understanding and vision. You will be able to work under minimal supervision.

To make decisions on the recoverability and collection of overpayments in line with procedures and individual financial circumstances. To negotiate repayment of overpayments monitoring and reviewing payment plans.

To administer recovery of the collection of the BID Levy on the Revenues and Benefits database accurately within predetermined targets and deadlines within a performance driven culture, in order to achieve a quality based, customer focussed service delivery ensuring minimum financial loss to the authority. To arrange enforcement of BID Levy in line with procedures and legislation.

To provide an efficient and effective service in response to overpayment & BID levy queries from internal and external customers.

Qualifications:

GCSE (Grade 4-9) Or,

One of the following qualifications in a work related area;

- Key Skills level 2, or equivalent

- BTEC First Diplomas and certificates

4 GCSE’s including English and Maths at grade 4 or above

ECDL or equivalent

OCN accredited course in Welfare Benefits (NVQ3).

Relevant Experience:

Experience of working towards measured targets and conflictingdeadlines, both individually and as a team.

Experience of providing a high level of service to customers through a variety of access channels including: telephone, face to face, written and electronic mail.

Work experience includes Housing Benefits or Debt recovery experience which demonstrates a required level of output and quality.

Experience of understanding, Housing Benefit legislation.

Experience of dealing with the public in sensitive situations, with an awareness of the needs of disadvantageous groups within communities and equality of opportunity in service delivery.

Experience of using Revenues and Benefit systems including workflow systems or equivalent.