NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE

JOB DESCRIPTION

Date issued: November 2006 Post No:

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Job Title: Benefits Officer

Service/Unit Area: Revenues and Benefits

Grade: 4 – 6 (Career Graded)

Hours: Full time or Job Share/Part Time

Responsible to: Senior Revenues Officer or Senior Benefits Officer

Responsible for: None

Contacts: Customers, External Collection Agents, CAB, DWP,

JobCentre Plus, Magistrates and County Courts,
Social Services, Employers, Landlords/Housing
Associations, Rent Officer Service, Estate Agents,
Statutory Undertakings, Registrar of Births, Deaths
and Marriages

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Job Summary:

Responsible for the administration all aspects of Council Tax and Business Rates
from the raising of accounts to final recovery. To receive, verify and process claims
for Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

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Key Responsibilities:

1 Principal Responsibilities

Revenues

To deal with customers by letter, Email or telephone.

To provide up-to-date, quality advice to customers on Council Tax and Business

Rates matters.

To maintain a detailed knowledge of Council Tax and Business Rates legislation,

including keeping up-to-date with all ODPM Circulars and the use of the application
systems, including the understanding and processing of exception reports and the
verifying of documentation before despatch to the public.

To ensure that all accounts are properly maintained and that accounts are opened
and closed in a timely and accurate manner. To carry out investigations to ensure
that all relevant information is obtained and actioned.
To identify and apply Discounts and Exemptions, including Student Status, for
Council Tax having firstly obtained the required proof and to assist with the rolling
surveys to verify ongoing entitlement.

To accurately maintain accounts for Council Tax, identify and process cases where
cash transfers and/or Refunds are required.

To negotiate payment arrangements and to reset instalments as appropriate.

To set up Direct Debits through AUDDIS and accept and process telephone
payments by Debit/Credit Card.

Benefits

To deal with customers by letter, Email or telephone.

To provide up-to-date, quality advice to customers on Benefit matters. To have an

understanding of and be able to advise customers about other Welfare Benefits.

To maintain a detailed knowledge of Benefit legislation, including keeping up-to-

date with all DWP Circulars and the use of the application systems, including the
understanding and processing of exception reports and the verifying of
documentation before despatch to the public.

To receive, verify, evaluate and process claims for Housing and Council Tax Benefit
within fourteen days and ensure that payment is made on account where
appropriate. To identify those cases where back-dating would be appropriate.

In respect of Rent Allowance cases, to obtain information regarding accommodation

and rent elements sufficient for referral to the Rent Officer. To implement legislation
in respect of rent restrictions, with due consideration to the personal circumstances
of the applicant and subsidy implications.

To be aware of the subsidy implications when processing claims and where

possible take action to prevent any penalties to the Council. To be aware of any
possible fraudulent claims and refer these in the first instance to the Investigations
Manager. To initially identify any overpayment and refer these to the Recovery
Section.

Recovery

To deal with customers by letter, Email and telephone in relation to the recovery of
debts in respect of various taxes and miscellaneous debts and payment matters,
having particular regard for the Council’s commitment to Customer Care.

To provide up-to-date, quality advice to customers on recovery matters including

debt management and knowledge of external agencies.

To maintain a detailed knowledge of relevant legislation, including keeping up-to-

date with all ODPM Circulars and the use of the application systems, including the
understanding and processing of exception reports and the verifying of
documentation before despatch to the public.

To enter into payment arrangements having regard for the individual circumstances
of the debtor and the need for efficient collection.

To assist with the monitoring of Special Arrangements, including those imposed by

the Courts and to ensure that further action is taken when these are not maintained,
including referral back to the Court where appropriate.
 To ensure that payments made directly to the Council for Council Tax, Non
Domestic Rates, Sundry Debts and Housing Benefit Overpayments, where the debt
is held by an External Collector are reported on, on a daily basis to the appropriate
Collection Agent.

To select cases for application to the Magistrates Court for Liability Orders and
Committal Orders and to prepare both documentation and evidence for these.

The referral of and subsequent service of debt sent to external collection agencies,
on-going monitoring, liaison and return.

Personal contact with customers

Provide a seamless reception service at Town Lodge to customers dealing with all
enquiries relating to Council Tax (up to Liability Order stage) and Housing and
Council Tax Benefit.

Or

Provide a reception service at Town Lodge to customers dealing with all enquiries
relating to Council Tax (from Liability Order stage) and recovery of all other income
to the Council. To prosecute the Council’s cases in hearings at the Magistrates
Court in respect of applications for Liability Orders and Committal Orders and
ensure that any follow up action is carried out.

2 Staff Management

None

3 Service Management

None

4 Financial Responsibilities

To work within the Council's Standing Orders for Contracts and Financial
Regulations.

5 Other Responsibilities

To ensure that all dealings with staff and the public are conducted within the
Council's Equal Opportunities framework.

To comply with all relevant legislation to ensure effectiveness in the role.

To have regard for the duty of care of information (with particular reference to the
Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act) gained during the course of
employment that relates to other employees, the public, contractors, Elected
Members etc.

The job holder has a personal responsibility, whilst at work, to preserve and
enhance health and safety. They must familiarise themselves with the health
and safety aspects of their work and avoid contact which would put at risk
the health and safety of themselves and other people including visitors,
contractors and members of the public.

To undertake other duties which may arise or as may be delegated from time to
time, appropriate to the grade of the post.
Signed…………………………… Manager Date……………

Signed…………………………… Employee Date…………..

Level 1: Specialism in either Revenues, Benefits or Recovery.

Level 2: Specialism in any two of Revenues, Benefits or Recovery. NOTE – One

Accounts Officer post will specialise in Business Rate administration in
addition to Council Tax. The duties will be similar to those for Council Tax
but will require additional specialist Business Rate knowledge, especially in
the area of Exemptions, Reliefs, Transition, Interest and Tax. This post will
qualify for level 2.

Level 3: As level 2 with the addition of regular performance of “Personal Contact with
Customers”.