Income & Welfare Benefits Officer

Income & Welfare Benefits Officer (Supported Housing)

Location: Littlemore, Oxfordshire (hybrid working considered)
Salary: £25 Umbrella
Full-time, Temporary

Are you passionate about helping people sustain their homes while ensuring income stability across supported housing services?
We’re looking for an experienced Income & Welfare Benefits Officer to join a forward-thinking housing provider on a contract basis — helping residents manage rent, maximise benefits, and maintain secure tenancies.

The Role

As an Income & Welfare Benefits Officer, you’ll manage a caseload of around 200–250 residents across supported accommodation schemes. You’ll take a proactive approach to rent collection, arrears recovery, and welfare benefit advice, helping residents stay on top of their finances while protecting rental income for the service.

You’ll be a key part of the Estates team — liaising closely with Finance, Housing, and Support colleagues to ensure rent accounts are accurate, arrears are minimised, and residents receive the right advice and interventions at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor rent accounts, ensuring payments, Housing Benefit and Universal Credit transactions are accurate and up to date.
• Identify and resolve account discrepancies, misallocations or delays in benefit payments.
• Provide specialist welfare benefits advice to residents to maximise income and prevent arrears.
• Negotiate repayment arrangements, prepare court documentation, and attend hearings where required.
• Support tenancy sustainment by balancing enforcement with empathy and support.
• Deliver training or guidance to staff on rent collection and welfare benefits.
• Produce reports and dashboards on arrears, recovery, and financial performance.

About You

You’ll bring a strong background in income management, rent recovery, or welfare benefits advice, ideally within housing or supported accommodation settings. You’ll have a working knowledge of Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, and the Pre-Action Protocol for Rent Arrears, and you’ll be confident navigating housing management systems and finance data.

Most importantly, you’ll combine financial accuracy and enforcement expertise with a compassionate, person-centred approach — supporting residents to sustain their homes while meeting organisational goals.

What You’ll Need

-  Proven experience in rent collection, arrears management or welfare benefits
- Strong understanding of Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and welfare reform
- Excellent communication and negotiation skill

 - Ability to manage a large caseload and prioritise effectively
 - Experience supporting vulnerable adults or residents in supported housing

Why Apply?

This is a great opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives while using your technical expertise to keep vital housing services financially sustainable. You’ll join a dedicated, values-driven team that’s caring, safe, creative, and aspirational — working together to ensure every resident has the best possible chance of success.

This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of Greenacre Recruitment Ltd who are operating as a recruitment agency and business.