SBHA
Welfare Benefits Officer (Fixed term for 6 months)
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This application requires candidates to submit a CV and a supporting statement, please ensure you have these prepared before continuing with your application. Your full employment history, qualifications and detail of how you meet the essential criteria for this post are required. Please see the Guidance for Applicants page on our career site for more details.
Salary: £37,422 to £41,335 per annum (pay award pending)
Location: Selkirk, with travel across the Scottish Borders as required
Hours and terms: Full-time, 35 hours per week (potential to consider part-time 21 hours per week), fixed-term contract for 6 months
Closing Date: 16 September 2026
The Role:
We are looking for an experienced Welfare Benefits Officer to help tenants maximise their income, reduce financial hardship and sustain their tenancies. You will provide clear, confidential advice and advocacy, manage complex casework and work closely with colleagues and partner organisations to achieve positive customer outcomes.
We are seeking a confident and compassionate professional with strong welfare benefits knowledge, excellent communication skills and experience of supporting people through claims, reconsiderations and appeals. A current driving licence and access to transport are required.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Provide accurate, confidential welfare benefits advice and guidance to tenants.
- Support tenants with benefit claims, changes in circumstances, overpayments, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals.
- Manage welfare benefits casework from initial assessment through to resolution.
- Work proactively with Neighbourhood Housing Officers on complex rent arrears cases to support tenancy sustainment and maximise rental income.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations.
- Analyse service information to identify trends, unmet need and opportunities for targeted support.
- Maintain accurate records using the Association's systems and ensure compliance with data protection requirements.
- Contribute to performance monitoring, service improvement initiatives and continuous improvement activities.
- Provide professional advice and support to tenants and other customers by phone, in writing and face to face.
- Promote inclusive, accessible housing services and support vulnerable tenants where required.
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What we're looking for:
- At least three years' experience in welfare benefits or welfare rights work, with a proven track record of helping people maximise their income.
- Educated to HND level or able to demonstrate equivalent experience.
- Experience of working with the public and external agencies.
- Experience of case management and maintaining accurate records.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with tenants and stakeholders.
- Strong written, numeracy and IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to analyse information, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
- A customer-focused approach and commitment to delivering high-quality services.
- Resilience, problem-solving ability and experience dealing with sensitive and complex situations.
- Ability to work effectively in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.
- A current driving licence and access to your own transport.
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Desirable:
- Knowledge of current issues affecting social housing tenants, understanding of social landlord policies and practices, commitment to community engagement and a commercially aware approach to service delivery.
Please read through the job description by clicking here before applying.
Being part of the SBHA team, you will enjoy a fantastic range of benefits including a competitive salary, flexible working, generous annual leave, stability of employment and a good pension scheme. You will be part of a team that is interested in your wellbeing and development, and work in an environment where you can flourish.
If you are interested in working for SBHA and being part of a team providing a first-class service to the Association’s owned homes and properties in the area, please view job description and person specification before completing your application, and ensure your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
Scottish Borders Housing Association is not a licensed sponsor under the appropriate UK Government regulations and as such, does not invite applications from, nor engage in sponsoring, overseas applicants who do not already have the right to live and /or work in the UK. The Association will not engage in any enquiries or enter into negotiations from individuals or Agents in this regard.
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