Housing Professional

Appeals Officer – Housing Benefit Enfield Contract £25.47 per hour PAYE or £32 per hour limited paid via umbrella company inside IR35 Our client is looking for an experienced is looking for a Appeals Officer – Housing Benefit We are looking to recruit an experienced Appeals Officer to provide short-term specialist capacity to progress a defined set of Housing Benefit appeals relating to Specified Accommodation (Exempt Accommodation). Many of the appeals are identical and will be progressed using a test case approach (i.e., preparing a sample of cases for submission to the First-tier Tribunal, with consistent submissions/bundles to support the wider cohort). Due to the length of the contract (3 Months), the postholder is not expected to represent the Council at First-tier Tribunal hearings. The focus of the role is on preparing Tribunal-ready submissions and bundles to the required standard and timescales. Key responsibilities Review and manage a defined caseload of Housing Benefit appeals relating to Specified / Exempt Accommodation. Prepare First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) documentation, including (as appropriate): Statements of Case / written submissions Evidence schedules and indexed, paginated bundles Chronologies and issue summaries Consistent “test case” submission packs where appeals are identical Ensure submissions meet Tribunal expectations and statutory/procedural deadlines. Maintain accurate case notes/records on relevant systems and ensure information governance requirements are met. Essential knowledge and experience This is one of many roles we are recruiting for please visit our website colbernlimited co uk Substantial experience in Housing Benefit administration, with a strong focus on appeals or dispute resolution. Proven experience preparing appeals for the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber), including drafting submissions and compiling evidence bundles. Strong working knowledge of Specified Accommodation / Exempt Accommodation, including the care, support and supervision tests and how to evidence findings. Ability to interpret and apply Housing Benefit legislation, relevant guidance and case law to produce defensible decisions and submissions. Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, structured and legally robust documents. Strong organisational skills, able to work at pace, manage deadlines, and prioritise to deliver outputs within a short fixed-term assignment. Desirable experience Experience dealing with appeals involving Community Interest Companies (CICs), including issues such as contrivance, commerciality, and breach of asset lock arguments. Experience supporting a lead/test case strategy across multiple linked appeals. Temporary – up to 3 months The role will cease once identified Housing Benefit Specified Accommodation appeals have been prepared and submitted to Tribunal. Responsible to Senior Appeals Officer / Appeals Team Leader / Benefits Manager PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES colbernlimited co uk The first part of our recruitment process is to send your CV. Should you be short listed Colbern Limited will contact you within 5 days or we may contact you about other job opportunities. Colbern Limited along with our clients are an equal opportunities employer