Revenues and Welfare Benefits Apprentice - 1871
London Borough of Waltham Forest
London (E17 4JF)
Closes in 9 days (Sunday 7 September 2025)
Posted on 28 August 2025
Contents
Summary
Revenue & Benefits Level 4 Apprenticeship £25,997 Contract: 18 to 24 months Fixed Term, Full time Closing Date: 07/09/2025
- Wage
-
£25,997 a year
- Training course
- Revenues and welfare benefits practitioner (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday
36 hours a week
- Start date
-
Saturday 1 November 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
2
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
The London Borough of Waltham Forest has vacancies for 2 apprenticeship roles within the Benefits Service.
The primary focus of the Benefits Service is the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.
The service also deals with discretionary housing payments, Local Welfare Assistance, the recovery of Housing Benefit overpayments, free school meals, financial assessments, sundry debt recovery and many of the discretionary schemes introduced by central government as a response to the Cost-of-Living Crisis.
The successful candidates will receive training on the job and complete an IRRV level 4 apprenticeship, with one study day per week
Key Responsibilities:
To ensure that all Housing Benefit and Council Tax support records are maintained and administered correctly and appropriate awards are made.
Promote additional support available to customers where financial difficulties are apparent and maximising household income.
Ensure that all necessary evidence and information is requested at the same time. Check correctness of decision letters and edit appropriately before they are sent.
Determine cause(s) where an overpayment is identified and any persons from whom the overpayment is recoverable from.
Appropriate recovery of overpayments and Sundry debts.
Financial assessment for residents receiving care
Deal with telephone and written enquiries from residents, their representatives and stakeholders.
Helping to deliver the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s Mission Statement.
Where you'll work
Waltham Forest Town Hall
Fellowship Square, Forest Road
London
E17 4JF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE INSTITUTE OF REVENUES, RATING AND VALUATION
Training course
Revenues and welfare benefits practitioner (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Consistently deal with customers politely and considerately, adapting your approach to meet customer and employer needs
- Achieve outcomes that the customer wants where possible. Where this is not possible, explain the reasons why. Evaluate and recommend alternative options
- Obtain all required information in the most effective way to allow tasks to be completed, considering each customers individual circumstances
- Interpret and evaluate all information to determine the relevant details for the required task
- Interpret and evaluate information to judge whether there is potential fraud indicated. Refer to the appropriate department where required
- Determine whether a dispute should lead to a change of decision and explain the reasons, using appropriate legislation
- Handle sensitive information securely and in line with current legislative requirements
- Analyse and use information and legislation to calculate amounts due when a customer first contacts your department (e.g. new claims or new accounts)
- Analyse and use information and legislation to correctly deal with changes in customers circumstances, recalculating amounts due where required
- Provide justification for any inferences drawn from available information
- Decide on the best method of recovery by evaluating the customers circumstances. Act on this judgment to start recovery of amounts due
- Use judgement to deal correctly with non-routine situations that arise
- Adapt your communication style and method to meet the individuals needs
- Communicate confidently by being personable, asking insightful questions and being able to negotiate effectively and respectfully
- Undertake activities to ensure knowledge stays current
- Take appropriate action within the limits of your authority to solve problems or make relevant colleagues aware of them
- Make accurate decisions based on the information available
- Support team members to achieve the best outcome for the team
- Request assistance or authorisation when required
- Communicate with other departments to achieve required outcomes
- Proficiently use the systems available to achieve tasks
- Refer to processes to determine the action to be taken
- Evaluate the customers financial position, assisting with personal budgeting where appropriate, or directing the customer to appropriate support
Training schedule
Level 4 Revenues and Welfare Benefits Practitioner apprenticeship standard, including Functional Skills in English and maths if required.
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
Other requirements
The successful candidate will have proven skills and experience in a customer facing environment, a basic understanding of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, together with the ability to meet demanding performance targets. Demonstrate the ability to read and understand complex legislation and written procedures and policies which will be evidenced in part by a minimum of 5 Grade C/4 or above GCSE Have a qualification in math and English at Grade C/4 or above GCSE's or Level 2 Functional Skills in math and English Demonstrate the ability to organise and prioritise a challenging and varied workload and know when to approach colleagues for assistance. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the importance of the services provided by local authority including the ways in which these services are funded
About this employer
Waltham Forest Council is ambitious and bursting with energy and opportunity. Over the coming year we will build on our incredible year as the Mayor’s first London borough of Culture 2019. Working with our communities to set out what we want Waltham Forest to be by 2030; this relates to the ever-changing world/ climate emergency, and what that means for the services and infrastructure that we provide. We need to make sure that everything we do today supports that vision,
Company benefits
For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/find-jobs-and-other-opportunities/working-us.
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
To be confirmed
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Laura.Diaz-Campos
laura.diaz-campos@walthamforest.gov.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000339318.
Apply now
Closes in 9 days (Sunday 7 September 2025)
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