Income Maximisation Officer

Job Description

Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Salary: PO1 £41,133 - £43,680

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (12 months)

Working hours per week: 36

Application Deadline: 25/02/2026

Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC

Reference: 2012

About Us:

Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work.

We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.

London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.

The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.

About the role:

As an Income Maximisation Officer, you will help residents improve their financial stability so they can sustain their tenancies and avoid homelessness. You will assess household income, identify benefit entitlements, submit claims, and provide advice on Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and other financial support.

You will support residents with budgeting, accessing grants, and applying for the Flexible Support Fund, including assistance with rent arrears You will wprk closely with Housing teams,, and external agencies to resolve complex cases and advocate for residents where needed.

The role involves maintaining accurate case records, producing action plans, and contributing to early‑intervention and prevention work across the service. Strong communication skills and the ability to explain benefit decisions clearly are essential.

>> Click here to download the Role Profile <<

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert advice on income‑related support, including welfare benefits, tax credits, grants and allowances, ensuring residents at risk of homelessness receive accurate and timely guidance.
• Conduct visits, interviews and case assessments to identify financial needs, develop tailored action plans and deliver targeted interventions that help residents maximise income and sustain their accommodation.
• Identify residents requiring support through referrals, data‑analysis tools and community engagement, ensuring early and proactive intervention.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with the DWP, Citizens Advice, Housing Benefits, credit unions and voluntary and statutory agencies to coordinate support and secure positive outcomes for residents.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of income‑related legislation and welfare reforms, communicating complex information clearly to residents, colleagues and partner organisations.
• Keep accurate case records, prepare reports and ensure all work complies with Council policies, safeguarding requirements and relevant housing legislation.

Projects or Initiatives

• Support income‑maximisation initiatives within the Housing Sustainment Team, contributing to prevention‑focused approaches that reduce the risk of homelessness.
• Build local community networks and utilise community assets to improve access to financial resources, support services and sustainable solutions for residents.

Qualifications and Requirements:

To be considered for this position, you should meet the following requirements:

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) including Maths and English.
• A degree, equivalent qualification, or relevant vocational qualification in a related field.
• Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development.

Relevant Experience and Skills

• Experience providing advice on income maximisation, welfare benefits and financial support, ideally within a housing or community‑based environment.
• Experience working directly with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and managing complex casework.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly in writing and verbally.
• Ability to assess and manage risk, work independently, prioritise tasks and respond sensitively to challenging situations.
• Ability to empathise, provide non‑judgemental person‑centred support and build positive relationships with residents and partner agencies.

Software and Tools Proficiency

• Confident using IT systems, including word processing, email and internet‑based tools to produce plans, reports and case documentation.

Physical Requirements

• No specific physical requirements noted, though occasional work from different locations within the borough may be required.

Terms and conditions:

The below terms and conditions apply to this role:

Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;

Satisfactory declaration of interest;

This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/ or vulnerable adults;

Satisfactory DBS check;

As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role. This requirement does not refer to any particular English language qualifications, regional or international accents, dialects, speech impediments or the tone of conversations. It does not require staff to speak only in English.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.

To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.

We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.

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.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Phillida Chimara, Housing Sustainment Manager at phillida.chimara@walthamforest.gov.uk or 0208 496 6538 .

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Click here for further information on the Human Resources recruitment privacy notice.