Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit Overpayment Recovery Officer – £36,693 to £40,575 per Year

Employer: London Borough of Newham
Location: Newham, London, United Kingdom
Salary: £36,693–£40,575 per annum
Job Type: Full-time, fixed-term contract
Contract Duration: 18 months
Work Arrangement: On-site
Closing Date: 18 October 2026
Visa Sponsorship: Not stated in the advert

Job Overview

The London Borough of Newham is recruiting a Housing Benefit Overpayment Recovery Officer to join its Overpayment Team in London.

This role offers an annual salary of £36,693 to £40,575 and an 18-month fixed-term contract. The successful candidate will help the council recover outstanding Housing Benefit overpayments while dealing with customers professionally, fairly and compassionately.

The position is suited to someone with strong communication and negotiation skills who can manage debt recovery cases, maintain accurate records and work effectively with people from different backgrounds.

Applicants should be comfortable handling challenging situations, arranging repayments and supporting vulnerable customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties.

Important: The advert does not confirm whether Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available. Applicants who require sponsorship should contact the council to confirm eligibility before applying.

Key Responsibilities

As a Housing Benefit Overpayment Recovery Officer, your duties will include:

• Tracing debtors to establish their current addresses and help secure repayment of outstanding debts.
• Negotiating realistic and sustainable repayment arrangements in line with council policies.
• Managing and maintaining Housing Benefit overpayment accounts accurately.
• Updating computer systems with current and factual information.
• Working with colleagues to reduce the amount of outstanding debt owed to the council.
• Referring vulnerable customers or people experiencing financial difficulties to appropriate debt advice and support services.
• Ensuring debt recovery activities comply with relevant legislation, council procedures and data protection requirements.

Requirements and Skills

The council is looking for a proactive, resilient and customer-focused individual who can demonstrate the following qualities:

• Confidence when dealing with challenging situations.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• The ability to encourage customers to commit to repayment arrangements.
• A firm but fair approach to debt recovery.
• Self-motivation, persistence and a target-driven attitude.
• The ability to work professionally and empathetically with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent customer service and teamwork skills.
• The ability to learn quickly, adapt to changing circumstances and meet deadlines.
• A flexible, practical and solution-focused approach to work.

Candidates should review the official job description for the full role requirements and selection criteria.

Salary and Contract Details

Successful applicants will receive a salary of £36,693 to £40,575 per year.

The position is offered on a full-time basis under an 18-month fixed-term contract. The role is based on-site in Newham, London.

The advert does not specify the weekly working hours or confirm whether relocation assistance is available.

Is Visa Sponsorship Available?

Visa sponsorship status: Not confirmed.

The job advertisement does not explicitly state that the London Borough of Newham will sponsor applicants under the UK Skilled Worker visa route.

Candidates applying from outside the UK or those who need a new Certificate of Sponsorship should contact the recruitment team to establish whether sponsorship is available for this particular vacancy.

Do not assume that sponsorship is available simply because the position is advertised by a local authority.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through the official recruitment listing.

Applicants are required to submit a supporting statement explaining how they meet the criteria for the position. The statement must be no more than two A4 pages.

Please note the following application instructions:

• Address the requirements and selection criteria in your supporting statement.
• Explain how your skills and experience relate to the responsibilities of the role.
• Remove personal information from uploaded documents, as the council operates an anonymised recruitment process.
• If you are a current London Borough of Newham employee applying for a secondment, inform your line manager first. Secondments require agreement from your current employing service.

Appointments involving relevant safeguarding responsibilities may also be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Application Deadline

18 October 2026

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the closing date.

Official Application Link

Apply for the Housing Benefit Overpayment Recovery Officer position

Employer: London Borough of Newham

For the full job description, review the official job description document.

About the Employer

The London Borough of Newham is an East London local authority with strong public transport connections, including bus, Underground and Docklands Light Railway services.

The borough includes Stratford, the Royal Docks and areas surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is also home to the University of East London and Westfield Stratford City.

Newham states that it is committed to creating an inclusive and anti-racist working environment, with applications considered on their merits.

Frequently Asked Application Questions

1. What is the salary for this position?

The advertised salary is £36,693 to £40,575 per year.

2. Is this a permanent job?

No. The vacancy is offered on an 18-month fixed-term contract.

3. Where is the job based?

The role is on-site in the London Borough of Newham, East London.

4. Does the employer offer visa sponsorship?

The advert does not confirm visa sponsorship. Applicants requiring sponsorship should contact the council before applying.

5. What documents are required?

Applicants must provide a supporting statement of no more than two A4 pages explaining how they meet the role’s criteria. Uploaded documents should not contain personal information because recruitment is anonymised.

6. When is the closing date?

The closing date is 18 October 2026.

Final Note

This opportunity may appeal to applicants interested in local government, customer service, financial administration and debt recovery.