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Verification Assurance Officer

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Verification Assurance Officer – Southern | Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Salary: £32,137 per year
Job Grade: Executive Officer (EO)
Job Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
Number of Vacancies: 50
Reference Number: 484126
Closing Date: 27 October 2026 at 11:55 pm
Visa Sponsorship: Not available for most new Skilled Worker sponsorship applicants. Limited exceptions may apply to eligible existing Skilled Worker visa holders sponsored before 4 April 2024, subject to DWP and Home Office rules.

About the Role

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is recruiting 50 Verification Assurance Officers to join its Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt team.

This is an opportunity to help protect the welfare system by identifying and preventing fraud at an early stage. You will work alongside Jobcentre and Service Centre colleagues to investigate concerns about the validity of documents, strengthen verification procedures and help reduce fraud, errors and customer debt.

You will also support customers in understanding their responsibilities when claiming benefits and help colleagues recognise and respond to potential fraud.

Important: This is a fully office-based role in a Jobcentre location. Hybrid and home working are not available because the position requires face-to-face interviews with claimants. Frequent travel between sites may also be required.

Job Locations

The vacancies are available across numerous locations in southern England, including:

Abingdon, Aldershot, Alton, Andover, Aylesbury, Banbury, Barnstaple, Basingstoke, Bath, Bexhill-on-Sea, Bideford, Blandford Forum, Bodmin, Bognor Regis, Bordon, Bournemouth, Bracknell, Bridgwater, Bridport, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Brixham, Bude, Camberley, Cheltenham, Chesham, Chichester, Chippenham, Cinderford, Cirencester, Clevedon, Coleford, Crawley, Devizes, Didcot, Eastbourne, Eastleigh, Epsom, Exeter, Fareham, Farnborough, Frome, Gloucester, Gosport, Guildford, Hastings, Havant, Haywards Heath, Helston, High Wycombe, Honiton, Horsham, Hythe, Launceston, Lewes, Liskeard, Littlehampton, Lymington, Maidenhead, Milton Keynes, Minehead, Newbury, Newport (Isle of Wight), Newquay, Newton Abbot, Oxford, Penryn, Penzance, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Redhill, Redruth, Ringwood, Ryde, Salisbury, Slough, Southampton, St Austell, Staines, Stroud, Swindon, Taunton, Tewkesbury, Tiverton, Torquay, Totnes, Trowbridge, Truro, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Weybridge, Weymouth, Winchester, Witney, Woking, Worthing, Yate and Yeovil.

Location selection: Applicants can select up to three preferred locations from the drop-down list and add up to two further preferences. Choose locations you can reasonably travel to daily. Bristol should be selected for Bishopsworth, Horfield, Kingswood, Shirehampton and Temple Street. Portsmouth should be selected for Cosham.

The role can only be undertaken in the UK. Overseas working is not permitted, and relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

Key Responsibilities

As a Verification Assurance Officer, your duties will include:

  • Working with Jobcentre and Service Centre colleagues to conduct initial and further evidence interviews and verification activities.
  • Investigating concerns about the validity of documents relating to identity, housing costs, children and childcare costs under Universal Credit.
  • Interviewing claimants and reviewing evidence when potential fraud or discrepancies are identified.
  • Conducting customer review meetings with the Enhanced Review Team where required.
  • Sharing information about fraud trends and patterns with colleagues and specialist risk and intelligence teams.
  • Helping educate customers about their responsibilities and the consequences of failing to comply with benefit requirements.
  • Maintaining accurate management information and records as directed by performance teams and analysts.

Essential Skills and Experience

Applicants should demonstrate:

  • Strong customer engagement skills and the ability to conduct effective face-to-face interviews.
  • The ability to build rapport, ask relevant questions and gather accurate information.
  • The ability to work quickly and meet tight deadlines while identifying opportunities for improvement.
  • Strong teamwork and the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

The recruitment process will place particular emphasis on customer engagement and interviewing skills, as well as working at pace and improving ways of working.

Salary and Benefits

The salary is £32,137 per year, with an employer contribution of 28.97% towards the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Other benefits include:

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  • At least 23 days of annual leave on entry, increasing to 30 days with service.
  • Nine days of public and privilege leave.
  • Flexible working arrangements, including job sharing, flexi-time, compressed hours and term-time working, subject to business needs.
  • Interest-free season ticket loans and a cycle-to-work scheme.
  • Employee discounts and financial wellbeing support.
  • Employee assistance and wellbeing services.
  • Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after one year of continuous service.
  • Funded learning, development, coaching, mentoring and potential work-based qualifications.

Working Hours and Training

The standard full-time working week is 37 hours.

Working hours may fall between:

  • Monday to Friday: 7:45 am to 8:00 pm.
  • Saturday: 8:45 am to 5:00 pm.

Managers will agree individual working patterns according to business needs and provide advance notice of schedules.

Part-time and alternative working patterns will be considered where operational requirements allow. However, successful applicants must be available to work full-time during specific training and consolidation periods.

Training is provided: Initial training may last up to eight weeks. Further work-based qualifications or professional development may also be required.

Candidate Webinar

DWP will hold an online information session for candidates on Tuesday 20 October 2026, from 12 noon to 1:00 pm.

The session provides an opportunity to learn more about the role.

Register for the Verification Assurance Officer Candidate Information Session

Application and Selection Process

The recruitment process uses the Civil Service Success Profiles framework and assesses behaviours, strengths, ability and experience.

Stage 1 – Application Form

Complete the online application form with your personal information, eligibility details and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2 – Online Work Strengths Tests

After submitting the application form, you will be invited to complete online Work Strengths Tests. Candidates are advised to complete the tests as soon as possible, preferably within 24–48 hours of receiving the invitation.

Allow at least one hour for the tests, in addition to the time needed to complete the written application. Practice materials and guidance will be provided.

Please note that the testing system is scheduled for maintenance on 25 October 2026 between 12 noon and 1:00 pm.

Stage 3 – CV Details

You will complete an online CV section covering your employment history, qualifications, skills and relevant experience. You do not need to upload a personal CV.

The CV is not formally assessed, but it will provide context for your personal statement.

Stage 4 – Personal Statement and Sift

Candidates who achieve the required test scores will be asked to submit a personal statement of no more than 750 words explaining how their skills and experience meet the person specification.

Use relevant examples from employment, education, volunteering or other activities. The strongest applications should clearly demonstrate customer engagement, effective interviewing, working at pace and continuous improvement.

The sift is scheduled for 2–13 November 2026.

Stage 5 – Face-to-Face Interview

Successful candidates will be invited to a face-to-face interview lasting approximately 30–40 minutes. Interviews are expected to take place between 7 and 18 December 2026, potentially in Exeter, Guildford or Swindon, although another location may be required.

The interview will include behaviour-based and strength-based questions.

Candidates will be assessed against these Civil Service behaviours:

  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating and Influencing

Prepare examples using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action and Result.

Offers and start dates

The department expects to notify candidates of outcomes during the week commencing 11 January 2027. Successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, with start dates likely to fall in February or March 2027.

A reserve list may be held for three months.

Important deadline: All application stages, including the tests and written statements, must be completed by 11:55 pm on 27 October 2026. Failure to complete every required stage by the deadline may result in withdrawal from the recruitment campaign.

Visa Sponsorship Information

This vacancy is not currently eligible for new Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for candidates who do not already hold the qualifying sponsored status specified in the advert.

The advert states that applicants who do not currently have UK Skilled Worker permission sponsored before 4 April 2024 cannot obtain new sponsorship for this vacancy, including through the new entrant tradeable points option, because the role is not included on the published Immigration Salary List.

Any requests are subject to the relevant DWP guidance and Home Office rules, and sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Applicants based outside the UK should carefully check their eligibility before applying. The role must be performed in the UK, and the advert does not permit overseas working.

Additional Information

Successful candidates must complete the required criminal record and baseline personnel security checks. Candidates may also be checked against the Internal Fraud Database.

Applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements. Reasonable adjustments can be requested during the application process.

For recruitment enquiries, contact:

Job contact: CFCD Recruitment Team
Email: CFCD.RECRUITMENTINBOX@DWP.GOV.UK

How to Apply

Read the complete vacancy details, confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements, select suitable locations and complete all required application stages before the deadline.

Closing date: 27 October 2026 at 11:55 pm.

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