Verification Assurance Officer

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

Job Overview

• Salary: £37,664 per year
• Location: Multiple locations across London
• Contract: Permanent
• Job Grade: Executive Officer (EO)
• Job Type: Operational Delivery
• Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
• Number of Vacancies: 50
• Visa Sponsorship: New Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available to applicants who do not qualify under the specified transitional arrangements.
• Closing Date: 10 November 2026 at 11:55 pm
• Reference Number: 487240
• Employer: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The Department for Work and Pensions is recruiting 50 Verification Assurance Officers to help prevent fraud, strengthen verification processes and protect the welfare system. This permanent opportunity is suited to candidates with strong customer engagement, interviewing, communication and organisational skills.

Successful candidates will work directly in Jobcentre locations, helping colleagues identify suspicious documents, verify Universal Credit claims and improve fraud prevention.

About the Role

As a Verification Assurance Officer, you will work alongside Jobcentre and Service Centre colleagues to identify potential fraud at the earliest stage. You will help ensure that claims are supported by valid evidence, reduce customer debt and improve awareness of claimant responsibilities.

The role involves face-to-face customer interviews, evidence verification, collaboration with colleagues and sharing information about fraud trends with specialist teams.

Important: This role must be performed from a Jobcentre location. Hybrid and home working are not available. Frequent travel between sites may also be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct initial and follow-up evidence interviews with customers.
• Investigate concerns about documents relating to identity, housing costs, children and childcare costs for Universal Credit claims.
• Carry out verification activities and review meetings involving customers and the Enhanced Review Team.
• Work closely with Jobcentre and Service Centre colleagues to identify and prevent potential fraud.
• Share information about fraud trends and suspicious patterns during office meetings.
• Provide relevant information to DWP specialist risk and intelligence teams.
• Lead customer education sessions to explain claimant responsibilities and the consequences of non-compliance.
• Maintain accurate management information as directed by analysts and performance teams.

Essential Skills and Experience

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Strong customer engagement and face-to-face interviewing skills, including the ability to build rapport and gather relevant information.
• The ability to work at pace, meet tight deadlines and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Effective collaboration with colleagues, stakeholders and wider teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

The first two criteria are the lead criteria and are particularly important during the application sift.

Qualifications and Training

The advert does not specify a mandatory degree or a particular professional qualification.

Successful candidates may be required to complete a work-based qualification or apprenticeship as part of their professional development.

Initial training may last up to eight weeks. Full-time attendance will be required during specified training and consolidation periods, including for candidates who normally work part-time.

Candidates who hold a Level 3 qualification, such as two A levels or an equivalent qualification, are advised to bring their certificates to the interview if available.

Salary and Benefits

The annual salary is £37,664, alongside a Civil Service pension with an advertised employer contribution of 28.97%.

Other benefits include:

• At least 23 days of annual leave on entry, increasing to 30 days with service, plus nine days of public and privilege leave.
• Flexible working arrangements, including job sharing, flexi-time, compressed hours and term-time working where business needs permit.
• Interest-free season ticket loans, a cycle-to-work scheme and employee discounts.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support.
• Enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after one year of continuous service.
• Funded learning, development opportunities, coaching and mentoring.
• Opportunities to join professional and staff networks.

Working Hours

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 requirements and provide advance notice of schedules. Alternative working arrangements may be considered, subject to operational needs.

Job Locations

The vacancies are available across several London locations, including:

Barking, Bexleyheath, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Harlesden, Harrow, Hayes, Hendon, Hounslow, Kingston-upon-Thames, Mitcham, Romford, Stratford, Sutton, Twickenham, Uxbridge, Walthamstow, Wandsworth, Woolwich, Edmonton and Barnet.

Applicants can select up to three preferred locations from the application dropdown and provide up to two additional location preferences.

Candidates should select locations they can reasonably travel to every working day. The role can only be performed in the UK, and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.

Visa Sponsorship Information

This vacancy is not currently eligible for new Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for applicants who do not already have permission to be in the UK as a Skilled Worker under the specified transitional arrangements for workers sponsored before 4 April 2024.

The advert states that the role is not included on the published Immigration Salary List. Sponsorship cannot be guaranteed, and any requests will be considered under the relevant DWP guidance and Home Office policy.

Applicants who require new Skilled Worker sponsorship should carefully check their eligibility before applying. Candidates who already hold UK work permission should also confirm that they meet the vacancy’s nationality and right-to-work requirements.

Application and Selection Process

Recruitment will use the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, assessing behaviours, strengths, ability and experience.

Stage 1 – Application Form

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

Stage 2 – Online Test

Eligible applicants will be invited to complete the Civil Service Work Strengths Test. Candidates are advised to complete the test within 24–48 hours of receiving the invitation.

Both the test and the full application must be completed by 11:55 pm on 10 November 2026. Failure to complete the test by the deadline will result in withdrawal from the recruitment process.

Stage 3 – Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Complete the online CV section with your employment history, qualifications, skills and relevant experience. You do not need to upload your personal CV.

The department recommends a maximum of 500 words for the relevant skills and experience section. The CV provides context for your personal statement but will not be formally assessed.

Stage 4 – Personal Statement and Sift

Candidates who achieve the required test score will be asked to submit a personal statement of no more than 750 words.

Your statement should demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the person specification, particularly the two lead criteria:

• Customer engagement and effective face-to-face interviewing.
• Working at pace while meeting deadlines and improving ways of working.

Examples may come from employment, education, volunteering or other relevant activities. Applications will be assessed against the stated criteria.

Stage 5 – Interview

Successful candidates will be invited to a face-to-face blended interview lasting approximately 30–40 minutes.

The interview will include behaviour-based and strengths-based questions. Candidates may find it useful to prepare examples using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action and Result.

The behaviours being assessed are:

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

Interviews are provisionally scheduled for 5–22 January 2027.

Offer and Appointment

Recruitment outcomes are currently expected during the week commencing 15 February 2027. Successful candidates will undergo pre-employment checks, with start dates likely to fall in March or April 2027.

A reserve list may be held for three months.

Recruitment Webinar

A webinar providing further information about the role is scheduled for 2 November 2026, from 12 noon to 1 pm.

Candidates can register using the official link below:

Register for the Verification Assurance Officer Webinar

How to Apply

Read the full vacancy details and complete all required application stages through the official Civil Service Jobs website.

Closing date: 10 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Ensure you complete the application form, online test and written application requirements before the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not progress.