Verification Assurance Officer

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

Salary: £37,664 per annum
Location: Multiple locations across London
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible Working and Job Share
Working Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time)
Job Grade: Executive Officer (EO)
Vacancies: 50
Reference Number: 487240
Closing Date: 10 November 2026 at 11:55 pm
Visa Sponsorship: New Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not available. Limited transitional provisions apply to certain existing Skilled Worker visa holders sponsored before 4 April 2024.

Job Overview

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 earn £37,664 per year while helping protect the UK’s welfare system by identifying suspicious claims, checking supporting evidence and preventing potential fraud involving Universal Credit.

Successful candidates will conduct face-to-face customer interviews, examine documents and work with Jobcentre and Service Centre colleagues to ensure that customers provide accurate information when claiming benefits.

You will also help customers understand their responsibilities and support colleagues in recognising and reporting suspected fraudulent activity.

Important: These positions are fully office-based. Hybrid and home working are not available because the role requires face-to-face customer interviews and collaboration with Jobcentre colleagues.

Available Job Locations

Successful applicants may be appointed to any of the following London locations:

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

Applicants can select up to three preferred locations and provide two additional preferences during the application process.

You should only choose locations you can reasonably travel to every day.

Key Responsibilities

As a Verification Assurance Officer, your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting initial and further evidence interviews with Universal Credit claimants.
• Investigating the authenticity and validity of documents relating to identity, housing costs, children and childcare costs.
• Working with Jobcentre and Service Centre teams to identify and prevent potential fraud.
• Conducting customer review meetings and examining supporting evidence.
• Identifying fraud patterns and sharing intelligence with specialist DWP teams.
• Providing feedback and guidance to colleagues on recognising potential fraud.
• Delivering customer education sessions about responsibilities and the consequences of non-compliance.
• Maintaining accurate records and management information.

You may also need to travel between different Jobcentre locations depending on operational requirements.

Essential Skills and Experience

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong customer engagement skills and experience conducting effective face-to-face interviews.
• Ability to build rapport, ask appropriate questions and gather relevant information.
• Ability to work at pace, meet tight deadlines and maintain quality.
• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues, stakeholders and wider teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to identify opportunities for improvement.

Lead Criteria: Customer engagement and effective face-to-face interviewing skills.

Second Lead Criteria: Ability to work at pace, meet deadlines and identify better ways of working.

These are particularly important during the application sift. Applicants should provide clear examples demonstrating both abilities in their personal statements.

Qualifications and Training

A mandatory degree qualification is not specified in the job advert.

Successful applicants will receive role-specific training and development. Initial training can last up to eight weeks, during which employees must work full-time.

Further development opportunities may include work-based professional qualifications and apprenticeships.

Applicants with a Level 3 qualification (equivalent to two A-levels) are advised to bring their certificates to the interview if available.

Working Hours and Flexibility

The standard full-time working week is 37 hours.

Working hours may fall within the following periods:

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

Part-time working, job sharing and alternative working arrangements will be considered, subject to business requirements.

Please note that this is a fully office-based position. Hybrid and home working are not available.

Salary and Employee Benefits

The successful candidates will receive an annual salary of £37,664, alongside a comprehensive Civil Service benefits package, including:

• Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• At least 23 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service.
• Nine days of public and privilege leave.
• Flexible working arrangements, including job sharing and compressed hours where operationally possible.
• Funded learning and professional development opportunities.
• Coaching, mentoring and career progression programmes.
• Interest-free season ticket loans.
• Cycle to Work scheme and employee discounts.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support.
• Enhanced maternity and shared parental leave policies after one year of continuous service.

Visa Sponsorship Information

New Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not available for these vacancies.

The advert states that limited transitional provisions apply to certain existing Skilled Worker visa holders who were sponsored before 4 April 2024.

Any sponsorship requests will be considered in line with DWP guidance and Home Office immigration rules. Sponsorship is not guaranteed.

Other important conditions include:

• The role must be performed in the UK.
• Working from overseas is not permitted.
• Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

International applicants who require a new Skilled Worker visa should carefully consider these restrictions before applying.

Application and Selection Process

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

Stage 1: Application Form

Applicants must complete the initial application form with their personal details, eligibility information and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2: Online Test

Candidates will be invited to complete the Civil Service Work Strengths Test after submitting the initial application.

Applicants are advised to complete the test within 24–48 hours of receiving the invitation.

The test must be completed before 10 November 2026 at 11:55 pm. Failure to complete it before the deadline will result in withdrawal of the application.

Stage 3: Curriculum Vitae

Candidates who pass the online test will be asked to provide their employment history, qualifications, skills and relevant experience through the online CV section.

You do not need to upload a personal CV.

Stage 4: Personal Statement

Applicants must submit a personal statement of no more than 750 words explaining how their skills and experience meet the person specification.

Particular attention should be given to:

• Customer engagement and conducting effective face-to-face interviews.
• Working at pace, meeting deadlines and identifying improvements.

Examples can come from previous employment, education, volunteering or other relevant activities.

Stage 5: Face-to-Face Interview

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

The interview will assess behaviours and strengths, including:

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

Candidates are encouraged to prepare examples using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action and Result) or WHO approach.

Interview Dates: 5 January – 22 January 2027
Expected Job Offers: Week commencing 15 February 2027
Expected Start Date: March or April 2027, subject to pre-employment checks.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit their applications through the official Civil Service Jobs website.

Employer: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Reference Number: 487240
Closing Date: 10 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

If you have relevant customer service, interviewing or administrative experience, this opportunity may be worth considering.

Before applying, ensure you understand the fully office-based working arrangements, location requirements and visa sponsorship restrictions.