Revenues and Benefits Officer
Also advertised as: Benefits Officer, Business Rates Officer, Council Tax Officer, Housing Benefit Officer, Revenues and Benefits Officer, Revenues Assistant
Assesses council tax accounts and benefit claims to make sure residents pay and receive the right amounts.
What the job involves
Revenues and benefits officers assess claims for housing benefit and council tax support, calculate liabilities and investigate discrepancies. You explain decisions to residents, some of whom are in financial difficulty, and work within strict statutory deadlines. Accuracy matters because errors affect people's household finances directly.
Typical responsibilities
- Assess housing benefit and council tax support claims
- Calculate council tax and business rates liability
- Investigate discrepancies and potential fraud
- Explain decisions to residents and handle appeals
- Maintain accurate records within statutory timescales
Common employers
- Local authorities
- Shared revenues and benefits services
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £27,000 a year
With experience
£29,000 – £36,000 a year
Typical hours
37 hours
Working environment
Office based with hybrid options
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Numeracy
- Casework processing
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- Knowledge of welfare regulations
Transferable skills you may already have
- Financial administration
- Customer service
- Regulatory casework
Requirements employers ask for
- Numeracy
- Casework processing
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- Knowledge of welfare regulations
Useful but not essential
- Financial administration
- Customer service
- Regulatory casework
- Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation qualifications
- Experience in a finance or benefits role
Helpful qualifications
- Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation qualifications
- Experience in a finance or benefits role
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Revenues Officer apprenticeship (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Accounting
- Related subject: Business studies
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Revenues and Benefits Officer
next
Team Leader
next
Fraud Investigation Officer
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Stable public sector role with good pension
- Clear procedures and defined caseloads
- Helps residents access the support they are entitled to
What people find hard
- Explaining refusals to residents in hardship is difficult
- Workload spikes around the financial year end
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a revenues and benefits officer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a revenues and benefits officer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £27,000 a year, rising towards £36,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Financial administration, Customer service, Regulatory casework.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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