Welfare Benefits Volunteer

What You'll Do: 

Dealing with initial enquiries:

  • Gathering initial information from online enquiries
  • Researching the client’s issue
  • Identifying further relevant questions and gathering information from the client by phone
  • Identifying non-benefits issues and signposting to other services internally and externally
  • Booking appointments and associated admin
  • Assisting the Welfare Benefits Specialists generally

 

Disability benefit form-filling:

  • Gathering detailed information about a client’s health condition(s)
  • Developing a thorough understanding of the regulations and case law that sit behind these health assessments
  • Completing the forms and advising clients on their entitlement
What You'll Learn: 

No prior experience of welfare benefits advice is needed. You will receive an initial induction into the organisation followed by a hands-on training through involvement, under supervision, with live issues as appropriate to your level of development and ability. Further learning will take place in the role as you encounter different types of cases and explore various advice strategies. You will be fully supported in all cases

What We're Looking For: 

THE KINDS OF SKILLS YOU MAY HAVE THAT COULD BE HELPFUL

  • Research skills
  • Ability to process large amounts of written information
  • Ability to identify key facts and apply your research to those facts
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to establish a rapport with a diverse range of people
  • Good organisational skills
  • A willingness to experiment with different approaches to advice
  • Appreciation of the importance of confidentiality
  • Sufficient self-awareness to recognise your own biases and prejudices
  • Strong IT skills
  • Strong levels of literacy and numeracy

 

Please note, we are a busy advice service whose primary objective is to provide services to members of the public. We need committed people who are prepared to give the time we need in order for us to make best use of the limited resources we have available. Priority will be given to those who live, work, or study in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Summary
Volunteering
Volunteer
Disability
Lambeth
26 Weeks Minimum
8 Hours / Week
Skills you will develop: 
Active listening
Communicating
Organisation
Using professional behaviours

Similar Opportunities

 
Trainee adviser - Citizens Advice East End
City Volunteering
Min. 52 Weeks Minimum weeks
Trainee adviser - Citizens Advice East End
Volunteering
Volunteer
Legal rights and advice

Citizens Advice East End encourages opportunities for volunteering from the diverse local community. We recognise the value of a wide range of skills and experiences and believe that they enhance our team.

 
Front Desk Volunteer - Community Tech Aid
City Volunteering
Min. 12 Weeks Minimum weeks
Front Desk Volunteer - Community Tech Aid
Volunteering
Volunteer
Education, Technology

Closing the digital divide by providing technology and skills to our communities, whilst recycling, reusing and repairing e-waste.

 
Evening Service Volunteer
Headway East London
Min. 16 Weeks Minimum weeks
Evening Service Volunteer
Volunteering
Volunteer
Disability, Social Care

Help deliver our programme of activities, offering support 1-to-1 or in small groups.

Related Articles

City Volunteering
Volunteering over the festive period
Got some time to spare this holiday season? We've got lot's of amazing volunteer roles you can get stuck into over December.
City Volunteering
Volunteering for Crisis at Christmas
At Christmas and throughout the year, Crisis helps people directly out of homelessness and campaigns for the social changes needed to solve it.
City Volunteering
Volunteering with Citizens Advice
Interested in career in law and legal services, mental health, or general advice-giving services? Citizens Advice offers brilliant volunteering roles.