Policy Adviser - Housing Benefits

Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity to develop policy on matters relating to the competitiveness, regulation and good functioning of the UK’s financial markets, to support UK growth? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

About the Team

We are looking to recruit a Policy Adviser which sits within the Personal Tax, Welfare and Pensions Group of The Welfare Spending and Reform Team (WSR).

The Welfare Spending and Reform team (WSR) is a friendly, inclusive and hard-working team. We come from a diverse range of backgrounds, both within and outside of government. There is an excellent team spirit and we are committed to diversity, inclusion and personal development.

We are responsible for the government’s welfare spending, ensuring that it is sustainable and meets the government’s wider policy aims. We are also responsible for the Department for Work and Pension’s budget, which makes up more than 20% of all government expenditure.

The team leads on high-profile policies on a wide range of benefits including Universal Credit, disability benefits, Housing Benefits and Child Benefit. For example, we have worked on key welfare policies responding to the cost-of-living crisis, including increasing the support given to benefit claimants renting from private landlords.

About the Job

In this role, you will:

Driving forward the Treasury’s wider strategy on Housing Benefits, working across the Treasury and with other departments to develop policy proposals relating to Housing Benefits, and to establish how best to help individuals with their housing costs while making sure that Government expenditure is sustainable. Advising ministers and senior civil servants on policy options and risks relating to Housing Benefits, including both written and verbal briefings. Overseeing Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) spending on Housing Benefits, including scrutinising and approving spending, and ensuring that DWP deliver value for money on their policies. Building open and constructive relationships with DWP and relevant teams across the Treasury and acting as a key point of contact for your policy area to deal with any problems or queries as they arise. Monitor the impact of economic trends and housing policy on the housing and rental market and households’ living standards. This is an exciting, high-profile and fast-paced role. It is an opportunity for you to play a key part the Government’s policymaking for welfare spending. You will have responsibility for engaging with DWP on Housing Benefits expenditure, policies that help benefit claimants with their rental or mortgage costs, and funding for temporary accommodation and supported housing, amongst others. You will also be responsible for gathering data and evidence about the evolving housing and rental market, using this information to inform policy proposals.

About You

We are not looking for a particular type of person and would welcome applications from anyone who is new to the civil service or the policy profession. We would also strongly encourage anybody interested in working in the Treasury on housing or welfare policy to apply.

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us a stronger organisation, better at developing policy that is reflective of the communities we serve. We embrace different views and experiences and value the fresh perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours) Generous parental and adoption leave packages Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 27% Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network) For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the recruitment team at hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk