Crisis Payment Officer

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The starting salary for this role is £34,660 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week. This is a fixed term contract up until March 31st 2029.

We are hiring two Crisis Payment Officers (formerly known as Crisis Fund Officer) to join our fantastic new Community Service. We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40% of the working week) and support working from home arrangements. The team works flexibly across Surrey County Council officers but are primarily based in Dakota, Weybridge. Office base will stay the same until vesting day, after which time one post will go West and the other East.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (pro-rated for part time opportunities)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension 
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year 
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing 
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Service 

The Communities Service at Surrey County Council is committed to fostering vibrant and resilient communities where everyone can flourish. We aim to strengthen the feeling of community across Surrey, so that more people are participating, engaging and living a healthy and fulfilled life. To help ensure no one is left behind. Our focus is on empowering communities, so people feel connected, and confident they have a say over the places in which they live and the services they use.

About the role 

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced individual to join our team as a Crisis Payment Officer, where you will be focusing on the distribution of the Crisis Payments to residents across Surrey. Your role will be essential in delivering a vital fund that will benefit many residents who are struggling with financial hardship.

You will provide timely support of applications in conjunction with the wider crisis payment team to distribute the household support fund to residents. Part of this support will be assessing the application for welfare provision and making a decision on whether the application should be approved and awarding a monetary value in the form of an e-voucher.

As a Crisis Payment Officer, you will be responsible for assessing applications in a timely fashion, delivering at pace recommendations and speaking with residents on a daily basis to unblock any potential issues with an application. You'll do this by:

• Assess applications for the Crisis Payment Scheme. 
• Ensure timely and fair distribution of financial aid to residents in risk of financial hardship. 
• Maintain accurate records of applications, decisions, and outcomes. 
• Ensure all activity aligns with DWP guidance and local grant conditions
• Contribute to regular monitoring and reporting to demonstrate impact and ensure transparency. 
• Provide empathetic, non-judgmental support to residents in distress. 
• Signpost to other services where appropriate to prevent going into crisis

The role has a large impact on residents with the opportunities to impact lives on a daily basis.

Shortlisting criteria

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours :

• Strong decision-making skills with a practical, solutions-focused mindset
• Excellent time management and ability to prioritise effectively
• Proficient in IT with a proven ability to quickly learn new systems
• Confident communicator with strong interpersonal and customer service skills
• Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and remains calm under pressure

If you are passionate about building strong partnerships and making a difference in the community, we would love to hear from you.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills, or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Louis Perry by e-mail or on MS Teams.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 20/09/2026 with interviews to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. 

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.