Benefits Associate

Company profile - Kinly

Kinly is a fast-growing social impact start-up with a mission to help older people live independently for longer. We are focused on the megatrend of ageing demographics, improving healthspan and helping to reduce the economic and social burden of ageing.

Kinly supports people over-66 and their families to understand what support and allowances they are eligible for, and then does all the complex forms/applications for them. By doing so, we unlock £5,000 a year per person on average, helping people to afford health/care support, physios, taxis, and at-home equipment.

A majority of pensioners are cut off from the support they need due to barriers to access – disability, low income, lack of internet or lack of family. We help people navigate a complex system and make ageing easier. Our services are free at the point of use, and fully accessible offline (using only a landline phone), but we use a lot of technology to deliver the service.

Kinly was founded by a previous unicorn founder (insure-tech) and ex-Managing Director of an AIM-listed biopharma. The business is based in West London, with teams focused on Sales, Customer Success, Tech and Operations. The business has a very senior advisory Board, including Government advisors and health and care leaders.

About the role

This is an exciting new role for someone who is interested in gaining the experience and training necessary to become a Benefits Adviser. 

We will provide all the necessary training for you to complete benefits checks and applications for our clients, their families and their carers. This includes providing support with Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, Carer’s Allowance, Council Tax and Housing Benefit support.

What We Offer

• Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 per year

·       Hours: Full-time (Monday – Friday) + holiday

·       Contract: Permanent

·       Promotion: Opportunities for personal growth and promotions within the company

·       Perks: Free Nuffield gym membership

·       Location: West Kensington, London (future hybrid work arrangement possible)

·       Start date: As soon as possible

 Main Responsibilities

·       Providing information and advice over the telephone to older people, their carers and relatives

·       Completing benefits checks and advising clients accurately and appropriately in relation to their welfare benefit and related entitlements

·       Completing benefit applications

·       Holistically exploring a client’s financial, health and care needs to fully understand and tailor support to their specific circumstances 

·       Communicating with empathy, patience, and good listening skills

·       Presenting and discussing information with clients in an accessible way, enabling them to understand and make informed choices 

·       Identifying and researching information using trusted resources.

·       Understanding how regional differences can affect benefit entitlement (e.g., Local Housing Allowance) and advise accordingly.

·       Keeping secure, up-to-date, full and accurate records using Kinly’s systems.

·       Reviewing completed forms and carrying out case checks to ensure quality

·       Upholding Kinly’s high standards of professionalism, and living up to our core values of “access for all”, trust and championing older people

Person specification

·       Experience of, or interest in welfare benefits, including those relating to disability, and Pension Age people (including Pension Credit, Carer’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Attendance Allowance, Blue Badge)

·       Recent experience of, or interest in delivering information and advice on welfare benefits

·       An understanding of, or interest in how different benefits impact each other (e.g., Carer’s Allowance and State Pension, Pension Credit and the Severe Disability Premium)

·       Knowledge of, or interest in issues affecting older people including housing, transport, disability aids and adaptations, care assessment and funding, and community support.

·       Desire to learn about benefits in different regions (e.g., Social Security Scotland)

·       Ability to work flexibly, independently, and as part of an energetic, driven and collaborative team in a very supportive and busy work environment

·       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to relate to people at all levels and from different cultural backgrounds

·       Attention to detail

·       Experience of working independently to prioritise work and meet deadlines

·       Willingness to participate in opportunities for training and professional development

·       Competent and efficient IT skills (Microsoft, Outlook, Excel, IOS)