You may be able to apply to do a Revenues and Welfare Benefits Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

This is sometimes offered by organisations like housing associations and local councils.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

You could start as an admin assistant with an advice organisation and gain experience before taking further training in welfare rights.

Some organisations offer trainee adviser roles. You might start out giving general advice and referring clients to relevant services, or help them to fill in forms.

Numeracy and literacy skills are very important. Employers also value good communication skills and the ability to understand complex written information.

Work in similar fields like community support or with a local authority can be helpful.

A common way to start is by volunteering in an advice centre.

As a volunteer, you would receive training in interviewing skills and advice topics, including welfare rights. It can take between 6 and 12 months to get enough experience to apply for jobs.

You can search for volunteering opportunities through:

• Do It
• The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
• rightsnet

You can apply to an advice agency for a range of different jobs, or for a trainee position.

Experience of supporting people with welfare rights issues can be helpful, for example:

• working out eligibility for support
• making claims
• challenging decisions

Personal experience of dealing with the benefits system can also be useful.

A background in working with the public may also give you an advantage. 

This might include:

• advice roles with a local council or Jobcentre Plus
• tenancy support roles, for example with housing associations
• work in the legal or finance professions
• community outreach
• care support work or counselling

Once working, your employer will give you training in welfare rights advice.

You'll need:

• a desire to help people
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

As a welfare rights adviser, you could:

• work with clients to check they are claiming all the support they are entitled to
• help clients with paper and online form filling
• advise clients about appeals and support them at tribunals
• update case notes and confidential records
• train staff and volunteers
• keep up to date with welfare laws and reforms
• work with benefits agencies, local authorities and charities

Your exact duties will depend on your role and level of responsibility within your organisation.

You could work in the community, at a client's home, in a court, in an NHS or private hospital or at an outreach centre.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.