Policy Adviser - Universal Credit

• Salary: £34,820 - £40,000
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Working Pattern: This post is available on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.
• Location: Darlington

About the Team

The Welfare Spending and Reform (WSR) team is a welcoming and diverse group of about 18 people. They bring varied experience from both inside and outside government. The team guides HM Treasury’s approach to welfare spending and strategy, making sure support remains balanced and fits government priorities.

As the Treasury spending team for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), we lead all aspects of one of the largest areas of public spending. We work on high-profile policy and funding issues across benefits like Universal Credit, Child Benefit, and disability support. The team also plays a key role in cross-government priorities, including child poverty and cost-of-living responses.

We are committed to crafting an encouraging environment where colleagues can develop, contribute and thrive.

About the Job

In this role, you will:

• Lead creation of the fraud and error package for fiscal events: Develop and refine measures intended to reduce benefit fraud and error. Collaborate with DWP and HMT colleagues to assess feasibility, fiscal impact, and cost-effectiveness. Provide clear advice to seniors and ministers on options and implications for the fraud and error forecast.
• Take responsibility for reviewing DWP’s efficiency plans aimed at preventing fraud and error. This involves evaluating suggested operational, digital, and policy modifications, monitoring progress towards objectives, and advising where HMT should question or approve to maintain balanced efficiencies.
• Examine cases and new spending proposals on fraud and error. Review DWP bids and arguments, provide advice on funding decisions, and assist with in-year spending control against agreed plans.
• Prepare accurate and succinct advice on benefits fraud and error for Ministers and senior officials. This involves developing talking points, ministerial correspondence, and preparing briefing materials.
• Support the development of major welfare reforms by playing a central role in formulating and analysing welfare policy options. Contribute to the broader HMT strategy and assist in delivery across several teams.

You will play a key role in creating and putting into action policies that assist over 7 million households in Great Britain. This role offers the chance to work on prominent government policy and service delivery, particularly in tackling fraud and error reduction within the welfare system. Your efforts will be vital in preserving the trustworthiness of welfare funding and ensuring value for taxpayers.

About You

You will be a strong collaborator who enjoys working with people across different teams to deliver shared goals. You'll be comfortable analysing complex information, weighing evidence carefully, and making good judgements, often at pace. You'll also be organised and proactive, with the ability to manage competing priorities, take ownership of your work, and deliver high-quality outcomes to demanding timescales.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

• Annual leave starts at 25 days and rises to 30 after 5 years. Employees also get 8 public holidays plus the King’s birthday unless covered by a legacy Civil Service arrangement. Flexitime allows up to 2 additional days off monthly.
• 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 amounting to 28.97%.
• Access to a salary sacrifice scheme for cycling to work and options for season ticket loans.
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity.

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the selection process, please mention this in your online application form. You can also contact the recruitment team at .