Benefit Programs Specialist I

Virginia Department of Social Services • Portsmouth, VA

10d • $51,698 - $66,555 • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, this position is responsible for determining eligibility for public assistance programs and services to include securing and verifying case information. Reports to the Benefits Programs Supervisor.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent and considerable experience collecting and reviewing documentation and information or case management; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities listed previously.
• An acceptable general background check to include a local, state, and federal criminal history and sex offender registry and Child Protective Services (CPS) background check. Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.
• Must possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to use common office machines, including computers and electronic file maintenance programs.
• Ability to compile technical information from a variety of sources and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in analyzing and applying standards to a variety of situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Ability to explain rules, regulations and policies of multiple benefit programs in terms understood by applicants/recipients and the general public.
• Ability to exercise considerable tact, courtesy and discretion in contact with program applicants/recipients and customers, and the general public.
• Ability to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential files.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate a variety of automated office machines, which include computers, calculators, copiers, facsimile machines, etc.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments and/or directions to subordinates or assistants.
• Ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, records, forms, statistical summaries, etc.
• Ability to prepare reports, correspondence, records, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including legal, medical and insurance terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas, to add and subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages; compute discount or interest.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
• Ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Nice To Haves

• In the event of a declared emergency in the city of Portsmouth, individuals in this position are required to work shelter duty and may be called on to perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community.

Responsibilities

• Interviews individuals to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for benefits and public assistance programs; explains scope of multiple benefit programs and determines eligibility for assistance; explains applicant's rights and responsibilities; reads, interprets, and applies policies and procedures; secures and verifies financial, social and employment data from applicant; assists applicants/recipients in completing required forms, as necessary.
• Processes applications by collecting and analyzing data received from customers and various electronic sources. Establishes and maintains electronic case files by utilizing documentary evidence to substantiate case determinations while keeping customers informed of case status. Manages assigned cases by organizing workload, establishing priorities, ensuring that established deadlines are met, and prepares monthly reports.
• Evaluates information received from applicants/recipients and various other sources for consistency, accuracy and completeness; determines employability of client; explores possible sources of income for client, refers customers to resources to become self-sufficient.
• Identifies suspected fraud cases; prepares summaries of facts for fraud and overpayment and submit to the fraud investigator; represents the agency in hearings and court appeals, responds to state, federal and internal case review inquiries, reviews program and policy manuals, and prepares reports as needed.
• Attends in-service and other training sessions and conferences and may represent the agency on committees or task force groups. Makes service referrals within the department and to other agencies as needed and resolves a variety of customer’s concerns.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED