Benefit Programs Specialist II

Virginia Department of Social Services • Suffolk, VA

5h • $54,017 - $75,542

About The Position

Under limited supervision, performs case management and team leader/team member duties to determine eligibility of applicants for assistance through multiple benefit programs administered by the City Social Services Department. Work involves interviewing applicants and explaining multiple benefit programs, assisting applicants in completing forms, determining and advising applicants of eligibility for assistance, and providing or facilitating access to human services assistance received from applicants is correct and complete. Detects and reports cases of fraud. Maintains a variety of forms and records. Participates as a team member to improve customer service, operations, resolution of problems, and planning and control of the unit’s work.

Requirements

• Experience involving social service program work including interviewing and counseling; assisting applicants in completing forms, determining and advising applicants of eligibility for assistance, and providing or facilitating access to human services assistance.
• Working knowledge of practices of public service organizations; economic and basic human behavior; financial assistance programs sufficient to determine/re-determine eligibility for benefits; eligibility requirements for social service assistance as outlined by State, Local and Federal guidelines, regulations and policies; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with broad spectrum of individuals to include, but not limited to, customers, employers, courts, and medical professionals in person and on the phone.
• Demonstrated ability to interview, gather information, re-evaluate each client’s situation, and make referrals.
• Demonstrated ability to determine a client’s ownership share in situations.
• Demonstrated ability to make mathematical computations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information and determine from a variety of sources missing information and gaps.
• Demonstrated ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Demonstrated ability to use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access data such as estates, retirement accounts, and real estate, reports, and manipulate data.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with applicants and recipients, other public and private agencies, associates, and the public in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.
• High School Diploma with experience in benefit programs, use of computer software and hardware and completion of required Benefit Programs training or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities for this job.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in the Human Service field
• Experience in a local Virginia DSS agency with, SNAP, TANF, and/or Medicaid BP eligibility determination work within the last couple of years.
• Experience processing cases in a local Virginia DSS agency with VACMS/DMIS within the last 2 years
• Working knowledge of Benefits Programs (BP) Intake and Ongoing case management policies and procedures
• Long-Term Care Medicaid eligibility determination experience in a local Virginia DSS agency
• Multilingual ability

Responsibilities

• Performs case management and team leader/team member duties to determine eligibility of applicants for assistance through multiple benefit programs.
• Interviews applicants and explains multiple benefit programs.
• Assists applicants in completing forms.
• Determines and advises applicants of eligibility for assistance.
• Provides or facilitates access to human services assistance.
• Detects and reports cases of fraud.
• Maintains a variety of forms and records.
• Participates as a team member to improve customer service, operations, resolution of problems, and planning and control of the unit’s work.

What This Job Offers

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