Benefit Programs Specialist III

Virginia Department of Social Services•Washington, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Rappahannock Department of Social Services seeks an energetic and versatile team player committed to working towards the best possible outcomes for clients and community to join our agency in a Benefit Programs Specialist III position. Rappahannock County is a rural county in the northern region of Virginia with a population of approximately 7,400. The agency office is in the town of Washington, Virginia, approximately 120 miles northwest of Richmond and 65 miles southwest of Washington, DC. The town is surrounded by the beautiful Blueridge Mountains and rolling farmlands. As an agency, we believe in the power of the team, exercising creativity and commitment in meeting the needs of our clients and community, and growing our agency and ourselves. Work-Life harmony is an agency core value, and the agency’s caseload per worker compares favorably with other local departments of social services. After 90 days of employment and demonstration of an acceptable level of program knowledge and proficiency in areas of assignment, a Benefit Programs Specialist is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule of 2 days remote/3 days on-site. Additional remote days for virtual training and/or other events are determined on a case-by-case basis. Benefit Programs Specialist III represents an advanced level of performance in the Benefit Programs Specialist occupational group. Employees are assigned advanced technical functions or projects that require considerable knowledge of all public assistance functions such as fraud or quality control case review. Employees in this class conduct the initial and ongoing eligibility determinations requiring advanced program knowledge or provide quality control by examining cases completed by other eligibility workers for accuracy and uniformity. Work is performed independently in accordance with well-established guidelines and standards. The most complex situations are reviewed with the supervisor. The Benefit Programs Specialist III also serves as a technical resource for others regarding social services’ eligibility programs.

Requirements

High school diploma supplemented with work experience in benefit programs, use of computer software and hardware, and completion of required Benefits Program training; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Considerable knowledge of practices of public service organizations; economic and basic human behavior; financial assistance programs sufficient to determine/re-determine eligibility for benefits; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection, interrogation, and investigation.
Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a broad spectrum of individuals to include customers, employers, court personnel, and medical professionals in person, virtual settings, email, and on the phone.
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.

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience in processing public assistance applications as a Benefit Programs Specialist II or equivalent title, using VACMS and other related software.
Experience in the successful identification of customers’ needs and options to address those needs within available community resources.

Responsibilities

Carries a caseload of clients receiving public assistance that involve complex issues
Contacts vendors for services and ensures payments to allow for the restoration or continuation of services
Explains programs, and the rights and responsibilities of applicants and recipients, and conducts follow-up as needed
Documents data and information gathered and compares findings with established guidelines of program eligibility
Reviews cases for correctness, identifies significant errors/problems in caseloads and determines if the errors/problems are with the section, unit or with an employee
Prepares reports regarding quality control and makes recommendations to the supervisor
Processes applications for financial assistance and diversion; determines eligibility for assistance and benefit levels using automated systems and manual methods
Serves as a resource to staff and the public concerning public assistance programs and eligibility requirements
Maintains records, prepares reports, and submits summaries and information as required.
Identifies possible fraud and makes appropriate referrals
Explains a variety of programs under the social services umbrella such as employment services, child support services, and childcare services.
Maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality.