Benefits Specialist / Case Manager

Volunteers of America - Greater New York, Inc.•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist offers support to eligible formerly homeless clients living in Permanent Supportive Housing to promote well-being and stability. The Benefits Specialist is part of a specialized team working across four SRO sites in The Bronx and Brooklyn. The Benefits Specialist will be assigned a caseload of clients at one of those sites and will coordinate closely with case management, recreational and operations staff at the building to which they are assigned. Eden House is a single room occupancy residence (SRO) providing permanent, supportive housing to formerly homeless single adults, including those suffering from mental illness or HIV/AIDS.

Requirements

Associate's degree or 60 college credits courses in Human Services field or High School Diploma or GED with 2 years of related experience helping low-income clients access and maintain benefits including Public Assistance, Disability and Veterans benefits.
Demonstrated ability in verbal and written communication, including basic computer skills.

Responsibilities

Conduct benefits assessments and provide individualized education, assistance, referrals and advocacy to help clients obtain and retain any and all benefits to which they are entitled, including accompanying clients to appointments as needed.
Work with clients and their medical and behavioral health providers to document disability to support SSI/SSD applications and appeals.
Provide individualized money management and budgeting coaching and as needed connect clients to services to adult guardianship or representative payee services.
Develop and deliver workshops on topics related to benefits, budgets and money management.
Utilize best practice approaches and evidence-based interventions to maximize client outcomes.
Maintain service documentation to include client progress notes, observations and interactions about clients and incident reporting when necessary.
Participate in internal and external case conferencing activities.