Economic Support Specialist

County of Jackson•Black River Falls, WI

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a case management position with responsibilities of a confidential nature in the Department of Health and Human Services under the supervision of the DHHS Director. Employees work independently with minimal supervision in establishing eligibility for income maintenance programs, by following policies, rules, regulations and laws at a State and Federal level to provide accurate and up-to-date information to clients.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent
Economic Support New Worker Training and CARES/CWW Training Certification within six (6) months of hire
Possess and maintain a valid Wisconsin Driver’s license and have access to transportation suitable to complete necessary work out of the office
Knowledge of office practices, procedures and equipment, including, but not limited to, computers, copies, fax machines, and multi-line phone systems.
Typing skills
Ability to keep accurate and complete records
Ability to work independently
Ability to read and interpret documents and laws in the English language
Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas in spoken and written format so individuals may effectively understand and convey communications
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
Ability to compute rate, ratios, and percentages
Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form
Inductive and deductive reasoning – ability to combine separate pieces of information or specific answers to problems to form general rules or conclusions; includes coming up with a logical explanation for why a series of seemingly unrelated events occur together and deciding if an answer makes sense

Nice To Haves

post-secondary coursework in Business Administration, Economics, Accounting or Communications preferred
Experience in income maintenance programs preferred

Responsibilities

Interviews applicants either meeting face-to-face, phone, mailed in, and/or online applications to establish eligibility for income maintenance program
Reviews and processes renewals, changes, and six-month reviews within a timely manner to determine ongoing eligibility as required and as changes occur. This requires an in-depth review of various non-financial information such as household size and relationships and immigration status. This also requires in-depth review, analysis, and budgeting of multitudes of income sources and verifications.
Make appropriate referrals to other relevant resources/programs such as WHEAP, housing assistance, WIC, etc., for eight counties.
Enters into computer all applications, changes, reviews, and case notes regarding programs and eligibility requirements.
Requests verification as policy dictates and reviews cases as mandated
Process and assess complex documents including various types of paystubs, assessing various pay types and rates budgeting the income accurately.
Process and audit/reconcile complex documents such as federal taxes and relevant tax documents to budget self-employment income, including 1040, SCH 1, SCH D, 4797, S corporation and Partnership business taxes (1065, 1120S, and K1), assessing deductions and budgeting accurately.
Processes and assesses complex medical bills and expenses, applying them to the deductibles.
Maintains and updates all files
Represents the county and provides information in court proceedings (including fair hearings, court appearances, processing disability applications, and fraud investigations)
Generates benefits utilizing state computer software (CARES/CWW), federal and state regulations, mathematical computations, and collateral contact verification
Works effectively and professionally with clients, the general public, vendors, co-workers, employers, attorneys, law enforcement, etc. This may mean travelling off premises
Attends state-mandated and county training sessions, conferences, and meetings
Responds to income, assets, and identification cross matches in a timely manner.
Verifies by telephone or letter to clarify or question cross match information when needed
Performs elderly/disabled related Medicaid functions: calculates patient liability, verifies improper transfers of assets, authorizes payment of guardianship-related fees, submits appropriate paperwork to State Recovery Program, determines eligibility for waiver services and cost share amounts in cooperation with case managers in ADRC unit, and refers appropriate cases for fraud investigations