Economic Support Specialist - Human Services

Chippewa County • Wi 54729, WI

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Economic Support Specialist role is responsible for determining eligibility and providing ongoing case management for public assistance programs including Medical Assistance, BadgerCare Plus, Food Share/SNAP, Caretaker Supplement (CTS), and Wisconsin Shares Child Care subsidies for Chippewa County/Great Rivers Income Maintenance Consortium. This position requires timely and accurate processing of cases. The role involves conducting intensive investigative interviews, researching and applying federal, state, and local policies, and determining correct public assistance benefits through various client contact methods. Responsibilities also include answering phones in a call center setting, providing case management, troubleshooting problems, re-determining eligibility, and maintaining documentation using CARES and CARES Worker Web systems. The specialist will manually determine eligibility when necessary, create manual notices, obtain and verify third-party information, collaborate with other agencies, identify risk factors, respond to cross-matches, prepare fraud referrals, recalculate benefits, provide testimony at hearings, assess needs, arrange for services, and attend ongoing trainings.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one (1) year or more of experience as an Income Maintenance / Economic Support Specialist in the state of Wisconsin required.
• Must have knowledge of and experience with computers.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• A valid driver’s license required.
• Must reside in Wisconsin.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or financial related program required with one (1) year of recent human services or financial work experience preferred.
• Previous direct customer service work experience with benefit programs and determining benefit eligibility is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Determine eligibility and provide ongoing case management for public assistance programs.
• Conduct intensive investigative interviews to obtain and evaluate financial and non-financial information.
• Research, interpret, and apply federal, state, and local policies governing eligibility.
• Determine correct public assistance benefits through direct client contact (office interview, home visits, telephone).
• Answer phones in a Call Center setting and provide case management duties.
• Answer questions, provide case status updates, process changes, and troubleshoot problems.
• Re-determine eligibility and process verifications.
• Record, maintain, review, and correct benefit levels and documentation using CARES and CARES Worker Web systems.
• Manually determine eligibility for programs that are not automated or when the system is unavailable.
• Create manual notices of determination.
• Obtain and verify third-party information needed to determine eligibility.
• Work in collaboration with various agencies and support services.
• Identify risk factors (AODA, domestic abuse, suspected child/elder abuse) and report to appropriate services.
• Respond to financial and non-financial cross matches and alerts.
• Prepare Fraud and Program Integrity referrals.
• Recalculate benefits.
• Provide testimony at administrative hearings and in court.
• Assess individual and family needs.
• Arrange for additional benefits or services within the department and make referrals to other agencies.
• Attend ongoing trainings regarding changes in federal and state regulations and technical advancements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level