Eligibility Processing Specialist

City of New York•Brooklyn, NY

About The Position

The Department of Social Services (DSS), comprising the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and Department of Homeless Services (DHS), is recruiting 19 Eligibility Specialist II employees to function as Eligibility Processing Specialists in the Office of Central Processing (OCP). OCP works with HRA, other city, state, and federal agencies, and private-sector businesses to centrally process services and support job centers in helping participants achieve financial independence. Specialists work in varied units, including NYCHA, HPD, and Utilities. Under the direct supervision of a Group Supervisor, with some latitude for independent action and decision-making, the specialist processes referrals and client case information, reviews cases, and interviews clients to ensure accurate records, proper eligibility determinations, and appropriate agency disbursements. The position handles a caseload of up to 50 cases per week and includes face-to-face and telephone interviews. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Applicants must be permanent in the Eligibility Specialist title or permanent in a comparable title eligible for a 6.1.9 title change. Candidates hired provisionally must take and pass the civil service examination when it becomes available to be eligible for continued employment. Minimum qualifications may be met through 30 semester credits at an accredited college or university; a high school diploma or equivalent plus one year of qualifying full-time experience; or a satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience. All candidates must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Qualifying experience includes specified work in eligibility-related interviewing and documentation, customer service or related business duties, or assisting people with social, legal, housing, financial, or health problems or application systems. Incidental experience performing those duties does not qualify.

Requirements

Applicants must be permanent in the Eligibility Specialist title or permanent in a comparable title eligible for a 6.1.9 title change.
Applicants hired provisionally must take and pass the civil service examination when it becomes available to be eligible for continued employment.
Meet one of the following minimum qualification pathways: 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university; a high school diploma or equivalent plus one year of full-time satisfactory qualifying experience; or a satisfactory combination of education and experience equivalent to either pathway.
All candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.
Qualifying experience may include interviewing, gathering information, or preparing documentation for eligibility recommendations concerning public assistance, unemployment, health benefits, Social Security, insurance, or social-service or community programs.
Qualifying experience may include bookkeeping, bank or housing office teller duties, purchasing, assistant store management, account-based sales, or customer service involving assistance with customer questions or concerns.
Qualifying experience may include working with social-service agencies or legal representatives, or helping people navigate housing, social, financial, or health problems or application systems.
College education may substitute for qualifying experience at a rate of 30 semester credits for each year of required experience.
Work experience providing only incidental opportunities to perform the specified qualifying duties is not acceptable.
Ability to conduct client interviews, review and verify case information, perform calculations, and process eligibility and payment documentation.

Responsibilities

Compute and determine financial assistance amounts for Public Assistance, Food Stamps, and Medicaid by reviewing, obtaining, and verifying relevant information.
Calculate and prepare benefit authorization documents and budgets, including changes to client cases.
Verify client case information by contacting information sources and accessing the WMS system.
Maintain caseload records by assembling and collating case documents and forms and recording pertinent actions.
Authorize statistical and financial changes to assistance and budgets after reviewing client information and payment files for compliance with agency requirements.
Authorize client payments by validating documents and completing required paperwork; prepare and sign checks where applicable.
Prepare daily and monthly activity sheets and submit required reports.
Determine and verify applicants’ initial and full eligibility through client interviews, using appropriate forms and procedures.
Conduct face-to-face and telephone interviews and manage a caseload of up to 50 cases per week.
Prepare eligibility forms, incorporate received information, check accuracy, and review authorizations to initiate services.
Enter, update, retrieve, and check information in WMS and other electronic information systems.
Perform arithmetic and other calculations to determine eligibility and financial results.
Process emergency housing assistance requests from walk-in clients and referrals from Housing Court, NYCHA, and HPD, gathering information and initiating case actions to help prevent eviction.
Authorize emergency payments by validating documents, completing paperwork, and preparing and signing checks.