Fair Hearing Agency Representative

City of New York•Brooklyn, NY

About The Position

The Fair Hearing Agency Representative works under general supervision, with latitude for independent judgment and initiative, to review Fair Hearing Evidence Packets and represent the Family Independence Administration (FIA) at New York State Fair Hearings. The role defends or resolves disputes concerning Cash Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Investigation Revenue Engagement Administration, HIV-AIDS Service Administration, and Medicaid case actions, in support of participants’ progress toward economic independence. The position is a provisional appointment in the Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist title. When an examination becomes available, the employee must take and pass it to remain in that title. The representative presents and defends cases at administrative and settlement hearings, reviews evidence and hearing outcomes, coordinates resolutions and follow-up actions, and ensures that case information is accurately reflected in relevant systems. The position also reviews and approves evidence packets prepared by Same Day Resolution Conference staff, provides guidance and training, and works with center and operations staff to review hearing trends and improve agency performance. The stated hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with flex.

Requirements

Must be permanent in the Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist title; this is a provisional appointment, and the employee must take and pass the title examination when it becomes available to remain in the title.
One qualification pathway: a four-year high school diploma or equivalent and three years of full-time satisfactory experience directly in social/human services or a related setting providing client services, or employment planning/counseling involving job development, skills assessment, employment placement, or other economic opportunity programming.
Alternative qualification pathway: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist.
Alternative qualification pathway: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience in the social/human services or related work described in the first pathway.
College credit from an accredited college may substitute for qualifying experience at a rate of 60 semester credits for nine months of that experience; all candidates must have at least 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or in the described social/human services work.

Responsibilities

Represent the Agency at New York State Administrative Hearings by presenting and defending cases or resolving them when appropriate.
Present evidence manually or electronically, cross-examine appellants, and provide the Administrative Law Judge with a complete, relevant evidence packet and supporting documents.
Represent the Agency at New York State Administrative Resolution/Settlement Hearings arising from the Same Day Resolution Conferences process.
Forward requests for resolutions to FIA Operations, the Fair Hearing Tracking Monitoring and Review Unit, or the Office of Central Processing as required.
Review Fair Hearing decisions and recommend challenges when appropriate.
Update Fair Hearing checklists based on feedback from the Fair Hearing Officer and hearing dispositions and outcomes.
Perform post-hearing activities, including preparing reports, requesting case actions based on evidence or agreements, and transmitting information to sites for follow-up.
Provide clarification or feedback when additional documents are needed to make evidence packets adequate for hearings.
Inform the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Clerk and Same Day Resolution Conference staff of resolution or settlement hearing outcomes.
Check that case actions are reflected in relevant agency systems.
Review evidence packets prepared by Same Day Conference AJOS I staff for appropriate resolution actions and inclusion of pertinent documents and evidence.
Provide guidance to Same Day Resolution Conference AJOS I staff, approve evidence packets, and coordinate with staff to ensure cases are conferenced and ready for settlement hearings.
Ensure resolutions are processed expeditiously and conduct conferences for cases on the Same Day Resolution Conference list.
Train Fair Hearing staff, hold individual and unit meetings to improve staff competence, provide timely performance evaluations, and develop strategies and defenses to improve the Agency’s hearing win rate and support hearing avoidance.
Meet regularly with Center Directors, center staff, and other Model Center/Job Center, SNAP, and IREA Operations staff; participate in Job Center cabinet meetings to review Cash Assistance and SNAP hearing trends and causal factors.
Communicate trends and issues to improve performance and decision quality, and provide information on matters to address at Fair Hearing Representation and Fair Hearing Profile meetings.