FAIR HEARING SERVICE SPECIALIST
About The Position
The Fair Hearing Service Specialist performs administrative duties related to resolving adverse case actions arising from agency decisions affecting Cash Assistance, SNAP, and Medicaid benefits. Under general supervision of a Fair Hearing Representative, the specialist exercises wide latitude for independent action and decision-making. The role includes reviewing and resolving cases with clients, coordinating corrective actions with Job Center staff, and preparing documentation and evidence for Office of Administrative Hearings presentations. The position is within Fair Hearing and Conference/Pre-NOI/FH New Initiatives & Quality Analysis, part of the Office of Fair Hearing Administration at the Department of Social Services. The unit supports dispute resolution, case review, fair hearing data, and related initiatives. Provisional hires must take and pass the civil service exam when it becomes available to be eligible for continued employment. The scheduled hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with flex.
Requirements
- A four-year high school diploma or equivalent and three years of full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social/human services or a related setting providing client services or employment planning/counseling services involving job development, skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic opportunity programming; or a qualifying bachelor’s-degree and experience combination as specified in the qualifications.
- Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist.
- Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience in social/human services or a related setting providing the qualifying services described in the qualifications.
- College credit from an accredited institution may substitute for work experience at a rate of 60 semester credits per nine months of experience, subject to a minimum of 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or in qualifying social/human services work.
- Provisional hires must take and pass the civil service exam when it becomes available to be eligible for continued employment.
Responsibilities
- Conduct conferences with Cash Assistance recipients to review agency actions affecting Cash Assistance, SNAP, and Medicaid benefits, determine whether actions were appropriate, and notify clients of conference decisions.
- Notify Job Center staff of required corrective actions and follow up to ensure cases are resolved when warranted.
- Conduct in-person and/or telephone conferences to determine whether cases can be resolved.
- Review case-related databases, including WMS, POS, and SEAMS, to assess the accuracy of actions and determine whether Notices of Intent or decisions are defective.
- Take appropriate action to correct resolvable cases and use the FHEMS system to route cases to the appropriate Fair Hearings/FIA Unit.
- Explain the fair hearing process and clients’ or representatives’ rights to appeal adverse conference decisions to the New York State Department of Social Services Fair Hearing Division.
- Prepare electronic fair hearing evidence packets in FHEMS, including relevant documents for presentation at the Office of Administrative Hearings, and coordinate with Fair Hearing Representatives to ensure packets are complete and include resolutions taken.
- Review fair hearing stipulations (Pre-Hearing Dispositions) and determine appropriate follow-up action; notify Job Center staff of actions required to comply with fair hearing decisions.
- Monitor and review individual system queues to ensure work is completed in a timely manner, and consult the immediate supervisor about workload issues and the appropriateness of case actions.
- Stay current on agency policy and procedure changes and changes to the FHEMS system.
- Serve as a service representative for client complaints, determine necessary resolution actions, and review social service problem areas for causes of complaints.
- Respond verbally or in writing to telephone or written inquiries and complaints from outside agencies, public officials, and central office operations regarding clients and fair hearing activities.
- Provide emergency coverage at other locations within the same region under the direction of the covering Office Manager.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
