Fair Hearings Specialist 1 (NY HELPS)

Nys Office Of Temporary & Disability Assistance • New York, NY

311d • $60,278 - $66,693 • Remote

About The Position

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is looking for applicants who are seeking a rewarding career. OTDA is recognized as a national leader in the field of Human Services and innovative social welfare programs. OTDA is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals. OTDA's functions include: Providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State's Child Support Enforcement Program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations. Applicants and recipients of Public Assistance, Medical Assistance, SNAP, and other social services benefit programs have a right to a fair hearing if they disagree with a decision made by the state or local government agencies or their agents.

Requirements

• Four years of paraprofessional or professional experience providing services to individuals in need of and/or eligible for social services programs or implementing/administering programs regulated by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, or the New York State Department of Health.
• College education in any field may substitute for up to four years of the experience noted above at the rate of 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent thereof.
• A bachelor's degree may substitute for all four years of experience.
• An associate or higher degree in law or legal assistant/paralegal education from a regionally accredited college or university may substitute for all four years of the experience.
• Completion of a legal assistant/paralegal education, qualifying non-degree certificate program where the certificate was issued by a regionally accredited or ACICS accredited college or university AND two years of paralegal experience may substitute for all four years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Provides information regarding hearing procedures to State agency and local district staff, clients and their representatives, and other parties.
• Processes requests for administrative hearing records, Fair Hearings, Homebound Hearings from appellants/representatives, Intentional Program Violations Hearings, and waiver of appearance requests from local social services districts and its agents.
• Schedules hearings; prioritizes hearings in accordance with federal and state regulations, law and court decisions.
• Manages workflow at hearing locations; conducts other matters regarding the administrative hearing process.
• Handles general inquiries from clients, their representatives or local agencies and makes referrals to appropriate program areas or proper agency.
• Determines continuation of aid status and good cause for adjourning and reopening hearings.
• Drafts responses to correspondence relating to the hearing process.
• Screens and processes emergency hearings.
• Retrieves, analyzes and/or updates information from various relevant systems.
• Identifies governmental entity or agent taking adverse action against clients and ensures all relevant parties are notified about a hearing request.
• Fields compliance complaints, referring more complicated cases to the appropriate supervisor.
• Gathers statistical data and prepares reports.
• Assists supervisor in preparing written procedures.

Benefits

• Health care coverage with provisions for hospitalization, medical/surgical coverage, prescription drug benefits, dental, and vision.
• Generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.
• Up to thirteen paid holidays per calendar year.
• Pre-Tax Health Care.
• Voluntary enrollment in deferred compensation plans.
• Access to financial assistance for further career-related study.
• Membership in the New York State Retirement System.
• Telecommuting up to 50% may be available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Industry: Social Assistance