DSHS ESA Public Benefits Specialist 4
About The Position
The Economic Services Administration's (ESA) Community Service Division (CSD) has an exciting opportunity for a Public Benefits Specialists 4 (PBS4) - Case Planning and Support Specialist (CPSS) to join our team at the Pierce South Community Services Office in Tacoma, WA. This role is ideal for someone who can read between the lines, build trust quickly, and connect people to the right services at the right time. In this role, you’ll assess eligibility for multiple assistance programs, develop individualized case plans, and coordinate with partners across healthcare, housing, employment, and other community resources. Each day brings variety and meaningful responsibility, requiring sound judgment, a strong understanding of policy, and the ability to manage complexity with care. Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.
Requirements
- Twelve months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 3.
- OR A bachelor’s degree or higher AND twelve months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 2 determining eligibility for public assistance or long-term care services.
- OR Five years of combined higher education and/or equivalent experience may substitute for degree and PBS work experience requirements. Total must include at least one-year equivalent work experience.
- Examples of equivalent experience include but are not limited to: Providing eligibility for services or direct customer service serving historically marginalized communities. Experience examining/processing loan applications. Medical insurance or rehabilitation claims. Unemployment insurance claims. Providing staff support in financial eligibility determination, or in a job analyzing, verifying, and evaluating financial data and information.
- Satisfactory completion of the agency’s Public Benefits Specialist Training Program.
- Out-of-state experience conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance, including financial, medical and food benefit programs, will be considered toward experience.
- Additional professional experience described above will substitute year for year for the required education.
- Eligibility expertise – You’ll need deep knowledge of Washington’s public assistance programs and the ability to assess and re-determine eligibility with accuracy.
- Policy fluency – Comfort navigating and applying WAC, RCW, and internal procedural manuals is essential to ensure services are legally sound.
- Case planning insight – Strong understanding of how to build service plans that are realistic, trauma-informed, and grounded in each client’s context.
- Analytical skills – You’ll be interpreting complex data and documentation to make fast, high-stakes decisions—precision matters.
- Communication – Clear, respectful, and empathetic communication is key—especially when explaining tough decisions or diffusing high-tension situations.
- Crisis navigation – This role regularly involves working with people in distress. You must stay calm, clear-headed, and grounded in your professional boundaries.
- Resilience and flexibility – Programs shift. Priorities change. You need to adapt quickly, manage multiple tasks, and keep performance high without burning out.
Responsibilities
- Conduct detailed interviews to assess eligibility for public assistance, including cash, food, and medical programs.
- Facilitate program orientations and explain benefit pathways clearly and empathetically.
- Design, monitor, and update personalized case plans to address barriers and support employment goals.
- Refer clients to services such as domestic violence support, substance use treatment, mental health counselling, housing, and job training.
- Coordinate with external agencies and service providers to align support plans.
- Review and interpret complex documents—court orders, leases, medical notes—to determine appropriate program fit.
- Authorize and track supportive services such as transportation, childcare, or work clothing.
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date case notes and documentation in multiple systems (ACES, Barcode, eJAS, HPF, etc.).
- Respond to case audits, resolve discrepancies, and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Participate in outreach efforts, home visits, and client advocacy as needed.
Benefits
- Orca Card for transportation needs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
