Regional Social Security Benefits Coordinator

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking a mission-driven, dynamic, and highly organized individual with experience and knowledge of social security benefits and child disabilities to fill the role of Regional Social Security Benefits Coordinator . Reporting to the Social Security Benefits Manager, the selected candidate will be responsible for DCF Regional and Area efforts to support applying for, tracking status of applications, and maintaining children’s eligibility for Social Security Administration benefits and other federal benefits (e.g., Veteran’s Benefits, Railroad Benefits, etc.). The Regional Social Security Benefits Coordinator will act as a consultant to Regional and Area DCF staff to build capacity and expertise in the field related to Social Security and/or other federal benefits received by children in DCF care or custody. The Regional Social Security Benefits Coordinator will also be responsible for helping to identify eligible children and working with area offices to apply for Social Security, track application status, and maintaining Social Security and other federal benefits for children. PLEASE NOTE \: The three ( 3 ) positions will cover the following geographical areas of the state\: West - 5 area offices in the Western Region, 5 area offices in the Central Region (Assigned w ork location\: either Springfield or Worcester Regional offices); South - 8 area offices in the Southern Region, Riverway Area office, and Hyde Park Area office (Assigned w ork location\: either Brockton or Central Office); North - 7 area offices in the Northern Region, Harbor Area Office and Jackson Square Area Office (Assigned w ork location\: either Lawrence or Central Office). Applicants should indicate their preference on the cover letter.

Requirements

Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration the major duties of which involved program management, program administration, program coordination, program planning and/or program analysis, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions: I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the-required experience.
II. A Graduate degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for the required experience.
III. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.
Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Nice To Haves

Strong organizational skills
Knowledge of social security benefits and child disabilities
Familiarity with principles and practices of child welfare, industry trends/developments
Thoroughness, independence and excellent written and oral communication skills
Strong facilitation consultation, and multi-tasking skills
Ability to maintain accurate records and exercise discretion in handling confidential information
Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, as well as the capacity to engage effectively with families.
Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams

Responsibilities

Work with the area office staff and designated SSI/RSDI liaisons to ensure screening of children coming into Department care or custody to determine whether they are already receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits, or other Federal benefits and/or whether they are potentially eligible for benefits.
Confirm proper documentation of screening for each youth is present in electronic record meeting initial and annual requirements.
Work with the area office to determine who should become the Representative Payee when applying for benefits or when children come into care already receiving benefits.
Work with area offices to apply for and track initial Social Security benefit applications and applications for DCF to become the child’s representative payee.
When requested, submit applications to the local Social Security Office and follow up on status as needed on behalf of DCF.
Receive and track communications from, and ensure response to, the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding youth eligibility, payment amounts, such as overpayment notices and notices of benefit denial, reduction, or termination and work with area office staff and legal staff to ensure timely response and/or appeal when needed.
Ensure completion of periodic Continuing Disability Reviews and Redeterminations for children receiving Social Security benefits in consultation with area office staff.
Work with the area office staff and designated SSI/RSDI liaisons to ensure SSI-eligible children’s assets do not exceed SSI asset or resource limits.
Work with the area office staff and designated SSI/RSDI liaisons to ensure children are aware of and have access to funds in their personal needs allowance accounts and/or ABLE accounts to meet their personal needs and provide guidance to area offices on which expenses can be paid for with PNA/ABLE account funds
Act as consultant surrounding Social Security benefits, PNA and ABLE accounts, and other transitional information to support clinical teams and work directly with families as needed.
Travel to families and/or area offices as needed for consulting and programmatic purposes.
Provide assistance to area offices with PNA disbursements status requests, PNA Closeouts, and other communications.
Conduct quality assurance activities to ensure area office staff are obtaining receipts for items purchased with PNA and/or ABLE funds and uploading them to the electronic case management system.
Ensure area offices are aware of financial literacy requirements for Social Security youth beneficiaries, how to access training resources, and oversee that proper documentation requirements are being met.
Respond to inquiries from child’s/parent’s counsel.
Work with advocates, guardian ad litems, and child’s/parent’s counsel to promote the best interests of the child beneficiaries.
Attend area office meetings pertaining to child benefits and decisions around applying for Representative Payee and transferring management of ABLE accounts as needed.
Ensure proper transition of conserved funds back to Social Security or to the child, parent, guardian or adoptive parent upon the child leaving DCF involvement. This includes but is not limited to facilitating the completion of an SSA-11 form required to transfer ownership of an ABLE account.
Track and facilitate closeouts of PNA/ABLE accounts to ensure funds are transferred timely.
Assist in responding to cases and inquiries received to the ABLE and DCF-SSA Benefits Unit mailboxes.
Periodically identify children with an open PNA/ABLE account who have left care and facilitate the closeout of the PNA/ABLE account.
Ensure the Department complies with all notifications and reporting required by policy, regulation, or statute.
Track data and metrics to ensure compliance with agency policy, regulation, or statute.
Implement capacity building for staff in the assessment and eligibility determination of benefits for children who have a disability or a deceased, age 62+, or disabled parent.
Provide resources, support, and training to increase the level of understanding of the Department’s SSI and RSDI Child Benefits policy in coordination with the Department’s policy unit.
Ability to read and interpret state and federal legislation, understand policy implementation, and skills for advocacy, such as effectively filing appeals.
Assist in the identification and implementation of training needs surrounding Social Security and other federal benefits for DCF staff.
Collaborate and participate in ongoing SSA benefits management projects across DCF.
Participate in statewide trainings and interagency efforts as needed.
All other duties and responsibilities identified as part of the DCF-SSBU operating process.

Benefits

Comprehensive Benefits When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

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