Regional Social Security Benefits Coordinator

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

11d

About The Position

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking a mission-driven, dynamic, and highly organized Regional Social Security Benefits Coordinator with experience and knowledge of Social Security benefits and child disabilities. Reporting to the Social Security Benefits Manager, this position supports regional and area office efforts to identify children in DCF care or custody who may be eligible for Social Security Administration benefits and other federal benefits, apply for benefits, track applications, and maintain children’s eligibility. The coordinator serves as a consultant to regional and area office staff, building their capacity and expertise in Social Security and other federal benefits for children in DCF care or custody. The position covers five area offices in the Western Region, with an assigned work location at either the Springfield or Worcester Regional office. Applicants should indicate their location preference in the cover letter. Travel to families and area offices may be required. The role involves coordinating applications and representative-payee matters; tracking benefit-related correspondence and deadlines; supporting continuing disability reviews, redeterminations, appeals, and account administration; and helping ensure policy, regulatory, and statutory compliance. The coordinator also provides guidance, resources, and training to DCF staff and collaborates with families, legal staff, advocates, guardian ad litems, and other stakeholders to support the best interests of child beneficiaries.

Requirements

At least three years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, or public administration, with major duties involving program management, administration, coordination, planning, or analysis; or an equivalent combination of experience and qualifying education substitutions.
Ability to read and interpret state and federal legislation and understand policy implementation.
Advocacy skills, including the ability to effectively file appeals.

Nice To Haves

Strong organizational skills.
Knowledge of Social Security benefits and child disabilities.
Familiarity with child welfare principles and practices, and industry trends and developments.
Thoroughness, independence, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
Strong facilitation, consultation, and multitasking skills.
Ability to maintain accurate records and exercise discretion when handling confidential information.
Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels and engage effectively with families.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
Demonstrated commitment to DCF’s core practice values: child-driven, family-centered, community-focused, strength-based, committed to diversity and cultural competency, and committed to continuous learning.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with area office staff and SSI/RSDI liaisons to screen children entering DCF care or custody for existing or potential eligibility for SSI, RSDI, and other federal benefits.
Confirm that required initial and annual screening documentation is recorded in each youth’s electronic record.
Work with area offices to determine who should serve as representative payee when applying for benefits or when a child already receives benefits upon entering care.
Assist area offices with initial benefit applications and applications for DCF to become representative payee; submit applications to local Social Security offices when requested and follow up on their status.
Track and respond to SSA communications concerning eligibility, payment amounts, overpayments, denials, reductions, and terminations, coordinating timely responses or appeals with area office and legal staff.
Coordinate periodic Continuing Disability Reviews and redeterminations for children receiving Social Security benefits.
Help ensure SSI-eligible children remain within asset and resource limits and can access funds in personal needs allowance (PNA) or ABLE accounts; advise area offices on eligible expenses.
Consult with clinical teams and work directly with families as needed on Social Security benefits, PNA and ABLE accounts, and transitional information.
Travel to families and area offices as needed for consulting and programmatic purposes.
Assist area offices with PNA disbursement status requests, PNA closeouts, and related communications.
Conduct quality assurance to ensure receipts for PNA and ABLE purchases are obtained and uploaded to the electronic case management system.
Ensure area offices understand financial literacy requirements for Social Security youth beneficiaries, know how to access training resources, and meet documentation requirements.
Respond to inquiries from the child’s or parent’s counsel.
Work with advocates, guardian ad litems, and the child’s or parent’s counsel to promote the best interests of child beneficiaries.
Attend area office meetings concerning child benefits, representative-payee decisions, and transfers of ABLE account management.
Coordinate the transition of conserved funds when a child leaves DCF involvement, including facilitating SSA-11 forms needed to transfer ABLE account ownership.
Track and facilitate timely PNA and ABLE account closeouts and fund transfers.
Help respond to cases and inquiries received through the ABLE and DCF-SSA Benefits Unit mailboxes.
Identify children who have left care but still have open PNA or ABLE accounts and facilitate account closeout.
Ensure the Department meets notification and reporting requirements under policy, regulation, and statute.
Track data and metrics to monitor compliance with agency policy, regulation, and statute.
Build staff capacity to assess and determine benefit eligibility for children with disabilities or with a deceased, age-62-or-older, or disabled parent.
Provide resources, support, and training to improve understanding of DCF’s SSI and RSDI Child Benefits policy in coordination with the policy unit.
Read and interpret state and federal legislation, understand policy implementation, and support advocacy, including filing appeals.
Help identify and implement training needs concerning Social Security and other federal benefits for DCF staff.
Collaborate on ongoing SSA benefits management projects across DCF and participate in statewide trainings and interagency efforts as needed.
Perform other duties and responsibilities identified as part of the DCF-SSBU operating process.