Benefit Programs Specialist I/II (Gloucester)

Virginia-Department-of-Social-Service; Gloucester (VA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is seeking an entry-level Benefit Programs Specialist I to learn under supervision while being trained in determining eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, and other government assistance programs.

Upon successful completion of the training, the employee may be redefined to full-performance Benefit Programs Specialist II with a corresponding salary increase as per the local compensation plan.

Qualifications

• Experience in an office environment providing customer service.
• Ability to perform mathematic calculations (percentages, formulas, averages).
• Conduct interviews to gather information, evaluate situations, and analyze information.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency in data entry and reporting.
• Effective written and oral communication.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion.
• Ability to establish and maintain case records with automated systems.
• Maintain professional ethics and confidentiality.
• Ability to work under pressure and collaborate with others.

Responsibilities

• Process applications for entitlement programs.
• Determine ongoing eligibility and benefit levels.
• Interpret policies for Medicaid and SNAP.
• Monitor cases for changes in recipient circumstances.
• Explain client responsibilities and program availability.
• Evaluate data accuracy and substantiation.
• Compute assistance plans.
• Evaluate employability and income sources.
• Refer clients to Services Intake.
• Provide information about other community resources.
• Shelter duty when activated by the County Administrator.

Skills

Customer service

Numerical ability

Interviewing

Communication

Computer literacy

Judgment and discretion

Data management

Confidentiality

Teamwork

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Benefit Programs Specialist I represents the entry level in the occupational group for employees working under close supervision while being trained in determining eligibility for a variety of social services government assistance programs. Upon recommendation by the supervisor, approval by the director, and successful completion of the training program, the employee shall be redefined to full-performance Benefit Programs Specialist II with a corresponding salary increase as indicated by the local department’s compensation plan.

Benefit Programs Specialist II represents the full-performance level in the Benefit Programs Specialist occupational group. Employees’ responsibilities are related to the determination and re-determination of eligibility of individuals benefit programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The work is performed within established policies, procedures and guidelines, but certain aspects of eligibility determination require independent judgment, especially as related to evaluation of social factors influencing eligibility. Employees seek supervisory help for difficult or unusual situations only.

Benefit Programs Specialist I is distinguished from the Benefit Programs Specialist II by the latter’s performing all the assigned eligibility duties independently and making judgments following agency practices and procedures as well as mandated federal, state, or local laws and policies.

Responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the following:

• Process applications for entitlement programs.
• Determine ongoing eligibility for assistance and benefit levels using automated systems and manual methods.
• Interpret policies and procedures applicable to Medicaid and SNAP.
• Monitor cases for changes in recipient circumstances and implement changes to appropriately reflect benefit level within guidelines.
• Explains client responsibilities, rights and program availability.
• Evaluates consistency and completeness of data secured and, where indicated, substantiates its accuracy.
• Compute assistance plans.
• Evaluates employability of clients and explores potential sources of income.
• Identify clearly discernible social programs and refer clients to Services Intake.
• Provide individuals with information about other community agencies that can provide additional services and resources.
• Shelter duty – When activated by the County Administrator, must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter.

Hiring Range:$42,853 - $59,994 (Dependent on experience, qualifications and budgetary considerations)

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience working in an office environment providing customer service to the general public.
• Some knowledge of basic human behavior.
• Ability to perform mathematic calculations to include percentages, formulas and averages.
• Conduct interviews for the purpose of gathering information, evaluating situations, and analyzing information.
• Skilled in operating a personal computer.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Exercise sound judgement, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions.
• Utilize various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access and retrieve data, create reports and manipulate data.
• Maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of financial assistance programs sufficient to determine or re-determine eligibility for benefits
• Preferred completion of required Virginia Benefit Programs training.
• Experience with related agency software is preferred.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex policy.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully independently and as a team member, manage multiple tasks and prioritize workloads.

Special Requirements

• Applicants are subject to a Criminal History Background search, including an FBI Fingerprint Background search, Central Registry search, DMV/driving record check.
• All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screening.

Based on the response to this posting, this position may be filled as a Benefit Programs Specialist I or a Benefit Programs Specialist II.

ABOUT US

VDSS is one of the largest Commonwealth agencies, partnering with 120 local departments of social services, along with faith-based and nonprofit organizations, to promote the well-being of children and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside nearly 13,000 state and local human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia's most vulnerable citizen have access to best services and benefits available to them.