Benefit Programs Specialist II

Virginia-Department-of-Social-Service; Virginia; On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia-Department-of-Social-Service seeks a Benefit Programs Specialist II to determine and re-deter­mine eligibility for financial assistance, food stamps, medical aid, and other social services. The role requires independent judgment within policy guidelines and collaboration with supervisors on complex cases.

Responsibilities include interviewing clients, explaining programs, processing applications, and monitoring case changes to reflect correct benefit levels.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of public service practices and eligibility requirements for social services.
• Ability to determine or redetermine eligibility for benefits using guidelines and data.

Responsibilities

• Interviews individuals and determines continuing eligibility for assistance.
• Explains benefit programs and reasons for assistance; processes applications and determines eligibility and benefit levels.
• Monitors cases for changes and updates benefit levels within guidelines.
• Evaluates employability and explores income sources; communicates rights and responsibilities to clients.
• Maintains client records and prepares reports; refers to service workers as needed.
• Identifies potential fraud and checks data completeness and accuracy.
• Provides information about other agencies and services as needed.

Skills

Interview techniques

Effective communication

Mathematical calculations

Data collection

Confidentiality and ethics

Judgment and discretion

Computer skills

Tools

Office software

Automated systems

Job description

Benefit Programs Specialist II

Employees’ responsibilities are related to the determination and re-determination of eligibility of individuals and families for financial assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, and for other social services’ benefit programs. 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. The Benefit Programs Specialist II is distinguished from the Benefit Programs Specialist III by the latter’s performing advanced technical work requiring depth and breadth of knowledge to understand, analyze and act on complex cases. Also, the Benefit Programs Specialist III serves as a technical resource for others regarding social services’ eligibility programs.

General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) –

• Interviews persons for assistance, obtains necessary information, and re-determines their continuing eligibility;
• Explains benefit programs and determines reasons and need for assistance;
• Processes applications for financial assistance and diversion; determines eligibility for assistance and benefit levels using automated systems and manual methods
• Monitors cases for changes in recipient circumstances, and implements changes to appropriately reflect benefit level within guidelines;
• Evaluates employability status of clients and explores potential sources of income; explains client responsibilities, rights and program availability;
• Refers clients to service worker as the result of overall assessment of situation; prepares reports and maintains client records;
• Identifies possible fraud and makes appropriate referrals; evaluates consistency and completeness of data secured, and where indicated substantiates its accuracy
• Explains programs and rights/responsibilities of applicants and recipients;
• Explores other possible sources of income;
• Computes assistance plans;
• Determines the amount of allowances for special circumstance items such as household equipment;
• Identifies clearly discernible social problems and makes referrals to Social Workers;
• Provides applicants or recipients with information about other agencies where they may go for services as needed.
• Explains a variety of programs under the social services umbrella such as employment services, child support services and child care services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Knowledge- Working knowledge of: practices of public service organizations; economic and basic human behavior; financial assistance programs sufficient to determine/re-determine eligibility for benefits; eligibility requirements for social service assistance as outlined by State, Local and Federal guidelines, regulations and policies; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation.

Skills- Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing with broad spectrum of individuals to include, but not limited to, customers, employers, courts, and medical professionals in person and on the phone; interview, gather information, re-evaluate each client’s situation, and make referrals; determine a client’s ownership share in situations; make mathematical computations; analyze information and determine from a variety of sources missing information and gaps; apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access data such as estates, retirement accounts, and real estate, reports, and manipulate data; maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with applicants and recipients, other public and private agencies, associates, and the public in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.

Education and Experience- Same as required in Benefit Program Specialist I with experience in benefit programs, use of computer software and hardware, and completion of required Benefit Programs training OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Special Requirements

Applicants are subject to a DMV driving record check, Child Abuse Central Registry check, criminal history search and/or pre-employment drug screening. The background investigation may include: fingerprint checks, employment verification and references, verification of education relevant to employment, credit checks relevant to employment and other background information requested by the hiring authority. Employee must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.

Special Instructions to Applicants

An application, resume and cover letter are required. Applicants are encouraged to provide a complete listing of work experience (including periods of unemployment) and qualifications on the application. Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application and resume. Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed or hand-delivered will not be accepted.