Benefit Programs Specialist IV

Virginia-Department-of-Social-Service; Front Royal (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Social Services seeks a Benefit Programs Specialist IV to lead and mentor a team specializing in ABD and Long-Term Care Medicaid. You will guide colleagues through complex asset checks, look-back periods, and trust analyses, collaborating with nursing facilities, legal reps, and waiver programs.

The role emphasizes independent work within policy frameworks, training staff, and providing supervisory backup to ensure coverage and balanced workloads while maintaining

Qualifications

• Leads and guides staff on benefit programs policy and procedures.
• Mentors staff and provides training and guidance to other specialists.
• Reviews complex case files and supports supervision of staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead worker responsibilities including staff coverage and workload balance.
• Train staff and provide backup supervision as needed.
• Handle complex financial review tasks involving assets, trusts, and annuities.

Skills

Leadership

Staff Training

Case File Review

ABD/LTC Policy

VaCMS

Tools

VaCMS

Job description

Here, you get to stay close to the policy, lead by example, and directly elevate your peers!

Your Superpower: ABD & Long-Term Care Medicaid

While you will work in multiple benefit programs simultaneously, you will be our agency's ultimate subject matter expert in Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) and Long-Term Care (LTC) Medicaid. You'll guide the team through complex financial landscapes—asset transfers, look-back periods, annuities, and trusts—while collaborating closely with local nursing facilities, legal reps, and community waiver programs.

Title Description

Benefit Programs Specialist IV represents the leadership level in the occupational group. Employees perform responsible lead work related to benefit programs. Employees are responsible for serving as lead worker and providing training and guidance to other Benefit Programs Specialists. Employees serve as support for the supervisor by performing tasks such as ensuring staff coverage, workload balance, training staff, reviewing case files, and providing backup supervision of staff. Employees may provide consultation on complex cases and may also work on complex case assignments which require dealing with information that is sensitive and confidential. Employees work within established policies, procedures and guidelines with a high degree of independence, seeking supervisory assistance only in unusually complicated and difficult cases/situations. The Benefit Programs Specialist IV is distinguished from the Benefit Programs Supervisor by the latter’s spending a majority of time in supervisory activities such as handling personnel issues, problems, and evaluating the work of others.

A Day in the Life (Illustrative Tasks)

• The Ultimate Mentor: Provide individual or group training to staff; design handy informational binders and quick-reference guides.
• The Quality Champion: Review case files for accuracy and ensure deadliness are met. You will conduct comprehensive case reads on 25% of all files handled by probationary employees to build their confidence and skill.
• The Supervisor's Anchor: Maintain excellent office operations by ensuring staff coverage, managing workload balance, and stepping in as the back-up supervisor when needed.
• The Financial Detective: Work on the most complex, high-stakes cases, analyzing tricky financial documents like deeds, trusts, and portfolios.
• The Community Connector: Respond to public inquiries, explore alternative income sources for clients, and partner with local community organizations to ensure families get holistic care.

What You Bring to the Team

• The \"LTC\" Secret Sauce: Deep knowledge of Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) programs, with an absolute mastery of ABD/LTC policy and VaCMS.
• A Leadership Heart: You are approachable, patient, and genuinely excited to share your knowledge to help your peers thrive.
• Proven Experience: A strong background as an eligibility worker within a Virginia DSS office, with a track record of handling advanced caseloads.
• Growth Mindset: A willingness to complete all required advanced employee development and specialized state-level training milestones.

• The Essentials: Must pass a standard criminal history background check and a Child Protective Services (CPS) clearance check.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Knowledge- Comprehensive knowledge of: applicable laws, codes, policies, and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities-procedures, including civil and Circuit Court procedures; basic human behavior, social problems and resources, and interviewing techniques; social, economic, health, and cultural factors which can serve as barriers to employment; and counseling techniques.

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

Abilities- Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software. Education and Experience- Same as required in Benefit Program Specialist III with additional work experience in a leadership role and benefit programs OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Education and Experience

Same as required in Benefit Program Specialist III with additional work experience in a leadership role and benefit programs OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.