Benefits Program Specialist I/II

Arlington County Government; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Vacation and sick leave

Commuter transportation subsidies

Tuition reimbursement

Generous retirement plan

Job summary

Arlington County Government seeks a Benefits Program Specialist I/II to determine eligibility for various assistance programs by reviewing applications, interviewing clients, and collecting information. The role involves substantial client contact in person and by phone, with diverse populations and limited English proficiency support.

Requirements include a Bachelor's degree in social sciences and relevant eligibility experience; VA CMS trainings are required for advancement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or related field.
• Experience in eligibility determination or related social services work is required.
• BPSII VA CMS trainings or equivalent certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Determine eligibility for federal, state, and local assistance programs.
• Review applications, conduct client interviews, and verify information.
• Interact with diverse clients and external sources to confirm eligibility.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

MS Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in social sciences or related field

Job description

Minimum Qualifications: (Depending on qualifications, may be hired at I or II level)

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Benefits Program Specialist (BPS) to determine the eligibility of individuals and families for a variety of complex federal, state, and/or local financial assistance programs by reviewing applications, conducting client interviews, and collecting the necessary information to determine program eligibility. This position will have substantial client contact both on the phone and in person as well as frequent contact with internal and external sources to collect, confirm, and verify client information. Services are provided to families and individuals, many of whom are from diverse cultural backgrounds with limited English fluency

BPS I ($71,801.60 - $111,280.00 Annually):

Education: Bachelor's degree in social sciences or other directly related field; plus

Experience: One year of full-time experience in eligibility determination, employment, interviewing, social work, casework, or other closely related work; plus

BPS II ($75,400.00 - $116,854.40 Annually):

Education: Bachelor's degree in social sciences or other directly related field.

Experience:

• One year of full-time experience in eligibility determination, employment, interviewing, social work, casework, or other closely related work; plus
• One additional year of full-time experience in eligibility determination for financial assistance, medical assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or other closely related public assistance programs within the Commonwealth of Virginia, to include proficiency working with the Virginia Public Welfare System (VaCMS), applying state regulations and requirements for determining benefit eligibility.

Licenses/Certifications:

BPSI-Completion of the following VaCMS trainings within 12 months of hire:

BPSII-Completion of the following VaCMS trainings prior to start date:

• VACMSE6001: Introduction to VACMS
• VACMSE6002: Applications and Cases in VACMS
• VACMSE6003: Additional Data Collection Tools
• VACMSE6004: Eligibility Determination Final Steps
• VACMSE6020: Intake & Data Collection in the VACMS
• VACMSE6040: Eligibility Determination Process & Eligibility Results
• VACMSE6050: Using the New Data and Populate Buttons
• VACMSE6090: Tasks and Reminders
• VACMS7010: Viewing and Printing Forms
• VACMSC1002: VACMS Basics classroom

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience can substitute for the education requirement.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with experience in one or more of the following:

• Recent experience (no more than 2 years from application date) working in Virginia Public Welfare System applying state regulations and requirements by determining benefit eligibility;
• Determining eligibility for SNAP, Medical Assistance, including Long Term Care eligibility determinations, financial assistance or other closely related public assistance programs;
• Working knowledge of Commonwealth of Virginia automated systems including VACMS, VAMMIS and other Virginia eligibility determination systems;
• Summarizing data using MS EXCEL; and/or
• Bilingual in English/Spanish

Special Requirements

Background check: A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

The candidates selected will be required to complete a State of Virginia Central Registry check.

Drivers License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent on a favorable review of the applicant's driving record

Additional Information

Work hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eligible for some Telework contingent upon workload and supervisor approval.

This announcement may be used to fill immediate and future vacancies within the Public Assistance Bureau and/or the Housing Assistance Bureau. Current vacancies exist within the Public Assistance Bureau

The official title of this position is DHS Benefits Program Specialist I/II

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.