Per Capita-Representative Payee Level 1

Puyallup Tribe; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Retirement/401(k) with profit sharing

Paid holidays

Paid time off including birthday leave

Job summary

Puyallup Tribe of Indians seeks a Representative Payee to work with vulnerable tribal members and manage monthly payments to beneficiaries. The role prioritizes beneficiaries’ current and future needs and requires sound judgment and confidentiality.

Level I handles routine duties and Level II serves as a lead, handling complex, confidential matters, with regular deadlines and cross-department coordination in a tribal program setting.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required for Level I; two years of related experience.
• Level II requires an Associate Degree in Social Services or related field and four years of related experience.
• Intermediate knowledge of Word, Excel and Access is required.

Responsibilities

• Level I: follow the Representative Payment Program; manage beneficiary funds for current needs and save the rest.
• Set up and maintain separate bank accounts for each beneficiary; fiduciary responsibilities.
• Assist beneficiaries to find services, file applications, and coordinate resources.
• Level II: meet with beneficiary to establish budget and discuss benefits; prepare court documents and attend court as needed.
• Review Level I files, assist in complex cases, and advise Director on out-of-policy decisions.
• Notify program of beneficiary status changes and return conserved funds as required.

Skills

Language skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

High School Diploma

Associates Degree in Social Services

Tools

Word

Excel

Access

Job description

Puyallup Tribe of Indians Job Announcement

• Open: October 2, 2026
• Close: October 19, 2026
• Title: Representative Payee
• Department: PERR CAPITA/RPP
• Reports To: Director
• Hours: 40 HRS/WK – FULL TIME
• Salary: BASED ON SALARY MATRIX +BENEFITS
• Requisition: 752

* Salaries are market competitive. For accurate salary information, call [phone] or email [e-mail]. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians provides a generous benefits package that includes employer paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement/401(k) plan with profit sharing, paid holidays, and paid time off including birthday leave.

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for working in collaboration with the most vulnerable members of the Puyallup Tribe to provide assistance to manage monthly payments on behalf of the Tribal Member beneficiary. The Representative Payee is responsible for meeting with and knowing the needs of the beneficiary, and acting in the best interests of the beneficiary to ensure that benefits received from the Tribe are used for the beneficiary’s current and/or future needs.

Level I is expected to handle moderately complex work assignments and disseminates accurate information to clients. Sound judgment and the ability to establish priorities to determine the best methods to accomplish work is expected. Application of general office fundamentals including operating office equipment, basic math and the ability to follow written and oral instructions is expected.

Level II is considered a Lead position and deals with highly complex and confidential and sensitive matters and is expected to act as a resource to others; work assignments involve creative thinking and the ability to make non-routine decisions. Interruptions and changing priorities are regular occurrences and tight deadlines create job challenges.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Level I:

1. Must be thoroughly knowledgeable with, and follow the Representative Payment Program as described in the Tribal Code. Must use any payments received on behalf of the beneficiary for his/her current needs and save the remainder forthe beneficiary’s future use.
2. Responsible for setting up and maintaining separate bank accounts for each beneficiary in the beneficiary’s name. The Representative Payee has a fiduciary responsibility for the funds and stands as an appointed representative payee by the Representative Payee Program.

Additional Level I responsibilities:

1. Assist the beneficiary to find other services he or she needs, including filling out applications, seeking medical care when necessary, or finding caregivers or caseworkers as needed. Also recommends an alternative person or agency if the Representative Payee can no longer serve the beneficiary.
2. Responsible for giving copies of receipts to the beneficiary on monthly expenses paid by the Representative Payee on behalf of the beneficiary.
3. Must keep an accounting record showing expenditures, including receipts, on a quarterly basis with the Representative Payee Program.
4. Responsible for local travel to banks for deposits/check cashing, to stores to purchase client gift cards or items needed for daily living, to post office or other shipping companies, or other locations to meet client’s needs.
5. Coordinates with other social service departments such as, Wrap Around, Community Family Services, Children’s Services, ICW, Elders, etc. to ensure clients receive all possible resources, and to gather all information necessary to meet client’s needs.
6. Must be able to perform duties of Payment Clerk in order to provide back-up to that position on an as-needed basis.
7. Must maintain confidentiality at all times.
8. Performs other duties as necessary or assigned.

Level II: All of the essential duties and responsibilities of Level I, plus:

Level II:

1. Must meet regularly with the beneficiary, preferably on a face-to-face basis to establish a budget and involve him/her as much as possible in financial decisions.
2. Works closely with beneficiary to explain tribal membership benefits and explain the beneficiary’s expenses to him/her.
3. Responsible for preparing court documents and ensuring that documents are filled and processed timely. Attends court with Payees and beneficiary.
4. Responsible for reviewing level I files, assisting in the management of complex cases, and making recommendations to Director for out of policy decisions regarding beneficiary.
5. Assist the beneficiary when he/she is negotiating with landlords, or others, in order to assure that the beneficiary gets the best possible outcomes in terms of rates, costs, etc.
6. Assist the beneficiary with filing tax returns, etc.
7. Must file a quarterly report of receipts and expenditures for and on behalf of the beneficiary, including an annual report. Reports must be filed timely.
8. Notify the Representative Payee Program when the tribal member beneficiary dies or leaves the payee’s care. Return conserved funds to the Representative Payment Program.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Level I has no supervisory responsibilities, may assist with training of other Payees. Level II will act as a lead worker to Level I Payees. Level II will train, assign cases, and will serve as a resource to others within the department and may occasionally act as supervisor when the supervisor is unavailable.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Level I: High School Diploma required and two years of related experience in a related field.

Level II: Associates Degree in Social Services or a related field and four years of related experience in case aide support work in a Native American community, including previous experience in acting as a Representative Payee;

Or satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience.

Level I and II are required to have intermediate knowledge of word processing and database programs is required (Word, Excel and Access). Must be able to accurately use the computer to produce word processing, spreadsheets and database documents as required by Supervisor. Use of Ceridian or ADP is preferred.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret governmental regulations and those documents for which the beneficiary may need assistance. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from beneficiary, his/her family, Tribal representatives and those individuals/businesses doing business with the beneficiary.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Other Skills and Qualifications

• Must be flexible, a team player, and able to deal with stressful situations. Must be willing to cross- train with other positions within the department in order to provide team support and no interruption of services to the community.
• Must be friendly, courteous and tactful.
• Must be dependable and have an ability to keep track of various tasks.
• Must be able to attend trainings as required by supervisor.
• Must be able to successfully pass a background check prior to hire, and periodically throughout employment thereafter.
• Must have and maintain a valid and driver’s license and proof of insurance. Driver’s License must not contain any restrictions that would otherwise prevent the employee from driving a GSA vehicle.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
  • The employee frequently is required to sit.
  • The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
  • Work is performed in an office setting.
  • May occasionally be required to travel for work.
  • May be exposed to stressful working conditions in order to meet tight deadlines.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

INDIAN REFERENCE EMPLOYER REQUIRED BY LAW

3009 E. Portland Ave., Tacoma, WA 98404