Virginia Department of Social Services

Human services for Virginians

Benefit Programs Specialist 1/2

Case Management & AdvocacyConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeOrange, VA, USA$32.4k - $54.5kIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

Working knowledge of mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas, and averages to solve mathematical problems, and of interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation.
Working knowledge of public service organization practices, economic and basic human behavior, and financial assistance programs sufficient to determine and redetermine benefit eligibility using regulations and guidelines.
Experience providing customer service to the public, including interviewing and gathering information.
Skill operating a personal computer and associated office and agency software to research, scan, and retrieve data and create and manipulate reports to establish, process, and maintain case records.
A high school diploma supplemented with experience in benefit programs and completion of required Benefit Programs training, or an equivalent combination of training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Applicants are subject to criminal history, Central Registry, and driving record checks, which may include fingerprint checks, agency checks, employment and reference verification, education verification relevant to employment, credit checks relevant to employment, and other checks requested by the hiring authority.
A valid driver's license and driving record must be submitted before the start date if considered for employment.
Must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter during a natural disaster or emergency.
Must be willing to assist Family Services with the care of high-acuity foster care youth.

Responsibilities

Interview individuals to determine eligibility for assistance and redetermine continuing eligibility.
Explain temporary assistance benefit programs and determine reasons for and need for assistance.
Process applications for financial assistance and diversion, and explain client responsibilities, rights, and available programs.
Evaluate the consistency and completeness of collected data and substantiate its accuracy when indicated.
Compute assistance plans.
Determine the need for and amount of allowances for special circumstances.
Evaluate social factors such as education, work experience, and levels of social functioning.
Evaluate clients' employability and explore potential sources of income.
For Benefit Programs Specialist I, work under close supervision while training to determine eligibility for social services government assistance programs; after recommended training completion and approval, transition to Specialist II with a corresponding salary increase.
For Benefit Programs Specialist II, independently determine and redetermine eligibility for financial assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, and other social services benefit programs, using established policies and exercising judgment as needed; seek supervisory help for difficult or unusual cases.

Desired Qualifications

Experience evaluating and processing SNAP and Medicaid cases in benefit programs.
Experience with VaCMS, MMIS, or other VDSS agency-related software programs.
Experience working with populations with limited English proficiency.
Bilingual ability in English and Spanish.
Experience working effectively and successfully within a team.

Title 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 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 and mandated federal, state, or local laws and policies.

Title Description- 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 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) –

Conducts interviews of persons to determine eligibility for assistance and re-determines their continuing eligibility;
Explains nature of temporary assistance benefit programs and determines reasons and need for assistance;
Processes applications for financial assistance and diversion; explains client responsibilities, rights and program availability;
Evaluates consistency and completeness of data secured, and where indicated substantiates its accuracy;
Computes assistance plans;
Determines the need for and amount of allowances for special circumstance items;
Evaluates such social factors as education, work experience, and levels of social functioning; and
Evaluates employability of clients and explores potential sources of income.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge- Some knowledge of: basic human behavior; 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; interview, gather information, and evaluate situations; analyze information; apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; use 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; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.

Education and Experience- High school diploma supplemented with additional training and related work experience OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Minimum Qualifications: Working knowledge of mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation.

Working knowledge of practices of public service organizations; economic and basic human behavior; financial assistance programs sufficient to determine/re-determine eligibility for benefits using regulations and guidelines.

Experience providing customer service to the public including the ability to interview and gather information.

Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software to research, scan and retrieve data, create and manipulate reports to establish, process, and maintain case records.

High school diploma supplemented with experience in benefit programs and completion of required Benefit Programs training or any equivalent combination of training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in benefit programs evaluating and processing SNAP, and Medicaid cases.

Experience with VaCMS, MMIS, or any VDSS agency related software programs.

Experience working with populations with limited English proficiency.

Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Experience working effectively and successfully within a team.

Special Requirements: Applicants will be subject to a Criminal History Background search, Central Registry search and DMV/driving record check. The investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment), credit checks (relevant to employment) and other checks requested by the hiring authority.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screenings.

Driving record and valid license must be submitted before actual start date if being considered for employment.

Employee must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Employee must be willing to assist Family Services with care of high acuity foster care youth.

Minimum Salary: $32,415.00

Maximum Salary: $54,500.00

About the Company

Virginia Department of Social Services

Human services for Virginians

Virginia Department of Social Services is the state agency that designs and administers human-service programs for people and families across Virginia. Its responsibilities include food and energy assistance, foster care and adoption, child support, licensing, and abuse and neglect prevention. The department works with local social-services agencies and community partners to deliver benefits, protection, and family support. The agency spans benefits administration, protection, family services, regulation, and statewide oversight while providing policy, systems, funding, training, and operational support to Virginia’s locally administered social-services network.

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