Benefit Programs Specialist Iii - Berryville, United States - 043-Clarke Dept Of Social Services

Description

Hiring Range:
$34,752 to Depending on Qualification


Full Time or Part Time:
Full Time

Additional Detail

**Title Description
- **Benefit Programs Specialist III represents the advanced level in the occupational group. Employees are assigned advanced technical functions or projects that require considerable knowledge of all public assistance functions, specifically the Medical Assistance program including long term care programs. Employees in this class conduct the initial and ongoing eligibility determinations requiring advanced program knowledge or provide quality control by examining cases completed by other eligibility workers for accuracy and uniformity. Work is performed independently in accordance with well-established guidelines and standards. The most complex situations are reviewed with the supervisor.
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General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) -

• Contacts vendors for services and ensures payments to allow for the restoration or continuation of services.
• Monitors efficacy, trends of programs, and completes seasonal, quarterly and yearly reports;
• Participates on task forces, strategic planning, mentoring volunteers, students and new employees, teaching classes, and conducting outreach;
• Reviews cases for correctness, identifies significant errors/problems in caseloads and determines if the errors/problems are with the section, unit or with an employee;
• Provides statistical data and other information to support budget requests; interviews clients who provide questionable or fraudulent statements and information and determines program eligibility;
• Documents data and information gathered and compares findings with established guidelines of program eligibility;
• Prepares reports regarding quality control and makes recommendations to the supervisor;
• Explains programs, and the rights and responsibilities of applicants and recipients, and conducts followup as needed;
• Carries a caseload of clients receiving public assistance that involve complex issues;
• Serves as a resource to staff and the public concerning public assistance programs and eligibility requirements;
• Answers questions related to policies and procedures; and
• Maintains records, prepares reports, and submits summaries and information as required.

**Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge** Considerable knowledge of:

applicable laws, codes, policies, and procedures related to public assistance programs
- basic human behavior
- financial assistance programs sufficient to determine benefits eligibility
- mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas, and averages to solve mathematical problems
- interviewing techniques such as data collection, interrogation, and investigation.

• Demonstrated ability to:

- manage complex cases
- read and interpret public policies and regulations sufficient to make decisions independently in a variety of public assistance programs
- train staff
- speak in public, promoting agency programs
- develop brochures and pamphlets and use audio-visual equipment
- share learned information with co-workers
- communicate effectively and diplomatically 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 where multi-ownership exists; assess client's needs through collection and analysis of employment history and pertinent personal, family and cultural information
- 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
- 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
- identify customers' needs and explore options to address these needs within the available community resources.


Skills- High school diploma or equivalent supplemented with additional training and related work experience OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Prefer working knowledge of financial assistance programs sufficient to determine/re-determine eligibility for benefits. Prefer completion of required Benefit Programs training. Prefer experience with agency related software. Prefer training in SNAP, ABD and Long-term Medicaid.
- **Abilities
- **Demonstrated ability to: manage complex cases; read and interpret public policies and regulations sufficient to make decisions independently in a variety of public ass