DHS Benefits Program Specialist I

Arlington County, VA • Full-time • Arlington, Virginia, United States • $48.11k - $65.86k / year • 1d ago

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Arlington County Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Benefits Program Specialist to determine 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.

Specific duties include:

Performing in-depth evaluation of social and financial circumstances;
Searching automated database systems to determine prior services provided;
Explaining eligibility programs including SNAP, Medical Assistance and TANF, program parameters, client's rights and responsibilities to clients and families;
Referring clients to additional services to help meet needs;
Interpreting complex regulations with frequently changing policies and procedures for issuing timely and accurate benefits;
Connecting childcare families with vendors/providers;
Completing service plans for childcare cases including establishing the need for childcare services; and
Providing consumer education to assist parents in making informed choices about childcare.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

Strong written and verbal communication skills to communicate with individuals who have varied backgrounds, experience, language capabilities and needs;
Flexibility to accommodate frequent changes in policy regulations and casework needs;
Ability to organize and analyze information, mathematical computation skills; and
Ability to work independently and function under pressure.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Minimum Requirements: This position may be hired at level I or level II depending on experience and/or certifications.

Bachelor's degree in the social sciences or other directly related field;
Some full-time experience in eligibility determination, employment, interviewing, social work, casework, or other closely related work.

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

Licenses/Certifications: Completion of the following VaCMS trainings within 12 months of hire:

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 Basic classroom

Note: Candidates who qualify for level II must have completed the above VaCMS trainings at time of application, and:

In addition to Level I experience, 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.

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

Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

Recent experience (no more than 2 years from application date) working in the Virginia Public Welfare System applying state regulations and requirements for determining benefit eligibility;
Determining eligibility for financial assistance, medical assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or other closely related public assistance programs;
Interpreting and communicating complex policies and procedures;
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.

Applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license 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. 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 through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Eligible for some Telework.

Please Note: This is an Overstrength position. It is expected to have funding renewed each year, with the possibility of becoming permanent at a later date.

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

Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give, "see resume", as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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.

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