Eligibility Services Specialist at The Department of Children and Families in Hartford, Connecticut

Job Description:

Introduction

Are you a current State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) employee looking to tackle a more challenging role with supervisory duties? If this sounds like something you're up for, we invite you to check out this exciting opportunity below!

At DSS, we are currently recruiting for six (6) full-time, Eligibility Services Specialists (ESS) who would be a part of our team in our Benefit Center. These are 40 hours per week, first shift, Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm positions, and will be located out of either our Hartford or Manchester offices.

ESSs provide eligibility services to clients of the department's various assistance programs and may provide a broad range of client services aimed at maintaining or achieving a client's full potential for self-direction, self-reliance, and independent living. In addition, ESSs are assistant supervisors and as such assist supervisors in managing the unit, and in the supervisor's absence supervise the unit. With the addition of newly hired staff, supervisors depend greatly on their ESS to train and assist them with new hires. As an ESS, along with other duties as assigned, we entrust you to:

• Interview individuals to obtain information


• Determine and grant services and public assistance


• Research, verify and evaluate statements given by clients and other factors to ensure compliance with program eligibility requirements


• Act as a supervisor when needed

The Benefit Center is responsible for determining and maintaining eligibility for those that call our benefit center line. Specialists assist clients who are applying for assistance for Medical, Cash, and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Specialists also assist clients who are currently receiving assistance and provide eligibility services, conduct in-depth interviews, evaluate clients' financial needs, and review eligibility to ensure correct benefit levels.

As a state employee, you would continue to have access to the same competitive benefits package you are accustomed to. This includes health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, group life insurance, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals.

We hope you take this opportunity to join our team and continue serving your state!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee of the Department of Social Services, who has permanent state status*, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

*For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period. For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

The Department of Social Services participates in E-Verify, which is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Ethan Ives atEthan.Ives@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Social Services and the Department of Children and Families, this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor and policy specialist in the provision of eligibility services to clients of the department's various assistance programs and may provide a broad range of client services and economic support aimed at maintaining or achieving a client's full potential for self-direction, self reliance and independent living.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance including monitoring and assessing current and projected needs; provides technical and procedural support to staff; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with operating units, agencies and outside officials such as third party providers, social services agencies and attorneys regarding unit policies and procedures; makes recommendations on policies or standards; prepares reports and correspondence; acts as liaison with Eligibility Services Supervisor concerning unit training needs, practical program implementation problems and effectiveness of unit workflow procedures; acts as unit policy specialist in difficult, unusual and/or complex case resolution; facilitates the resolution of systems and data problems; provides eligibility services and/or vocational services to clients assigned to individual caseload; conducts in-depth interviews with applicants experiencing difficulty in meeting program eligibility requirements; evaluates clients' financial needs and stabilizes economic situation by providing necessary assistance and services; periodically reviews eligibility to ensure correct benefits level; may be responsible for agency components of client Independence Plans; conducts comprehensive social services assessment to identify potential barriers to employability; provides necessary eligibility, employment and supportive services to reduce barriers and promote self sufficiency; may provide client orientation to agency programs and support services; monitors client progress with employability plan and takes appropriate actions including conciliation and/or sanctioning; may make presentations within agency and/or community; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of available community support and social services resources; considerable knowledge of common individual and/or family financial practices and investments; considerable knowledge of Eligibility Management System; knowledge of counseling and interviewing techniques; knowledge of employment problems of economically disadvantaged and issues which are barriers to employment; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; interviewing skills; problem solving skills; training ability; ability to maintain client records and prepare reports; some supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience in the determination of client eligibility for public assistance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the level of Eligibility Services Worker.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in a closely related area may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to those who possess the following:

• Experience with the ImpaCT and Access Health CT(AhCT) Operating Systems and personnel policies


• Experience with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cash, medical and AhCT state administered programs


• Experience with Benefit Center functionality


• Experience identifying problems, researching solutions, making a decision and verifying accuracy of decision


• Experience prioritizing work and meeting time sensitive deadlines


• Experience communicating in writing and verbally to diverse populations and skill levels

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

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