Human Services Benefits Program Specialist
(Part-Time / 20 Hours)
The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Human Services Benefits Program Specialist position.
An Overview
A Human Services Benefits Program Specialist determines and re-determines eligibility of individuals and families for one or more federal, state, and local financial assistance programs including: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Medicaid for families, children, the elderly and disabled, and nursing home/community based care; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Auxiliary Grants (AG); General Relief (GR) for unattached children; and, Energy Assistance; interprets and explains policies pertaining to financial assistance programs.
Work is performed independently in accordance with well-established guidelines and standards. Unusual or difficult situations are referred to a supervisor. Work performed is reviewed for accuracy, clarity and completeness. The Human Services Benefits Program Specialist requires the ability to use independent judgement to determine eligibility of individuals and families for assistance, by interpreting law and policy, and by evaluating social and economic factors as they relate to eligibility, without supervisory guidance.
What You Should Bring
The ideal candidate will have good knowledge of interviewing techniques, basic human behavior and social problems; good knowledge of public assistance programs and sources of assistance; ability to understand and interpret eligibility rules and regulations; ability to plan and execute work effectively; ability to make arithmetical computations; ability to gather facts and report them accurately; and the ability to communicate clearly, tactfully, and effectively, both orally and in writing. 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. Skill in operating a personal computer. Demonstrated ability to: 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.
The Opportunity
- Interprets policies and procedures applicable to the various programs state and federal benefits programs;
- Navigates proficiently through various databases (ADAPTRO, Spider, MMIS, SAVE, SVES, APPEC, EPPIC,VACMS, and CommonHelp);
- Tracks and complies with state mandates for timeliness and accuracy compliance for all financial assistance programs;
- Conducts detailed interviews on the telephone or in person to gather required information and troubleshoot discrepancies;
- Provides excellent customer service including explaining programs, policies and rights and responsibilities to applicants and recipients;
- Gathers and analyzes verification documents received for authenticity, validity, and accuracy, and make referral to fraud as required;
- Secures and safeguards confidential information from applicants, recipients, and federal reports;
- Prepares reports and maintains client records;
- Identifies and assesses customer needs to make appropriate referrals for services and resources to community organizations, mental health, employment and Social Security Administration;
- Maintain continued client contact throughout the year to assist clients with a multitude of issues and priorities for their self-sufficiency;
- May be required to support local disaster response/emergency operations and other duties related to the delivery of services;
- Assists co-workers and fills in as needed; and
- Performs related work as required.
About the Department
The Center for Economic Support provides programs and services for Public Benefits, Community Services, and Employment and Training. Our mission is to provide direct services to City of Alexandria residents in need of temporary assistance with food, shelter, employment and State medical assistance as they strive toward self-sufficiency.
