Economic Support Specialist

Description

The Economic Support Specialist serves individuals and families seeking public program assistance throughout the Great Rivers Consortium (involving 10 counties working together to assist clients with information and services). Assesses client needs and determines eligibility for public assistance programs including FoodShare, Medicaid, Caretaker Supplement, Child Care Assistance, Elderly Blind Disabled Medicaid, Medicaid Purchase Plan, Long Term Care, Family Care/Waiver. Answers calls in a Call Center setting. Interviews customers and enters information into CARES computer system. Makes appropriate referrals for services to other agencies as deemed necessary. Responsibilities include case management and eligibility determination / maintenance in accordance with county, state and federal regulations. Starting salary dependent upon job-related education and experience. Position eligible for full-time telework after first twelve (12) months of employment.

Essential Duties

The following duties are normal for this classification. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned:

• Answers phones in a call center setting;
• Provides case management duties; answers questions, provides case status updates, processes changes; troubleshoots problems, responds to emergency needs; re-determines eligibility and and processes verifications;
• Interviews clients, evaluates information and explains program features and requirements of eligibility for medical assistance, Food Share, Badgercare, child care, and caretaker supplement program benefits;
• Verifies and documents items as required by State and Federal guidelines;
• Interprets available information and investigates when information is questionable; identifies any over-issuance of benefits and makes necessary entries into CARES;
• Maintains necessary notes in CWW/CARES screens that documents contacts with clients in person and via telephone;
• Processes applications, reviews and changes in order to determine program eligibility according to State and Federal policy; discontinues cases after determining that eligibility has ceased and performs any necessary follow up work;
• Makes appropriate referrals for necessary services such as ADRC, Social Security, SSI, Child Support, Veterans Services, Judicare, Social Workers, and Job Services;
• Completes and distributes program forms;
• Explains rights and responsibilities to clients;
• Performs duties of Front End Verification; suspected fraud referrals are received, a review of the allegations contained in the claim is completed and proper referral is made;
• Prepares for and attends hearings on benefit appeals;
• Reviews system database and cross matches information for payments either paid out or received; These payments may include but are not limited to: Child Support payments, Social Security income, wage match information and Unemployment Compensation benefits, collects deductible payments and insurance premiums;
• Participates in meetings and training sessions to keep informed of changing regulations, implementation problems and program changes;
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level or as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent with two years experience in an office setting; two or more years of college or vocational/technical training in a financial or Human Services field preferred; OR any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skill and abilities. County will provide required state mandated Economic Support Specialist training upon hire.

Working Conditions
Position operates in a professional office environment for potentially the first twelve (12) months of employment. After which time, position becomes eligible for full-time telework.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication:

• Requires the ability to perform complex level of data analysis including the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize and/or reference data, statutes and/or guidelines;
• Requires discretion in determining and referencing established standards;
• Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information such as regulations, client records, bank statements, tax records, insurance forms, department forms, medical records, program manuals, guidelines, policies, correspondence and computer software operating manuals;
• Requires the ability to communicate orally and in writing with clients, financial institutions, other county departments, and other public agencies.

Supplemental Information

• Requires the ability to operate a variety of office equipment such as computer, telephone, fax machine, calculator, printer and photocopier;
• Requires the ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing movements requiring moderate skill, such as keyboarding; tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling of objects weighing five to ten pounds. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation;
• Requires the ability to recognize and identify individual characteristics of shapes and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks.