Public Benefits Specialist 1-3 In-Training (PBS3) - Moses Lake

The State of Washington is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of children and families. They are seeking a Public Benefits Specialist who will conduct interviews, review information, and make eligibility determinations for child care assistance services, providing excellent customer service in a call center environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intensive interviews with customers to determine eligibility or continued eligibility for services when notifying the program of changes of circumstances for Child Care benefits
• Provide information about program requirements, application procedures, and verification needs
• Obtain and review necessary data, documentation and verification for Federal or State assistance as it relates to an individual’s specific circumstances
• Process Child Care applications received from the Washington Connection online applications, in the Document Management System (DMS), and through interactive interviews
• Responsible for Interviewing gathering and analyzing information, reviewing documents and system information. Assist customers to verify eligibility criteria, supporting first contact resolution customer service
• Analyze collected oral and written information to determine accurate benefits and continued program eligibility
• Finalize Child Care applications and reapplications with information received and verified for accurate determination of eligibility
• Refer clients to both mandatory and optional services including other agencies as required
• Authorize Working Connections Child Care Subsidy payment to approved Licensed facility and Family Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Subsidy Providers through the Social Services Payment System (SSPS)

Skills

• One (1) year of experience conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance to include financial, medical and food benefit programs
• Experience examining/processing medical insurance or rehabilitation claims, unemployment insurance claims, or in a customer service job where the major duties involve public contact, or a job providing staff support in financial eligibility determination will substitute, year for year, for education
• Six (6) months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 1, and completion of the agency's Public Benefits Specialist Training Program
• One (1) year of experience conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance to include financial, medical and food benefit programs and completing the agency's Public Benefits Specialist Training Program
• Nine (9) months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 2
• Fifteen (15) months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 1 and completion of the agency's Public Benefits Specialist Training Program
• Eighteen (18) months experience determining eligibility for financial, medical, food, long-term services and support programs, childcare and equal access benefits
• The ability to take action to learn and grow
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others
• Demonstrated experience working in a high-volume customer service environment
• One (1) year of experience working in a call center environment
• Prior experience determining eligibility for public programs

Benefits

• Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance.
• Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses.
• Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
• Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
• Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
• The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
• State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).
• Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).
• All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems.
• If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
• Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month.
• Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
• Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
• Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave.

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