The Portage County Health and Human Services department has a full time Economic Support Specialist opening.
What are the primary job duties?
Determination of initial and continued eligibility for Economic Support programs though the following job duties;
- Provides information about public assistance programs and eligibility to applicants, recipients and the general public.
- Conducts interactive interviews with applicants and recipients to determine initial and continued eligibility for public assistance programs.
- Assesses financial need and issues appropriate level of benefits per individual program policy.
- Provides information and referrals, when appropriate, for additional assistance with specific needs.
- Monitors state systems for accuracy of calculations and determination decisions and makes necessary corrections when errors occur.
- Processes changes to cases according to individual program policy.
- Verifies and documents client information according to individual program policy.
- Informs of and encourages FoodShare recipients to volunteer for the FoodShare Employment and Training Program and makes referrals for clients choosing to do so.
- Uses a variety of local, state and federal computer systems, including CARES, CARES Worker Web, KIDS, ForwardHealth interChange, CSAW/CCPI, SAVES, AVS Integrimatch, and Electronic Case File.
- Provides technical assistance, consultation, and collateral contact to other county agencies or human service agencies.
- Investigates discrepant information in client circumstances discovered through data exchange sources available, including wage records, Unemployment Insurance data, Social Security data, prisoner data, and out-of-state EBT usage reports. Collects information necessary to resolve discrepancies, determines if benefit issuance errors have occurred, and makes referrals for benefit recovery when appropriate.
- Refers cases for front end verification, fraud investigation, or legal disposition as necessary.
- Identifies errors in benefit issuance and takes appropriate action to reconcile the errors per individual program policy.
- Prepares responses to Division of Hearings and Appeals related to fair hearing requests, provides supporting documentation to Division of Hearings and Appeals and applicants/recipients, and represents agency at fair hearings.
- Represents the agency in legal proceedings and gives necessary testimony.
- Fields calls from applicants, recipients and the general public through the Consortium Call Center and provides both general and case-specific information regarding public assistance benefits.
What are the minimum qualifications?
- High school diploma or equivalency required.
- Two years post- secondary education in related human services field preferred.
- One year experiencing record keeping, documentation, reporting, or bookkeeping required.
- Education or experience in operating a computer required.
- Prior experience with benefits determination very helpful.
Starting pay: $20.79 per hour
Portage County offers an AWESOME benefit package for permanent employees working at least 20 hours/week, which includes the following;
- Vacation - available on day one!
- Health insurance- your choice of two health plans- (Health Savings Account associated with a High Deductible Health Plan with a County contribution or a PPO Co-pay plan)
- Health insurance starting at $19.33 a paycheck!
- Wellness incentive plan offered with health insurance enrollment! Earn up to $600 per year!
- Flexible spending account
- Dental insurance
- State of Wisconsin Retirement Plan - County contribution of 6.5%!
- Paid holidays
- Paid sick leave
- Life insurance- premium paid by the County (must work a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
- Long term disability insurance- premium paid by the County (must work a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
- EAP (Employee Assistance Plan) - paid by the County
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
TO APPLY: https://www.co.portage.wi.us/
Portage County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
