Benefits/Employment Specialist

Description

Summary:

Responsible for providing support to the staff and clients of the Community-based Homelessness Prevention Program, in all matters related to public and privately funded benefits. Incumbents in this classification are expected to possess considerable expertise in TANF and Safety Net Assistance funded benefits, Social Security, State and Federally funded Housing subsidies, Food Stamps, and other programs for which Home-Base clients may be eligible.

Responsibilities:

• Works with the Program Director in providing assistance to the case managers in matters related to public benefits.
• Develop a resources guide to be used by case managers as a reference source, and by supervisors as a training tool.
• Provides guidance to clients in dealing with benefits-related issues.
• Provides counseling and advocacy services to clients who are having problems with their public benefits.
• Provides guidance and advocacy to clients who are pursuing administrative fair-hearings with the different government agencies.
• Provides assistance to clients and case managers with the proper usage of Access NYC.
• Participates as instructor for the CCCS Financial Literacy Classes.
• Ability to provide technical support to Tenant Education Program (TEP) clients regarding issues involving joining Microsoft TEAMS, downloading the Microsoft TEAMS App, etc.
• Proficiency in data entry.
• Ability to monitor and update Online Database/Registration/Rescheduling of TEP clients.
• Ability to Host and facilitate virtual workshops as needed.
• Create TEP Certificates of Completion and disburse to case managers.
• Handle special projects as assigned by the supervisor.
• Attend Department and Program meetings as directed.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Salary: $22.10 - $24:47 per hour. This is a non-exempt hourly paid position based on a 35 hour work week.($40,200 - $44,500/annually)

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree or relevant experience in the field, bi-lingual English-Spanish preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; strong organizational and computer literate.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are generally 9:00 AM to 5 PM Monday - Friday. Additional hours may be required to meet program deadlines.

Working conditions and physical demands required:

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Individuals will use public transportation or traverse city streets, occasionally ascend/descend stairs, and be exposed to outside weather conditions.
• Ability to work with the public.
• Ability to position boxes/items at different levels that weigh up to 25 lbs.
• Remain stationary at a workstation and use a computer at least 50% of the time.
• Potential to carry a laptop to offsite work locations.