Benefits Specialist

POSITION: Benefits Specialist

PROGRAM/LOCATION: Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

SUPERVISOR: Program Manager

Job Type: Non-Exempt

Job Status: Full Time

AGENCY SUMMARY:

Established in 1980, with 40 years of experience, we are the premier Silicon Valley provider of homelessness services. We believe that everyone has the potential to get housed and stay housed. We relentlessly focus on eliminating barriers to housing and creating stability for everyone we serve.

HomeFirst Services serves more than 6,000 adults, veterans, families, and young adults each year at multiple locations from Gilroy to Menlo Park – all of Santa Clara County as well as southern San Mateo County.

Services include:

• Homelessness prevention
• Emergency and cold-weather shelters
• Comprehensive Veterans’ services
• Rapid Re-Housing programs
• Bridge Housing Communities
• Emergency Interim Housing
• Affordable permanent housing
• Permanent Supportive Housing
• Street-based outreach

Benefits of joining the HomeFirst Team:

• Professional growth opportunities within the organization
• 100% medical coverage for employees with an opportunity to add dependents for a shared cost
• 401k match up to 4%
• 12 observed holidays
• PTO accrual begins with 120 hours annually and increases with tenure
• 4 hours of Civic Engagement PTO provided annually
• Access to our Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) services
• Pet insurance options are available

HomeFirst Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Additionally, HomeFirst Services participates in the E-Verify program, as required by law.

HomeFirst Services is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

Role Summary

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for supporting program participants in gaining access to needed benefits, improving their household income, and improving their health status and overall well-being. The Benefits Specialist is responsible for connecting the veteran household to benefits such as Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits, Social Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), and more.

Qualifications

• Lived Experience highly valued
• 1 year of paid or volunteer experience in social work or related human services required
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) or related human services degree preferred, not required
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Valid CA driver’s license and insurance, and reliable transportation

Qualities

The Benefits Specialist is passionate about serving others and sees themself in a helping profession long term. They are proactive and responsive to the needs of our participants, meeting them “where they’re at” and bridging the gap between the individual and our services.

They manage their time well and demonstrate strong organizational abilities. With the support of program leadership, the Benefits Specialist participates in our culture of learning and increases their knowledge of evidence-based practices over the course of their employment. Together, we model the values and principles of HomeFirst within the agency and the broader community.

HomeFirst is a diverse company in a diverse field, and the Benefits Specialist seeks to work with people from a variety of social and economic backgrounds. They are a highly collaborative member of our participant services team and enjoy a team-oriented work environment.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Client Contact/Case Management (60%)

• Serves as benefits representative develops, and presents information to veteran families to increase awareness of veteran’s benefits and programs
• Conducts interviews with veterans and their families and reviews background data on current medical and financial history to obtain information needed to determine eligibility
• Evaluates information to determine the potential eligibility of clients for benefits from related programs (e.g., Social Security, welfare, and vocational rehabilitation)
• Identifies client barriers and provides solutions to housing, financial, medical, and social needs within the framework of the SSVF and other programs
• Assists in the preparation of claims packages for veteran families seeking disability, education, medical, and related benefits
• Works closely with other SSVF staff to determine client’s eligibility for benefits, permanent
• housing and temporary financial assistance
• Provide supportive services in the client’s home or other non-office locations as appropriate
• Facilitate service team meetings
• Facilitate non-clinical groups, workshops, and client activities
• Accountable to achieve the program’s desired outcomes with the program team

Service Documentation and Evaluation (30%)

• Maintains thorough, accurate records of case management activities with every program participant, as required by grant contracts
• Maintain HMIS database by entering client data
• Communicates regularly with other staff via email, incident reports, and briefings
• Effectively utilize case conferencing and supervision to support case management work

General (10%)

• Assists with office-related tasks as needed
• Attends all job-related meetings, including program staff meetings and agency-wide meetings
• Participate in opportunities for learning and skill maintenance/development, including internal and external training and workshops
• Assists with other duties assigned