Economic Support Specialist

The Portage County Health & Human Services department is hiring a full-time Economic Support Specialist to join the team!

Pay starts at $23.30 / hr

Summary of Position :

This position provides initial and continued eligibility determinations for public assistance benefits administered through the agency.

The position screens and interviews applicants for various financial and economic relief programs. The position involves considerable contact with customers, agency staff, and other community agencies.

The position fields calls from applicants, recipients and the general public through the Consortium Call Center. Position works with public assistance programs, including but not limited to FoodShare and Medicaid / Badgercare .

What are the primary job responsibilities?

Determination of initial and continued eligibility for Economic Support programs, which includes the following :

• 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.
• Portage County offers an AWESOME benefit package, 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 $19.15 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 6.9%!
• 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

Portage County is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer