STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Eligibility Services Specialist

Recruitment #210615-7168SH-001

Introduction


Are you a DSS employee looking for a promotional opportunity?
If so, we encourage you to apply!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) is recruiting for an Eligibility Services Specialist within the Community Options - Application Hub in Windsor CT, 20 Meadow Road, part of our Greater Hartford, Field Office.

This position is:
  • Full time, 40 hours per week.
  • Monday through Friday.
The first shift schedule hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Our agency delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS serves about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, and online and phone access options. Follow us on twitter@ctdss and see what we are all about!

We offer the same competitive benefits you are accustomed to, including medical, vision and dental insurance as well as retiree health insurance. Paid time off, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals. Also group life insurance and other supplemental benefits.

DSS participates in the E-Verify system, which is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career and make an impact with your State!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee of the Department of Social Services, who has permanent state status*, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period. For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please include your resume within the "Resume Tab" of your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system. Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Candidates selected for interview must bring, at the time of interview:

Two (2) most recent years attendance records
Two (2) most recent performance reviews

At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: supervisory references, college transcripts, etc. at the discretion of the hiring agency. You do not have to submit these documents with your application.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Lisa Womble, Lisa.Womble@ct.gov

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Social Services and the Department of Children and Families, this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor and policy specialist in the provision of eligibility services to clients of the department's various assistance programs and may provide a broad range of client services and economic support aimed at maintaining or achieving a client's full potential for self-direction, self reliance and independent living.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance including monitoring and assessing current and projected needs; provides technical and procedural support to staff; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with operating units, agencies and outside officials such as third party providers, social services agencies and attorneys regarding unit policies and procedures; makes recommendations on policies or standards; prepares reports and correspondence; acts as liaison with Eligibility Services Supervisor concerning unit training needs, practical program implementation problems and effectiveness of unit workflow procedures; acts as unit policy specialist in difficult, unusual and/or complex case resolution; facilitates the resolution of systems and data problems; provides eligibility services and/or vocational services to clients assigned to individual caseload; conducts in-depth interviews with applicants experiencing difficulty in meeting program eligibility requirements; evaluates clients' financial needs and stabilizes economic situation by providing necessary assistance and services; periodically reviews eligibility to ensure correct benefits level; may be responsible for agency components of client Independence Plans; conducts comprehensive social services assessment to identify potential barriers to employability; provides necessary eligibility, employment and supportive services to reduce barriers and promote self sufficiency; may provide client orientation to agency programs and support services; monitors client progress with employability plan and takes appropriate actions including conciliation and/or sanctioning; may make presentations within agency and/or community; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of available community support and social services resources; considerable knowledge of common individual and/or family financial practices and investments; considerable knowledge of Eligibility Management System; knowledge of counseling and interviewing techniques; knowledge of employment problems of economically disadvantaged and issues which are barriers to employment; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; interviewing skills; problem solving skills; training ability; ability to maintain client records and prepare reports; some supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience in the determination of client eligibility for public assistance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the level of Eligibility Services Worker.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in a closely related area may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Our ideal candidate will possess:

  • Experience with Long Term Services and Support 5-year look back assessments.
  • Experience and knowledge of trusts.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.