Benefits Planning Specialist
20 hours ago
Kansas City
POSITION SUMMARY This position will provide benefits counseling assistance, outreach and management support to employees with disabilities and clients of Job One and Job One Careers programs who are exploring career development, and/or pursuit, maintenance or advancement of employment. The Benefits Planning Specialist (Specialist) collects data on individual’s current benefit status, provides critical analysis of impact of work and earnings on these benefits, and makes recommendations to the individual and to other interested stakeholders about benefit management plans that should be put into place as the individual develops a plan for employment. The Specialist integrates benefit support plans into existing service delivery constructs to ensure continuity of the employment planning and benefits advisement and management process. Outputs of work will be supervised and evaluated by the COO and other members of the Leadership Team. In addition, to ensure the continuous quality improvement of services and support provided, the Specialist will regularly seek feedback from the participant. The Specialist will identify those in need of added outside services, develop plans to improve the client’s well-being and research and refer clients to community resources. The Specialist will collaborate with the employment services team to start outside referral services. It is important to have good community resource awareness and contacts. EDUCATION Bachelor's from an accredited college or university in rehabilitation, social work, counseling, or a related social service or education degree and documented training in Social Security Work Incentives Benefits Counseling. Masters preferred. EXPERIENCE Proven success in providing benefits advisement, planning and management to persons with disabilities preferred. Experience as a Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) or through a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance project greatly preferred. COMPUTER SKILLS Must be adept in the use of Microsoft particularly Outlook, Set-Works, Vertex, Word and Excel CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES Social Security requires all CWICs to complete the CWIC initial training program and successfully complete a series of competency-based assessments to be certified to provide Work Incentives Planning and Assistance services to beneficiaries. A valid Social Work License (LBSW, LMSW, LCSW or LAMSW) is desired. Must have a valid driver’s license at time of application and obtain a Class E Chauffeur’s License within 30 days of hire. 1st Aid/CPR Certified OTHER REQUIREMENTS • Outstanding written and oral communication skills, • Excellent interpersonal skills, problem solving, and organizational skills, • Proficiency in mathematical calculations, • Strong advocating skills, • Knowledge of vocational rehabilitation, employment and training, • Culturally competent, • Enjoy collaborating with people with a range of abilities, • Analytical problem-solving skills, • Knowledge of programs and services for people with developmental disabilities preferred, • Valid driver’s license, • Willingness to travel on company business in personal vehicle, • Respect the rights and dignity of people with disabilities and willingness to Specialist on their behalf, • Affirmative drug and alcohol screening, • Affirmative criminal/abuse background check ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Outreach and Training • Assists individuals to access services within the community based on their needs which may include but not limited to medical, mental health, dental needs, nutritional concerns, homelessness, transportation, substance abuse, the need for protection and advocacy and coordination for residential services if needed, • Integrates benefit support plans into existing service delivery constructs to ensure continuity of employment planning, benefits advisement and management processes, • Conducts outreach to key stakeholders including participants, their families, support networks, clinical treatment teams, and other interested stakeholders, • Conducts staff and employee surveys, • Shares information about Social Security work incentive provisions across stakeholder groups, • Establishes collaborative relationships with DMH, Vocational Rehabilitation counselors, local Social Security offices and other government and social service agencies serving the Kansas City metropolitan area to gain knowledge and access to ongoing information and support, • Conducts presentations on Social Security Work Incentives to VR counselors, potential participants and as requested by COO., • Trains Job One Employee Services Staff and Job One Careers staff in the use and interpretation of information gathered by the Specialist. Benefits Planning – types and amounts of unearned income (e.g., unemployment, Veteran’s Benefits, civil service, railroad retirement pension, alimony, child support, private disability insurance, worker’s compensation, etc.). – types and amounts of financial needs-based assistance (e.g., Pell Grants, TANF, food stamps, state subsidized housing, HUD, and other subsidies). – earned income and/or wages from self-employment. – health insurance status; and, – for SSDI, number of trial work period and extended period of eligibility months used. – past/present service providers. – work history and references; and, – history of impact of work on benefits in the past • Conducts analysis of the information, • Applies different benefit scenarios to study impact and effect of future earnings on benefit status, • Develops report highlighting and outlining options and recommendations for consideration as part of the career development and employment process, • Supports the individual, their key stakeholders, and supporters in understanding the report and defining next steps for both the individual being served and the benefits specialist., • Assists the individual, their key stakeholders, and their support teams in making informed choices and establishing employment-related goals and needed benefits management support. Benefits Assistance • Evaluates and understands the array of service delivery plans that may be intersecting and dissecting the individual’s life and assists the individual, the key stakeholders and the employment coordination team in incorporating benefits management goals and objectives into existing Employment Services and Supported Employment service delivery planning constructs., • Informs the individual, their key stakeholders and their support teams as to touch points, they will need to be sensitive to about reporting, reviews, redeterminations, documentation and other areas, • Ensures that a comprehensive plan has been developed which identifies:, • the support/activities needed and related time frames, • responsibilities and roles, • desired outcomes, • resources needed, • quality indicators, • Provides or identifies providers of proactive benefits management and monitoring including, but not limited to:, • intermittent wellness visits (every 3-6 months as prescribed by the team)., • regular ongoing communication via phone, letter, e-mail, etc., • update knowledge and information sharing of impact of new policies on benefit and employment status., • provision of crisis management supports., • information and referral; and, • problem solving and advocacy., • Assesses, evaluates and informs on touch point issues about SSI including, but not limited to:, • age 18 redetermination and possible shifts to either SSI as an adult, SSDI/DAC, denial of continued benefits or continuation of benefits if enrolled in an approved vocational rehabilitation program., • 1619(b)., • increase in earned and unearned income., • increase in resources., • marital status., • living arrangements., • in-kind support., • over and underpaid., • continuing disability review; and, • use of work incentives., • Assesses, evaluates and informs on touch point issues regarding SSDI including, but not limited to:, • trial work period., • extended period of eligibility and grace period., • Continuing Disability Review., • extended Medicare coverage; and, • loss of job., • Perform related tasks consistent with skills and abilities and general responsibilities as may be assigned. WORK ENVIRONMENT • Office and Job One work sites