Eligibility Services Specialist

Eligibility Services Specialist

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services is currently accepting applications from qualified agency employees for multiple Eligibility Services Specialist positions. We are actively recruiting to fill vacancies in the Benefits and Eligibility Processing Units (Generalist, Regional Processing Unit), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), and in the Long Term Supports and Services (LTSS).

Position highlights:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• First (1st) shift
• Monday - Friday
• 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Positions are available in Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, Norwich, Torrington, Stamford, Waterbury, and Windham (Willimantic)

What's in it for you:

• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
• State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service.

Selection plan:

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

For assistance in applying: Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

Before you apply:

Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.

Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.

Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.

Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

After you apply:

Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!

Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

Questions? We're here to help: Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work): In the Departments of Children and Families and Social Services 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;
• 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;
• Provides technical and procedural support to staff;
• 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;
• 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;
• Monitors client progress with employability plan and takes appropriate actions including conciliation and/or sanctioning;
• May make recommendations on policies or standards;
• May prepare reports and correspondence;
• May provide client orientation to agency programs and support services;
• May be responsible for agency components of client Independence Plans;
• 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;
• and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
• available community support and social services resources;
• common individual and/or family financial practices and investments;
• Eligibility Management System;
• Knowledge of counseling and interviewing techniques;
• employment problems of economically disadvantaged and issues which are barriers to employment;
• Skills interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; interviewing skills; problem solving skills;
• Ability to maintain client records and prepare reports;
• Training ability 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 an Eligibility Services Worker.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed 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