STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Eligibility Services Specialist

Hybrid

Recruitment #241004-7168SH-001

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Introduction



Are you a current Department of Social Services (DSS) Eligibility Services Worker looking for your next opportunity with the State of Connecticut? If so, we invite you to read the criteria below and encourage you to detail your related experience on the application!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) 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) and Temporary Family Assistance (TFA).

Position Highlights:
  • Full-time, 40 hours per week
  • First (1st) shift
  • Monday - Friday
  • 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Statewide Locations
The Role:
Job duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Provide eligibility services to clients of the department's various assistance programs and may provide a broad range of client services aimed at maintaining or achieving a client's full potential for self-direction, self-reliance, and independent living. 
  • Interview individuals to obtain information.
  • Determine and grant services and public assistance.
  • Research, verify and evaluate statements given by clients and other factors to ensure compliance with program eligibility requirements.
  • Assist with planning unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees, and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures. 
  • Assist with providing staff training and assistance including monitoring and assessing current and projected needs.
What’s In It For You:
  • To work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule;
  • 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. Click here for more information.
We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career and make an impaCT!

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:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Application Process:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified.

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

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the state of Connecticut.

Selection Process:

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.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

Contact Information:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Christopher Lavallee at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.

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) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in a closely related area may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in taking client complaints and resolving the issue;
  • Experience with triaging urgent matters;
  • Experience troubleshooting and navigating ImpaCT;
  • Experience in collaborating with others to resolve issues;
  • Experience with the ImpaCT and Access Health CT (AhCT) and other operational systems;
  • Experience with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cash, Medical and AhCT state administered programs;
  • Experience with Benefit Center, Service and Processing Center functionality;
  • Experience identifying problems, researching solutions, deciding, and verifying accuracy of decision;
  • Experience prioritizing work and meeting time sensitive deadlines;
  • Experience communicating in writing and verbally to diverse populations and skill levels.

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.


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