|
see full listing of job openings
Posting Date: February 11, 2002
Agency: NY Works
Job Title: Benefits Advisor
Purpose: This position will provide benefits advisement and counseling support to individuals with disabilities served through the New York WORKS projects. The Benefits Advisor: collects data on an individual’s current benefit status; provides critical analysis of impact of work and earnings on these benefits; and makes recommendations to the individual and their employment providers as to safety nets and benefit management plans that should be put into place as the individual pursues employment.
Supervision: Individual benefit advisors are supervised in accordance with the human resources policy and procedures maintained by the New York WORKS project within the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene and the New York State Department of Labor. Outputs of work will be supervised and evaluated by both the Program
Director of the New York WORKS Project and project staff making individual referrals for services and supports.
Major Responsibilities:
Individualized Comprehensive Benefits Advisement:
- Identifies and documents personal demographics
- Profiles individual’s benefit status including:
- type and amounts of benefits (SSI or SSDI);
- 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.
- Assesses and identifies current work status including:
- supports and subsidy provided;
- past/present service providers;
- work history and references; and,
- history of impact of work on benefits in the past.
- Conducts analysis of overall benefit and employment situation.
- 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
Individualized Comprehensive Benefits Advisement Continued:
- Supports the individual, their key stakeholders, and the employment coordination team in understanding the report and defining next steps for both the individual being served and the benefits advisor.
- Serves as a liaison between the individual and the New York WORKS Social Security Administration designated liaison for the use of any New York WORKS and Social Security Administration-approved SSI rule waivers.
Benefit Management Planning:
If deemed appropriate and needed:
- Assists the individual, their key stakeholders, and the employment coordination team in making informed choices and establishing both employment-related goals as well as needed benefit management supports
- Evaluates and understands the array of services that an individual may be involved in. Assists the individual, the key stakeholders and the employment coordination team in incorporating benefits management goals and objectives into existing service delivery planning (e.g. Individualized Education Program, Individual Plan for Employment, Individual Service Plan, etc.)
- Informs the individual, their key stakeholders and the employment and training providers as to touchpoints they will need to be sensitive to in regard to reporting, reviews, re-determinations, documentation and other areas.
- Ensures that a comprehensive plan has been developed that identifies:
- supports/activities needed;
- time frames
- responsibilities and roles
- desired outcomes
- resources needed
- quality indicators
Benefit Management Services
- 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 team);
- regular ongoing communication via phone, letter, e-mail, etc…;
- updating knowledge and information sharing of impact of new policies on benefit and employment status;
- provision of crisis management supports;
- Provides or identifies providers of proactive benefits management and monitoring including, but not limited to:
- information and referral; and,
- problem solving and advocacy.
- Assesses, evaluates and informs on touchpoint issues regarding SSI including, but not limited to:
Benefit Management Services continued
- age 18 re-determination 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, and resources
- marital status;
- living arrangements;
- in-kind supports;
- over and underpayment;
- continuing disability review; and use of work incentives
- Assesses, evaluates and informs on touchpoint 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
Network Building:
- Conducts outreach to key stakeholders including: individuals with disabilities; their families, advocates and providers; and employment coordination teams
- Shares information regarding SSA disability/return to work programs and work incentive provisions across stakeholder groups
- Identifies individuals and cultivates SSA-related expertise to expand network of advisement supports available in NYS
- Established collaborative relationships with relevant agencies and organizations to gain knowledge and access to ongoing information and support
Qualifications: Must possess excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal, problem solving, organizational skills, mathematical calculation proficiency, and like working with both people. Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Will consider lesser education combined with direct experience providing benefits advisement and counseling to indivdiuals with disabilities. Bilingual/bicultural helpful. Individuals who have experience as consumers of disability-related services and in providing peer counseling, advocacy and support are encouraged to apply.
Fax or Mail Resume and Cover Letter to:
Nicole LaCorte-(212) 986-6552
50 Broadway, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
[
©2002 New York Work Exchange.phone: (212) 742-1122, e-mail:
we welcome your