Working Healthy Benefits Specialist (212837)

Job Description:

The Working Healthy Benefits Specialist (K0224279) Are you looking for a great team to work with? Are you a curious person who likes to learn? Do you want to do meaningful work? Do you have experience with disabilities or disability Benefits? We would love to meet and talk with you about our opportunity to help persons with disabilities work and maintain state and federal benefits. Provide individualized consultation to assist individuals with disabilities in determining how work will impact current benefits and improve financial independence and self-sufficiency through benefits planning.  This consultation includes collecting and verifying specific information related to Federal and State programs, income, resources, health insurance, work expenses, and work incentives.  Assess the potential impact of employment or increased hours or income on benefits.  Assess the adequacy of health care coverage that may be offered and provide options.  When necessary, develop a written benefits plan for the individual.  Provide guidance to access services, or other agencies.  Provide information on Federal, State, and local programs available to the individual/Medical Representative/Guardian/Conservator to assist them in making an informed decision.  HIPPA and PHI policies must be adhered to.

KDHE Working Healthy Medicaid Buy-In program is seeking enthusiastic candidates to apply for the Working Healthy Benefits Specialist position for the Northeast Region.  Applicants with Targeted Case management/Employment Support /advocacy experience and assisting adults with disabilities towards employment are strongly desired.   Knowledge of Social Security and KanCare is preferred.   The successful candidate must be flexible, willing to learn and ready to provide quality customer service.   This position is based in Topeka, with some work from home ability, it requires frequent travel, some over-night, attention to detail and successful completion of the CPWIC (Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor) certification course.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

Provide appropriate contact to ensure ongoing program eligibility for WH and the STEPS Pilot.  Act as liaison between stakeholders.  Identify concerns regarding policy and advocate for change, if necessary.  Negotiate and advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities to support consumer choice and employment within the intended spirit of the Working Healthy program and the STEPS Pilot.  Follow-up on member concerns as needed.  Provide documentation and follow-up of significant activities pertaining to eligibility/maintenance/assistance for program and pilot participants and stakeholders.  Participate in ongoing training events designed to maintain current information and knowledge base of benefit programs.  Responsible for continued awareness of current policies, procedures and regulations pertaining to Social Security and other work incentive programs.  Regular participation in Benefits Specialists Team meetings and, as deemed necessary, regional office meetings.  Participate in internet/virtual correspondence for support, question and answer, and feedback with team members.  Provide information for research and Pilot reporting needs.  Establish and maintain effective working relationships with personnel of stakeholder agencies.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Six months of experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring activities relevant to the agency’s programs.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Licensing & Certification:

• Valid Driver’s License – Incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid driver’s license when operating a state vehicle, a private vehicle, or a rental vehicle for the benefit of the State.

Preferred Qualifications:

Any additional skills, experiences, or qualifications that would be beneficial, but aren’t strictly necessary.

• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
• Proofreading, editing, attention to detail.
• Interpersonal skills
• Basic math skills w/emphasis on creative problem solving.
• Data entry and managing database information.
• Strong ethics including confidentiality and conflict of interest.
• Deductive abilities
• Ability to translate technical information into understandable information.
• Awareness and understanding of issues pertinent to people with disabilities.
• Knowledge of private programs such as health insurance which impacts people with disabilities.
• Knowledge of federal/state/local programs including eligibility criteria, benefits offered.
• Experience interpreting law, statutes, policies, rules, regulations, and administrative codes.
• Professional experience reading complex governmental regulations.
• Ability to listen, evaluate circumstances, present alternatives, develop and review plans of action.
• Awareness of cultural and political issues pertaining to various disability populations
• Ability to access and gather information in a variety of ways.

Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements:

• New hire will be expected to actively apply for CWIC training as available and obtain certification.

About the Position:

• Who can apply: Anyone (External)
• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Flexible schedules available)
• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
• Veterans’ Preference Eligible: Yes

Employment Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave.
• Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
• Fitness Centers in select locations
• Employee discounts with the STAR Program
• Retirement and deferred compensation programs

How to Apply:

Specific instructions for applying, which might include submitting a resume, cover letter, list of references, or completing an online application.

• Please include the Job ID number when emailing.

Job Application Process:  Only applications submitted within our State of Kansas Careers Portal will be considered.

• First Sign in or register as a New User at https://admin.ks.gov/offices/personnel-services/jobs
• Complete or update your contact information on the State of Kansas Careers Portal > My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
• Upload required documents listed for each specific job posting.
• Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and submit when it is complete.

–  Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.

• Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.

–  Email – sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page.

–  Notifications – view the Careers> My Job Notifications page.

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How to Apply for a Job – Instructions” and “How to Search for a Job – Instructions.”

Contact Information:

[email protected]

Salary Range

$ 20.13 to 22.19