Benefits Specialist

At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors.

We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.

Benefits Specialists work with all program customers including clients, staff and members of the community to assess, link and follow up on identified resources and benefits at Jefferson Center and in the community.

Benefits Specialists empower customers to access identified resources and assist with navigating systems of care to meet identified outcomes.

Benefits Specialists provide a wide array of clinical services from a generalist perspective and are experts on community resources and benefits.

Benefits Specialists provide case management, skills development and technical assistance to all referred Jefferson Center consumers for benefit eligibility screening, acquisition, denials, appeals and maintenance.

They work alongside individuals to obtain and maintain needed benefits.

Minimum Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required :

• Bachelor’s Degree in mental health field and one or more years of experience in a mental health setting required. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Knowledge of benefits systems preferred.
• SOAR certified or willing to obtain that level of certification within first 6 months
• Consistent evidence of timely and accurate work products required to be considered for hiring.

Essential Duties :

Provide support / assistance for obtaining and maintain needed benefits including and primarily Social Security. Additional benefits that they provide assistance around include Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Services, Medicaid Waivers (HCBS;

HCBS-MI), Rent Rebate, LEAP, Medicare programs and others as determined by the Program Director.

Provide screening, case management and skills development services to coordinate the application process from a strength and recovery based perspective taking cultural considerations into account as appropriate.

Assist consumers with reporting requirements for continued benefit payments and assist with any transfer of benefits to other county / area.

• Educate consumers, families and Jefferson Center staff of eligibility process for various programs. Compile and circulate required information to Jefferson Center staff, consumers and families.
• Benefits Specialists work with all program customers including Jefferson Center clients, staff members and members of the community to assess, link and follow up on identified resources internally and in the community.

Empowers customers to access identified resources and assists with navigating systems of care to meet identified outcomes.

• Works with Jefferson Center clients assigned to the Navigation level of care and Housing Team to provide case / care management and other brief services as needed.
• Maintains a positive focus and excellent customer service skills towards consumers, Jefferson Center staff, and the community.

Works from a strength based, recovery based perspective and takes cultural considerations into account when appropriate.

Effectively responds to client / consumer needs and problems, initiates and maintains positive interactions, timely response to phone calls, pages, email and other requests.

• Documents all contacts according to Jefferson Center and Navigation Program standards while meeting productivity standards as identified by the Program Director.
• Submit 90% of all SRFs / Progress-to-Date forms within 3 working days.
• Exhibit enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability flexibility, and spirit of cooperation in the work environment.
• Maintain effective interpersonal relations and customer service with consumers, peers, upper management, visitors and the general public.
• Effectively respond to client / consumer needs and problems, initiate and maintain positive recovery based interactions, timely response to phone calls, pages, email and other requests.
• Attend mandatory in-services, compliance with individualized training plan if required.
• Participate in team meetings, clinical staff meetings, and clinical consolations as scheduled.
• Participate in supervision by coming prepared with an agenda. Report high risk / problem cases, and utilized a problem solving approach as well as feedback.
• Attend supervision at times and intervals agreed upon with supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Navigation.

Note : Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Salary Grade 10 $52,000 ($25.00 / hour)*

Additional Salary Information* :

The salary range above is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours / week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.*

Application deadline : 9 / 1 / 2024. Review of applications will begin immediately.