Home and Community Living Administration Public Benefits Specialist IV

Title: DSHS HCLA Public Benefits Specialist 4

Location: Multiple Locations Statewide United States

Job Description:

Salary

$4,653.00 - $6,259.00 Monthly

Location 

Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2025-07211

Department

Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division

HCLA

Salary Information

The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

DSHS HCLA Public Benefits Specialist 4

The Developmental Disabilities Community Services (DDCS) within the Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) is actively recruiting multiple experienced Public Benefits Specialist 4 professionals to join our dynamic team.

HCLA is a newly formed administration within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), bringing together the Developmental Disabilities Administration and the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration. This unified team is responsible for overseeing Washington State’s system of long-term care, serving individuals with disabilities and older adults through home and community-based services, protective oversight, regulatory compliance, and case management.

In this role you will provide intensive and expert level eligibility services to high-risk clients. You will review applications and conduct interviews to determine/re-determine eligibility for Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS). If you are looking to help people while doing meaningful work, apply today!

Note: This role offers a hybrid telework schedule, with in-person workdays determined by business needs. The role allows flexibility in choosing an office location within the region.

Some of what you'll do:

• Determine eligibility for long-term services and support programs such as HCB Waiver, hospice, alternate care service programs, nursing facility, intuitional care, Medical Personal Care, Community First Choice, or Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities.
• Expedite eligibility in emergent situations such as expedited food assistance and hospital discharges.
• Conduct intensive interviews with the client, client representatives, attorneys, guardians to determine eligibility and post-eligibility for long-term services and supports.
• Analyze and verify various complex legal documents to determine impact on Long Term Care eligibility.
• Provide professional case management and evaluate services for a broad range of clients seeking long-term services and supports.
• Act as a source of information for social workers, case managers, medical providers, guardians, authorized representatives, and attorneys to help ensure clients receive all benefits they are entitled to.

What we're looking for:

• Willingness to learn extensive knowledge of long-term care programs.
• Professionals with advanced knowledge of federal and state financial, medical and food assistance, and Aged, Blind, Disabled Assistance programs.
• Make independent conclusions, decisions, and recommend changes in eligibility assistance plans.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience using automated systems such as ACES, ProviderOne, CARE, and/or Barcode is highly desirable.
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task and organize the workload.

Who should apply:

• Professionals who have a Bachelor's or Master's degree.

And

• Twelve months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 3.

Or

• Equivalent education/experience will substitute year for year for education and experience.

And 

• Satisfactory completion of the agency's Public Benefits Specialist Training Program.

Experience examining/processing loan applications, medical insurance or rehabilitation claims, unemployment insurance claims or a job providing staff support in financial eligibility determination, or a job analyzing, verifying, and evaluating financial data and information will substitute year for year for education and experience.
 
Out of state experience conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance to include financial, medical and food benefit programs will be considered toward experience.
 
To apply please include:

• Resume.
• Letter of interest.
• References.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring an equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.  

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information.
 
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