Public Benefits Specialist 1-3 In-Training (PBS3) - Centralia

Full Job Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Public Benefits Specialist 1-3 In-Training (PBS3)
Location: Centralia, WA. This position is currently deployed as a telework position, however, when there is a business need such as deployment ends, quarterly in-person meetings, IT/equipment issues, etc., the selected candidate must be willing and able to commute to: 3401 Galvin Road, Centralia, WA 98531.
Closes: Monday, March 23rd, 2026
Salary:

Public Benefits Specialist 1 (PBS1): $4,228 - $5,137 monthly;

Public Benefits Specialist 2 (PBS2): $4,653 - $5,531 monthly;

Public Benefits Specialist 3 (PBS3): $4,882 - $5,956 monthly.

Do you want to help families and communities safely care for their children? The Centralia Early Learning Child Care Subsidy Call Center is looking for two customer service-oriented candidates to join our team and provide direct customer service in a call center environment for Child Care Subsidy customers. If you have a passion for helping others and want to see families flourish, we encourage you to apply.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) was created to be a comprehensive agency exclusively dedicated to the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children, youth, and families regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other socioeconomic factors. We believe our workforce should reflect the communities we serve, and are actively searching for candidates that reflect that diversity.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
The Public Benefits Specialist conducts interviews, reviews information, and makes eligibility determinations for services and child care subsidy assistance. As the incumbent of this position, you will use your extensive and specialized financial knowledge, as well as your ability to interpret public laws and policies and make independent decisions. In this role, you will provide customer service delivery and support children receiving early education.

Some of what you will do:

• Conduct intensive interviews with customers to determine eligibility for financial, Child Care, benefit or available services.

Process applications received over the counter, from the Washington Connection online applications, Document Management System (DMS), and through interactive interviews, and processes all case actions into the appropriate computer programs.

Process all case actions in accordance with Federal and State processing and accuracy requirements.

• Analyze oral and written information to determine accurate benefits and continued program eligibility.
• Assist customers with the process of applying for Apple Healthcare by entering information into the Health Plan Finder (HPF) system on behalf of clients.
• Refer clients to both mandatory and optional services, and to other agencies as required.
• Take actions necessary to ensure that limited English proficient clients receive properly translated forms and translation services from state certified, contracted translators and interpreters.
• Compute and initiate overpayments and client notifications when necessary.
• Issue reimbursements and benefits when appropriate to correct under issuances.
• Assist Child Care Providers with subsidy payment information and other requirements to receive subsidy.

Required qualifications:
We are considering candidates at the Public Benefits Specialist 1 through 3 levels. Candidates, if hired, at the 1 and 2 levels have a training plan to advance to Public Benefits Specialist 3. Experience is the only difference between qualifications for levels and is evaluated by the hiring manager.

Public Benefits Specialist 1 (PBS1):
One (1) year of experience conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance to include financial, medical and food benefit programs.
OR
A bachelor’s degree AND experience examining/processing medical insurance or rehabilitation claims, unemployment insurance claims OR in a customer service job where the major duties involve public contact, OR a job providing staff support in financial eligibility determination will substitute, year for year, for education.

Public Benefits Specialist 2 (PBS2):
One (1) year of experience conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance to include financial, medical and food benefit programs and completing the agency’s Public Benefits Specialist Training Program.
OR
Six (6) months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 1, and satisfactory completion of the agency's Public Benefits Specialist Training Program.

Public Benefits Specialist 3 (PBS3):

Eighteen (18) months of experience determining eligibility for financial, medical, food, long-term services and support programs, childcare and equal access benefits.

OR Fifteen (15) months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 1 and satisfactory completion of the agency’s Public Benefits Specialist Training Program.OR Nine (9) months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 2.

AND

1. The ability to take action to learn and grow.
2. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Note(s):
*Incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one (1) year of their appointment.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Demonstrated experience working in a high-volume customer service environment.
• One (1) year of experience working in a call center environment.
• Prior experience determining eligibility for public programs.

How do I apply?
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:

• Resume (current/updated)

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service.

Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Veronica Jones (Talent Acquisition Specialist) at veronica.jones@dcyf.wa.gov. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at (360) 664-1960.


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