Statewide Child Care Assistance Unit Eligibility Benefit Specialist

Full Job Description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Community Access, Bureau of Economic Assistance is seeking a Child Care Assistance Unit Eligibility Benefit Specialist (Job Classification: Income Maintenance Worker 2) to join our team!

This position is responsible for processing applications, reviews and changes related to eligibility for the Child Care Assistance program administered by the Department of Human Services. This position requires the ability to:

• Analyze and interpret complex policies and procedures per state and federal regulations
• Effectively interview customers to obtain necessary information
• Collect and analyze information from customers and 3rd parties to calculate and determine eligibility
• Communicate effectively both in person and via phone
• Meet daily and monthly processing timeframes
• Prepare written documents and have the ability to clearly present, both in writing and orally
• Effectively manage an individual workload while working within a team
• Maintain high attendance
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills
• Comply with all State of Iowa regulations and DHS Employee Handbook work rules

The ideal candidate will have:

• Excellent case plan development and critical thinking.
• Strong communication and customer service.
• Professional presence and strong work ethic.
• Solid teamwork and consultation.
• Preference will be given to candidates who can speak, read and write in Spanish and English

Benefits

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits click here.

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Background Checks

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA EmployerHHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply.

Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Qualifications

Sixty semester hours (or equivalent academic units) from an accredited college or university;a combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time public contact work experience obtaining, analyzing and/or evaluating data for each year of the required college education (on the basis that thirty semester hours is equal to one year of work experience);employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to 18 months of full-time work at a Clerk Advanced level or above involving public contact experience on a regular basis in a service area.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.