Fair Hearning Process Specialist

IF YOU ARE HIRED PROVISIONALLY IN THIS TITLE, YOU MUST TAKE AND PASS THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM, WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

DSS/HRA Fair Hearing Administration is responsible for providing representation of the Agency at NYS Administrative Hearings in the following program areas: Cash Assistance (CA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), IREA, HASA and MISCA - Medical Assistance (MA).

FHTMRU is comprised of the Centralized Fair Hearing Aid to Continue (ATC), Fair Hearing Default and Withdrawal Processing, Fair Hearing Resolution Processing, and the Advocate Inquiry Mailbox Units. The processes within FHTMRU are time sensitive and all Aid to Continue directives must be processed within 5 days as specified by the Morel Lawsuit.

All ATC re-direct are to be process/addressed upon receipt. Fair Hearing Defaults and Fair Hearing Withdrawals are also to be processed within 5 days of notification date. Resolutions and/or responses to Advocate Mailbox Inquiries are expected to be completed within seven days or prior to fair hearing date, whichever comes first.

Though Resolutions are to be completed within 5 days, they must be processed as quickly as possible to avert fair hearing scheduling. The Fair Hearing Process Specialist provides economic support and employment related services to persons in need, in accordance with agency policies, procedures and Federal/State regulations and to promote individual and family self-sufficiency. Also prepares Public Assistance/SNAP/ Medicaid eligibility forms by incorporating all received data and checking for accuracy of and reviewing authorizations, in order to initiate processing of appropriate service required in Aid to Continue Restoration. Conducts an Intensive review of Welfare Management System screens (including, All Change Actions Screen, Benefits Issuance Screen, Case Composition Screen, Budget History Screen, Recoupment Screen, Pending Actions Screen, Social Security Screen (SDX). Ensures the accurate and timely processing of case actions to comply with various lawsuits (Morel, Piron, etc).

The Office of the General Counsel / Fair Hearing Administration is recruiting for one (1) Benefits Opportunity Specialist to function as Fair Hearing Processing Specialist for their Fair Hearing Tracking, Monitoring and Review Unit (FHTMRU).

Under the supervision of the Fair Hearing Process Examiner with some latitude for independence judgment and decision making and in accordance with agency policies, procedures and Federal and State regulations, provides economic support and employment related services to persons in need and to promote individual and family self-sufficiency. The Fair Hearing Process Specialist prepares Public Assistance/SNAP/ Medicaid eligibility forms by incorporating all received data and checking for accuracy of and reviewing authorizations, in order to initiate processing of appropriate service required in Aid to Continue Restoration. The duties include:

• Process Aid-to-Continue directives, Fair Hearing Defaults, and Resolutions on Public Assistance/ SNAP issues related to Fair Hearing Lawsuit driven inquiries utilizing the Fair Hearing Information System (FHIS) and Fair Hearing Electronic Evidence Management System (FHEMS); Reads and data enters case actions related to the Aid-To-Continue Challenge Process; Provides Budget Calculations and Summaries; Utilizes Agency systems (including the Personal Computer (PC), New York City Work Accountability & You (NYCWAY) system, Paperless Operation System (POS), Human Resources Administration (HRA) Viewer, WEBCOINS, etc.) for reviewing and reporting processing data.

• Process required case actions relating to Fair Hearing Aid-to-Continue Directives, Fair Hearing Defaults, and Fair Hearing Resolutions by following established procedures and instructions, taking case actions relating to fair hearing issues. Prepare eligibility forms for Public assistance/ Medicaid/ SNAP case actions, by incorporating all received data from FHIS, checking data for accuracy and reviewing authorizations, in order to initiate processing of appropriate services.

• Conduct an Intensive review of Welfare Management System screens (including, All Change Actions Screen, Benefits Issuance Screen, Case Composition Screen, Budget History Screen, Recoupment Screen, Pending Actions Screen, Budget History Screen, Social Security Screen (SDX).

• Ensure the accurate and timely processing of case actions to comply with various lawsuits (Morel, Piron, etc). Maintain control of work submitted to the Control unit to monitor pending actions, errors etc. to ensure that work is re-submitted as needed in a timely manner.

• Decontrol the accurate and timely Fair Hearing case actions resulting from various Fair Hearing processes. Initiates actions on active case and makes referrals to appropriate parties; documents all pertinent data.

• Make data entry in FHIS, NYCWAY, FHEMS, Aid-To-Continue Monitoring System for compliance, tracking, monitoring, data collection, and reporting purposes.

Work Location: 470 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn NY.

Hours/Schedule: 9am to 5pm with flex time.

Minimum Qualifications

1.A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and three years of

full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social/human services or a

related setting, providing either:

a) client services.

b) employment planning/counseling services which involves job development,

skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic

opportunity programming.

2.A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full[1]time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist; or

3.A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full[1]time satisfactory experience as described in one (1) above.

4.College credit from an accredited college may be substituted for this experience

on the basis of 60 semester credits for 9 months of the work experience described

above. However, all candidates must have at least 18 months of full-time

satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or performing

social/human services work as described in one (1) above.

Preferred Skills

• Proficient in POS, WMS, NYCWAY.

• Knowledge of Eligibility policies and procedures.

• Strong customer service skills.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.