Veterans Services Officer - Veterans Services

Major Functions

The County of Volusia is seeking a Veterans Services Officer for the Veterans Services Division. This position advises and assists veterans, eligible family members, and dependents in making claims to secure U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or other Federal, State, or County agencies' benefits they may be entitled to under the current County, State or Federal laws/statutes

Illustrative Duties

(NOTE: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.)

VETERANS SERVICES COUNSELOR

• Interviews veterans and/or their dependents to determine eligibility for benefits.

• Verifies application information through Federal, State, and Local agenciesas required to process claims.

• Makes inquiries as necessary to Veterans Administration and other agencies in order to resolve problems or establish a source of social assistance for clients.

• Prepares appeals which are subject to review by the U.S. Court Veterans Appeals.

• Reviews amendments and/or policy changes periodically to Title 10/38 USC, 38 CFR, and regulations, VA program guides and VA rating schedules.

• Assists clients in enrolling for VA Health Care.

• Coordinates for the hospital needs and medical care of clients.

• Advises and assists veterans, eligible family members, and dependents with preparing and filing claims for service-connected disability and widow's benefits; education, (veterans and eligible dependents); medical treatment; aid and attendance, domiciliary care, specially adapted housing, clothing allowance, automobile and adaptive equipment, death benefits; home, mobile home, and condominium loans, veteran's preference in employment, Florida D.V. tag, and life insurance, and other claims for benefits which they may be entitled under federal and state statutes.

• Prepares and processes various veteran claims, reports, and records in a timely manner as required.

• Interacts with various individuals and groups on matters related to veterans' benefits.

• Prepares claim forms and legal briefs and necessary information to establish the validity of the claim.

• Assists veterans in research, development, and prosecution for correction of military records and discharge review applications.

• Uses and maintains client database.

• Assists clients with Veterans Assistance hearings.

• Contacts doctors and other individuals relative to furnishing official affidavits and evidence for individual claimants.

• Advises veterans and their dependents by telephone, in the office, at hospitals, nursing homes, veterans' homes as required.

• Works with representatives of a variety of governmental agencies on matters related to veteran benefits.

• Works with Veterans Outreach Centers.

• Conducts community outreach as assigned.

• Required to participate in and attend related conferences and conventions.

• Must adhere to Federal, State, County, and Local ordinances.

• Responds to emergency situations.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

A county veteran service officer must be a veteran as defined in S. 1.01(14) or the surviving spouse of any such veteran.

Every county veteran service officer, in order to be eligible for employment as a county veteran service officer, shall have a 2-year degree from an accredited university, college or community college OR a high school degree or equivalency diploma and 4 years of administrative experience.

A comparable amount of education and training may be substituted for the minimum educational qualifications.

Must possess and maintain a current Florida driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to establish rapport and elicit sufficient information to consistently determine which benefits the client is eligible for and which benefits would be of the greatest assistance.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations governing veterans benefits under Federal and State Statutes, as well as division rules and procedures

• Ability to exercise good judgment in assisting with solutions to veterans' problems.

• Ability to enlist and retain the respect, confidence, and cooperation of veterans and veteran agencies.

• Ability to interpret and enforce various Federal and State Statutes dealing with veteran affairs.

• Ability to fill out governmental forms accurately and completely.

• Ability to use and maintain the client database.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, veterans, their dependents, civic groups, all community service organizations and the general public.

• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

• Ability to use personal computer including Microsoft Word and Excel applications.

• Ability to work under stressful conditions.

• Must be able to relocate to other county locations based upon operational needs.

ADA REQUIREMENTS

Physical Demands: Ability to talk, hear, and see. Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull ten (10) pounds. Visual acuity (peripheral vision, depth perception) necessary to operate a motorized vehicle. Finger dexterity. Ability to bend, stoop, lift, and reach.

Environmental Demands: Inside work.

Mental Demands: Ability to read and comprehend legal statutes and ordinances, reports, and summaries. Ability to write compound, complex reports detailing information and data; memos, letters. Ability to speak clearly and concisely on complex legal issues as they relate to benefits. Ability to perform basic mathematical functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division.) Ability to apply statutes, ordinances, laws to real cases.

Volusia County is a drug-free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce.