Wdva Veterans Benefit Assistant, Full-Time - Permanent, Washington Veterans Home

Veterans Benefit Assistant

Full-Time - Permanent

Washington Veterans Home

Have you always wanted to combine your passion for supporting Veterans with your career goals? Do you envision yourself thriving in a friendly customer service environment where you are often the first face that Veterans and their Families meet for assistance with benefits, entitlements, and other critical resources? Begin or continue your meaningful career in State service with this opportunity as a full-time Veterans Benefit Assistant at our Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard, Washington!

Please note: The expected hours for this position is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Occasional travel may be required for training and community outreach.

• This position has been posted within the assigned pay range through Step L. Step M has not been published as this is considered the longevity step, in alignment with state HR compensation rules. 

Position(s) at this location will also receive 5% Premium Pay for facilities open twenty four hours per day. Employees must physically work at the facility 3 days per workweek to qualify. The 5% Premium Pay is in effect until June 29th, 2025.

At the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), we are passionate about our mission of "Serving Those Who Served."  As a national leader in our advocacy for more than 500,000 veterans and their family members, we strive to connect them to earned benefits as well as innovative programs focused on their overall health and wellness.  In addition, we provide critical community services through a variety of programs, and at our four State Veterans Homes located in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane, and Walla Walla.  These locations provide Medicare and Medicaid nursing home care to honorably discharged veterans, including, in some instances, their spouses, widows, or Gold Star.

As the Veterans Benefit Assistant, you will support the Central Office and Olympia Service Center in a customer service capacity by providing assistance on local, state, and federal entitlements to Veterans, their Families, and beneficiaries via statewide toll-free system and directing program-specific inquiries to the appropriate staff associates. Your customer service role directly supports the agency's mission of "Serving Those Who Served" by providing Veterans and their Families with direct information and assistance regarding Veterans' benefits and entitlements. Our ideal candidate has exceptional customer service skills and a working knowledge of Veterans' benefits and entitlements. If these qualities sound like you, apply today!Some of what you'll be doing:

• Assisting with interviewing and counseling Veterans, family members, and beneficiaries on rights, privileges, and benefits provided under existing laws.

• Obtaining various support documents required for completion of claims and researching sources of documents and substituting acceptable documents as needed.

• Assisting the Veterans Benefit Specialist 2 with interviews and counsel to all residents, family members, power of attorneys, court-appointed guardians, and future prospective residents and their families on benefits, entitlements, eligibility requirements, rights and responsibilities, and personally eligible insurance benefits.

• Assisting with communicating the financial obligations of each individual's available resources towards the facility's cost of care expectation.

• Greeting visitors to the Administration Department; answering questions, directing visitors to the appropriate facility contact, taking messages, and answering multi-line phones.

• And more!

Required:

• High school graduation or GED.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs including Access, Outlook, Excel, and Word.

• One (1) year of experience with front desk/customer service activities.

• Expertise in core reception functions (e.g., phone courtesy, multitasking, attention to detail).

Preferred/Desired:

• Federal VA Veteran Service Officer (Benefits) Accreditation.

• Experience with geriatric and/or healthcare institutional setting.

• Experience with the Veteran population.

• Knowledge of Federal and State laws pertaining to the benefits of Veterans and their dependents; processing of Veterans benefit claims; services of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans' organizations, Department of Social and Health Services, and other public and private welfare and service organizations.

Special Requirements:

• Must be able pass a DSHS BCCU Background Check prior to beginning services and every two (2) years in accordance with WDVA Policy 615.000 Background Checks. 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 position.

• Must comply with annual Tuberculin Screening in accordance with DVA policy 670.000 Tuberculosis Testing.

• Requires medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and use of respiratory protection as required by the Washington Industrial Safety and Act standards. Must be able to wear a respirator, medical gloves, gowns, eye protection, and other personal protection as required by a job or task.

• Must be able to walk, sit, and bend in an unrestricted manner on a consistent basis during the entire workday.

• Must be capable of pushing or pulling with sufficient strength to push wheelchairs and walk distances to provide tours of the facility.

• Candidates who are offered a job with WDVA must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

Check out this awesome video here to see what it is like to work for the WDVA!

Application Process: 

Top candidates will be contacted directly to interview for this position. Because the selection will be based on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described above

Please include the following documents with your application:

 1. A letter of interest describing specific qualifications.

 2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.

 3. A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Other Information:

• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For further information please contact us at: recruiters@dva.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

Here at YOUR Washington Department of Veterans Affairs our employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or Veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency's greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 725-2183. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.  

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency, please contact us at recruiters@dva.wa.gov.