Economic Support Specialist

Economic Support Specialist

The Economic Support Specialist establishes eligibility for Economic Support Programs in accordance with policy. The ideal candidate will have the ability to manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced environment. They must also possess critical thinking skills, adapt to change quickly and have good time-management skills. The position allows for telecommuting up to 60% of the time. New Economic Support Specialists must attend virtual, state-sponsored training for approximately 6 – 8 weeks. During that time trainees have access to Staff Development Specialists for support, additional training, resources, coaching and practice in a training environment.

Hours: Monday- Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM with possible overtime Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package which is including the Wisconsin Retirement System Pension!

Key Responsibilities

The following duties are most critical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Determine eligibility for numerous, complicated programs including Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare, Child Care Subsidies, and other related programs. Ensure priority benefits are issued timely and manually determine eligibility for non- automated programs.
• Manage a caseload of 500 or more cases consisting of adults, children and families. This includes conducting interactive, investigative interviews with customers and/or their legal representative; determining accurate benefits; authorizing the issuance of benefits from multiple programs; processing changes to income, assets, household composition and other factors that impact eligibility; assembling required verification;
• Coordinate services with child support specialists for paternity establishment and enforcement of Child Support orders; explain good cause criteria for non-cooperation with child enforcement Coordinate with social workers and the ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) to ensure customer needs are met. As a mandatory reporter, contact the appropriate agency if abuse or neglect is suspected or witnessed. Refer customers ineligible for Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus to the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM).
• Upon receipt of conflicting information, investigate a potential over/under issuance. Calculate the amount of benefit over/under issuance. Generate notices to recipients alerting them and outline repayment responsibilities. Refer cases to the Fraud unit if information provided by the applicant/recipient is questionable.
• Meet agency, consortium and state performance requirements such as timely case processing, maintaining a reasonable call answer rate and speed of answer and ensure FoodShare error rates remain below the State threshold. Abide by all mandated client confidentiality rules.
• Navigate numerous systems and databases including but not limited to: CARES/CARES Worker Web (CWW), Electronic Case File (ECF), Child Care Statewide Administration (CSAW), Benefit Recovery Investigation System (BRITS), Genesys Cloud, and other related systems.
• Decipher complicated documents including but not limited to tax forms and schedules, wills and trusts, insurance, annuities, legal affidavits, child support and placement court orders, and financial aid awards as part of the eligibility determination process and
• Represent the State and Outagamie County Health and Human Services at hearings by preparing case details, collecting evidence, and providing testimony before an Administrative Law Judge.

Education/Certifications/Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field, OR
• Associate's degree in a related field with 2 years of related experience, OR
• Successful completion of the training required to perform duties of an Economic Support Specialist or other position that determines eligibility for Health Care, FoodShare, or Child Care and demonstrated ability to successfully manage an economic support/income maintenance caseload.

Required or Preferred Skills

• Ability to effectively communicate verbally or in writing with customers with limited reading, writing, and speaking ability. Spanish and/or Hmong bilingual skills preferred.
• Comprehend and interpret complex policy and procedure manuals and legal, medical, and financial documents, and communicate with other professionals such as attorneys, social workers, and legal representatives.
• Assist in the planning, development and evaluation of the agency's needs.
• Ability to be flexible and responsive as demands change and to work independently and be a positive team member.
• Adhere to professional ethics and standards.
• Must be organized, dependable, and accurate.
• Ability to use call center software and equipment and to operate a variety of other office equipment including computer, calculator, telephone, scanner and fax machine.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide and to calculate decimals and percentages.

Benefits

Outagamie County offers a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package to its employees. Levels of benefits can vary based on employment status and employee group.

Medical Coverage: Outagamie County currently offers eligible employees a Low-Deductible Health Plan and a High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Each of these plans are available for single or family coverage at affordable rates.

Dental Coverage: Eligible employees may choose either single, limited family, or family coverage.

Vision Coverage: Outagamie County offers single, employee plus one, employee plus children, and family voluntary vision insurance for those that are benefit eligible. Vision insurance coverage provides an opportunity for employees to save money on routine vision exams, contacts, eyeglass frames, and lenses.

Life Insurance: Outagamie County provides group life insurance for full-time employees. The cost of this coverage is paid for in full by the County.

Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance: Short-Term Disability pays the employee a portion of his or her income for a specified period of time, as determined by the plan. The Short-Term Disability plan provides coverage for injuries and illnesses that occur outside of work. The premium for this coverage is paid entirely by the employee and is available to active employees that meet the hours threshold requirements.

Long-Term Disability Insurance: All regular, non-union full-time employees are eligible for long-term disability coverage. Premiums are fully paid by the County.

Wisconsin Retirement System: Wisconsin Retirement Program helps provide for financial security during retirement. Monthly annuity payments at retirement are calculated using years of creditable service, average earnings (based on three highest years of earnings), formula factors, age at retirement and selected annuity option. The retirement plan consists of two parts: an employee-required portion and an employer-required portion. Outagamie County pays the employer portion, and employees are responsible for paying the employee-required portion, which is determined by the state each year. Enrollment is required for eligible employees. Eligibility is determined based on Wisconsin Retirement System plan rules.

Deferred Compensation: Deferred Compensation allows employees to set aside pre-tax earnings toward retirement. Employees can save up to 100% of their compensation, to a maximum of $23,500 annually, or as little as $10.00 per paycheck. The amount deferred reduces year-end state and federal income tax base. All the earnings will accrue tax-deferred until such time as the assets are withdrawn, generally at retirement, termination, or other special circumstances. There is also an after-tax 457 Roth contribution option.

Flexible Spending Account Plan: The Flexible Spending Account Plan saves money by allowing the employee to pay for certain medical related expenses and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis, reducing annual taxable income resulting in Federal, State, Social Security, and Medicare tax savings.

Employee Assistance Program: Outagamie County has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The services offered as part of the County's plan are a benefit provided at no cost to its employees and their immediate family members to help deal with life's stresses. EAP consists of caring individuals who are certified counselors. They offer professional support and direction towards resolving problems or concerns. They can also help by referring the employee to another resource if assistance is needed beyond the EAP.

Paid Time Off: Outagamie County offers several paid time off benefits that include: vacation, personal holidays, national holidays, sick leave, bereavement leave and military leave.

Employee and Family Clinic: Primary Health Services, Acute Health Care and Physical Therapy are available to employees and dependents ages 12 months and up (age 13 and up for physical therapy), who are covered on a county health plan. A Health Coach is available to all employees, and to dependents covered under a county health plan age 14 and older. There is an onsite location and a shared clinic site location.

Fitness Center: Located at the downtown campus, a brand new fitness center with treadmills and other gym equipment is available to all employees from 5am to 10pm daily.

Pet Insurance: Please note that the pet insurance offers are discounts offered to Outagamie County employees and are not programs sponsored by Outagamie County. Please contact the