Work Incentives Benefits Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Employment Resources, Inc. (ERI) is seeking a Benefits Specialist to help people with disabilities understand how work and other life changes may affect their benefits. This position is a good fit for someone who enjoys helping people solve problems, explain complicated information in understandable ways, and make informed choices about employment and benefits.

  About the Role

Benefits Specialists work directly with people with disabilities to provide individualized benefits counseling, information, and support. You will help people understand programs such as Social Security disability benefits, health care coverage, and other public benefits, including how employment and earnings may affect those benefits.

You do not need to know every benefits rule when you start. ERI provides specialized training and ongoing support. We are looking for someone who is comfortable learning detailed information and helping people understand how it applies to their individual circumstances.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you will:

• Meet with people with disabilities to learn about their goals, benefits, employment, and support needs.
• Explain benefits and work incentive rules in clear, practical language.
• Help people understand how working or increasing their earnings may affect their benefits.
• Provide individualized information and written benefits guidance.
• Communicate with Social Security, state and local agencies, service providers, and other partners when needed.
• Connect people with additional programs, services, and community resources.
• Help clients understand their options and identify next steps.
• Provide follow-up support as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and timely case notes and other required documentation.
• Develop expertise in benefits counseling and serve as a resource to ERI staff and community partners.
• Participate in training, outreach, and professional development activities.

The formal position also requires maintaining program quality standards, confidentiality, security, and privacy requirements.

  What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Enjoys working directly with people and helping them understand their options.
• Can learn detailed and sometimes complex program rules.
• Communicates clearly in writing and conversation.
• Has strong organization and follow-through skills.
• Can manage deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Is comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
• Uses good judgment and creative problem-solving skills.
• Can work effectively with people from different backgrounds and life experiences.
• Is comfortable using computers and learning new software.
• Can maintain confidential information and high professional standards.

Knowledge of public benefit programs, disability services, employment services, or community resources is helpful, but specialized benefits counseling experience is not required if you are interested and able to learn.

These qualifications reflect the position description, which specifically identifies knowledge of public programs and community resources, strong communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to quickly learn technical information, independent and team-based work, confidentiality, deadline management, and computer skills.

  Training and Professional Development

Benefits counseling is a specialized field. ERI will provide training and support to help the person hired develop the knowledge needed for the position. The Benefits Specialist will be expected to complete and maintain required training, certifications, and security clearances related to the programs they support. 

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter, including their salary expectations, for consideration.