Position Overview
Reporting directly to Director of Bookkeeping and Entitlements and Entitlements Team Leader and working under general supervision, the employee obtains and maintains all necessary income and benefits (entitlements) for Wards of the Public Guardian. Completes all necessary applications, annual reviews and payee changes required by state, county, and federal agencies, foreign governments, pensions, and VA, so that Wards can obtain and maintain applicable benefits by performing the following duties.
Primary Accountabilities
Acts as liaison between the Public Guardian and local state, federal and private agencies including: Social Security Administration, Department of Children and Families (DCF), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Pensions, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services (USCIS), etc.
Communicates regularly with various local agencies, submits all necessary applications and forms required for benefit approval. Interacts with key personnel regularly to secure and maintain eligibility for all benefits. Follows up, through to benefit approval.
Notifies the appropriate agencies of any changes in clients’ status, such as residence changes, changes in income or assets, etc. and/or when clients are restored or appointed a successor guardian.
Applies for all government (and non-government) benefits applicable to clients, updates and adds new entitlements data into GMS and documents in the activity logs
Submits all payee changes (SSA-11) to Social Security Administration, Pensions, Veterans Administration, etc., and follows up monthly until the agency is assigned as client’s payee or fiduciary.
Requests authorization to take PFS when retroactive SSA benefits are approved and received. Track through to approval. Enters activity logs and updates spreadsheets.
Researches and compiles information to complete applications and annual re-determinations for existing Medicaid benefits. Maintains and reviews all applicable reports monthly for follow up all pending applications or changes in benefits. Communicates any issues with the assigned Case Manager and supervisors immediately.
Investigates and solves problems regarding clients’ benefits to maintain or gain access to benefits.
Corresponds with the assigned case managers, facilities, outside agencies, or health care providers to obtain the medical documentation required by federal, state, and local agencies to apply for benefits, such as disability. Follows up with SSA or SSA Office of Disability Determinations to inquire if additional documentation is required to approve disability. Follows up with the assigned CM, if additional medical or other information is necessary or has not been provided. Reports any disability or other denials.
Maintains current with federal and state government benefits changes and communicates this information to the appropriate staff and/or departments.
For clients with excess assets, assists the assigned case manager in coming up with possible solutions to reduce assets so the client can obtain or maintain eligibility for SSI or Medicaid (ICP, HCBS, etc.)
When a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), Pooled or Supplemental Needs Trust is requested, coordinates with legal and bookkeeping through to the opening of the account so this information can be provided to the appropriate government agencies (SSA, DCF) timely. Provides the court order authorizing the trust, the Trust Joinder Agreement or Trust Agreement to Social Security Administration (SSI) or Department of Children and Families for approval by their legal departments, so the Ward obtains or maintain eligibility for SSI or Medicaid benefits.
Documents all client related activity in the activity logs within 24 hours of activity in GMS. Follows up on any pending issues, through to resolution.
Maintains appointments and monitors all deadlines for all applications and annual review of all Medicaid benefits.
Works with the assigned case managers to verify the client’s legal status, apply for residency, replace USCIS documents or apply for Naturalization, as necessary, for benefit approval purposes.
Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.
Education, Skill Requirements and Other Essential Functions
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Associate’s degree (AA) in Business or Social Work and a minimum of two (2) years’ experience working in a related field.
Must be proficient in computer skills, especially in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, for email, and Internet, as well as other internal and external software applications.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, general procedures, and government regulations. Ability to write reports for the Probate Court of Dade County, Florida, and general correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of agency personnel, clients, and the general public. Bilingual in Spanish is required to be able communicate effectively with most facilities, wards, family members, etc.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define practical problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions, procedures, and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
CRIMINAL, DRIVING & CREDIT VERIFICATIONS
As a condition of employment, requires an acceptable criminal background verification, driving record, and credit check during the pre-employment process and throughout employment which is reviewed, verified, and approved according to state guidelines.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
Must have a valid Florida driver's license, insurance, and an automobile and be capable or unrestricted travel in the performance of his/her duties.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $44,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Microsoft Excel: 2 years (Required)
- Microsoft Word: 2 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Doral, FL 33122 (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Doral, FL 33122
