Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc.
Job Description Form
Position Title: Director, SSA Disability Benefit Advisement
Reports To: AVP - Mission Services Cost Center: 2315/230803
Supervises Staff: Yes
General Purpose:
The CWIC/Disability Benefit Advisor provides Social Security Disability benefit work incentives planning and assistance to SSI and SSDI beneficiaries, as part of the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program.
The CWIC is responsible for counseling and educating beneficiaries about how employment will affect their current benefits (which can also include public and private health insurance as well as other federal, state, and/or local benefits received) so that individuals may make informed choices towards employment and self-sufficiency.
Essential Functions:
Supervisory Essential Functions:
Will supervise staff and provide daily oversight of the WIPA program. In addition, the program supervisor will carry a partial WIPA caseload and provide direct WIPA services to participants.
Maintain communication with Social Security Administration personnel as well as personnel of other state and local agencies
Ensures benefits team is completing and accurately recording all required reports and documentation.
Tracks & Report program metrics and ensure that program is meeting Goodwill & Funder goals.
Liaise with funder (SSA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to provide required reports and updates.
Establishes and maintains effective and ongoing communication with community organizations.
Ensure that CWICS maintain yearly certification and CEU hours.
Ability to interpret federal, state, and local laws, regulations and policies.
Work directly with AVP to track, chart, and maintain Key Performance Indicates (KPI's) on various databases & excel spreadsheets used for executive meetings and board meetings; ensure effective and efficient revenue cycle •
Work directly with AVP to track and chart multiple Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Maintain knowledge of WIPA Policies and Procedures
Review regulations to develop an understanding of requirements of different funders, regulators, and grants • Responsible for assisting in compliance with all funding/regulator sources
Maintains knowledge of state, local, and federal benefits in order to ensure that the best quality of service is being provided to beneficiaries.
CORE CWIC Essential Functions
Obtains accurate and complete information about benefits, including SSDI, SSI, concurrent (SSDI and SSI), Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance subsidized housing or other rental subsidies, food stamps, general assistance, workers compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, other federal, state or local supports including TANF.
Maintain communication with Social Security Administration personnel as well as personnel of other state and local agencies
Assists beneficiaries in understanding how work activity could impact their public benefits, including Social Security disability payments, SSI, Medicare and Medicaid, Food Stamps, Housing, Veterans benefits and any other NYC, State & Federal benefits.
Develop accurate and detailed written individualized Benefits Summary and Analysis reports as well as Work Incentives Plans as per SSA guidelines
Enter, track, and review beneficiary data on required spreadsheets by grant
Ensures confidentiality of all information received or provided.
Maintains and organizes files, drafts and correspondence.
When necessary, refers beneficiaries to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Employment Networks (EN's), DOL one stop career centers as well as other organizations that emphasize/provide seamless employment related and ticket assignments.
Provides ongoing follow-up assistance to beneficiaries who have previously received work incentives planning as needed and provides updates regarding the impact of employment and other changes on benefits and work incentives.
Walk clients through the application process.
Adhere to all Goodwill policies and procedures
Complete continuing education and training necessary to maintain certification.
Performs other duties as required.
Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements:
CWIC Certification from VCU and Level 5 Suitability Clearance strongly preferred
A bachelor's degree is preferred and at least four years of experience working with individuals with disabilities performing benefit advisement
Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred
Skills Required:
Candidate must possess strong computer skills including experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs, comfortable using various database and /or case management information systems and Web Based software.
Adept at using internet searches to find and research related benefit advisement and other information.
This position requires math skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and good skills.
Candidate must possess excellent organizational, analytical and systems management abilities; ability to pay attention to details, handle multiple priorities, and facilitate communication among staff across programs.
This position requires interviewing and partnering skills, as well as disability and cultural sensibility.
Comfortable with public speaking
Scope of Responsibility & Positions Supervised:
Candidate is expected to work independently to oversee the WIPA and Benefit Advisement programs. Collaborate with AVP to complete programmatic reports (internal and external). Oversee training and mentoring of program CWICs as needed.
Special Working Conditions:
Remote work may be considered for candidates that do not live in the NY/NJ/PA/CT area.