Veterans Services Representative I/II at County of Riverside in Indio, California

Job Description:

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Department of Veterans' Services is seeking a Veterans Services Representative I/II for its Indio office.

The selected candidate will support the department by aiding veterans, their dependents, and survivors in securing benefits from federal, state, and local governments. The Veterans Services Representative will study and understand the laws, regulations, and procedures governing veterans' benefits. They will assess veterans for entitlements, advocate for those seeking benefits, assist in completing and submitting Veteran Claims forms accurately, and aid in gathering evidence required for qualification. Additionally, they may deliver informative presentations on veterans' benefits to the public and fulfill other assigned duties.

The department seeks candidates with prior experience in veterans' services and benefits, proficiency in interviewing individuals to collect personal or medical information, and a background in delivering courteous customer service. Applicants with knowledge of the procedures involved in obtaining services and benefits for disabled veterans and their dependents, along with strong customer service, organizational, communication, and writing skills, are encouraged to apply.
Applicants who are Bilingual in Spanish are encouraged to apply.

Occasionally, this role may necessitate travel for events.

The role of Veterans Services Representative I differs from that of Veterans Services Representative II in that the latter involves performing a broader range of specialized clerical and technical tasks, requiring a deeper understanding and application of specific laws and regulations related to eligibility and application for veteran benefits.

Furthermore, the Veterans Services Representative II role is distinct from the Senior Veterans Services Representative position, as the latter may involve supervisory responsibilities over other Veterans Services personnel and/or leadership roles in the field.

Meet the Team!
Click here to learn about t he County of Riverside's Department of Veterans' Services .

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Veterans Services Representative I:

• In a learning capacity, interview and advise veterans, their dependents and survivors concerning entitlement to benefits under federal, state and local provisions.
• Assist in the preparation and development of claims for financial, medical, burial, and educational benefits; guide applicants in the filing of appeals.
• Search for, analyze and screen evidence bearing on entitlements.
• Obtain affidavits, military records, birth, death, and naturalization certificates, marital documents, and other supporting evidence for claims; contact lawyers, physicians, clergymen, and others to obtain further supporting evidence.

• Assist in obtaining government insurance coverage and benefits; develop applications for discharge upgrades.
• May be assigned to assist in field duties as needed; determine pertinent federal, state and local provisions as they relate to each claim.

Veterans Services Representative II:

• Interview and advise veterans, their dependents and survivors concerning entitlement to benefits under federal, state and local provisions.

• May be assigned field duties as needed; determine pertinent federal, state and local provisions as they relate to each claim.

• Prepare, develop and prosecute Veterans Administration claims; prepare and develop appeals for presentation to the Board of Veterans Appeals.

• Search for, analyze and screen all available evidence bearing on veteran entitlements; assist applicants in applying for financial, medical, burial, and educational benefits.

• Obtain affidavits, military records, birth, death, and naturalization certificates, marital documents, and other supporting evidence for claims.

• Contact lawyers, physicians, clergymen, and others to obtain further supporting evidence.

• Provide information, advice and assistance to veterans in obtaining government insurance coverage and benefits.

• Maintain proficiency in laws and regulations relating to veterans; develop applicants for discharge upgrades.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Veterans Services Representative I ( $45,960.51 - $61,780.58 Annually)

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree. (Experience which involved in-depth interviewing and the securing of information from individuals in order to determine, on the basis of laws and regulations, the acceptance, rejection, or categorization of actions, may substitute for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for one year of education.)

Knowledge of: The basic benefits to which veterans and their dependents and survivors are entitled.

Ability to: Learn effective interviewing and recordkeeping techniques; interpret and evaluate legal, medical and other evidence; understand laws, rules and regulations; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with clients, fellow employees and the staff of other agencies; prepare clear and comprehensive reports.

Veterans Services Representative II ( $54,113.49 - $71,650.80 Annually)

OPTION I

Experience: One year as a Veterans Services Representative I with Riverside County.

O PTIONII

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree. (Experience which involved in-depth interviewing and the securing of information from individuals in order to determine, on the basis of laws and regulations, the acceptance, rejection or categorization of actions, may substitute for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for one year of education.)

Experience: One year in the preparation and development of claims for presentation to the Veterans Administration.

ALL OPTIONS

Knowledge of: Federal, state and local legislation affecting veterans; interviewing and recordkeeping techniques; medical and legal terminology as it pertains to veterans' benefits.

Ability to: Gather and analyze information, draw logical conclusions and make sound decisions and recommendations on the basis of laws, rules and regulations; interpret and evaluate legal, medical and other evidence relating to veterans' claims; establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, fellow employees and the staff of other agencies; prepare clear, comprehensive reports and records.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License willbe required.

Must maintain accreditation with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) through the California Department of Veteran Affairs (CDVA).

Service in the Armed Forces of the United States with an honorable discharge is desired but not required.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

What's Next?

Open to All Applicants

This recruitment is open to all applicants.

Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Department of Veterans' Services may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.

Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.

For questions regarding this recruitment
For specific questions regarding this position, contact Genesis Ochoategui at gochoategui@rivco.org.

________________________________________________________________________________________

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference.The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).

Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com .

If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• 
  Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.


• 
  Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.


• 
  Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.
  

A new member is defined as any of the following:

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.

A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

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