Supervises a unit of Public Benefits Specialists who determine eligibility for financial, medical, food and childcare benefits.  Influences outcomes and builds strategic partnerships with entities, such as: other state agencies and local community offices for the delivery of human services to individuals, families and communities.

Supervises a staff of Specialists in gathering information regarding clients' eligibility for public assistance programs;  

Supervises Public Benefits Specialists with assistance of lead worker through individual and group conferences by reading and analyzing records and reports and evaluating performance; recommends placements and reassignments;   

Establishes unit workloads and quality standards; reviews completed complaints and eligibility determinations to ensure that appropriate data gathering and verification techniques were utilized and that findings were adequately documented;   

Controls overall flow of work processed by the unit; reviews activity reports to ensure that planned unit volume levels are being maintained and that work is being processed within established time frame limits;  

Analyzes adequacy of agency policy and practices; participates in formulation of local policies and procedures for development of public assistance programs administered by the agency; explains policies and rules to unit staff;   

Teaches employees to elicit and evaluate needs of recipients and refer them to other sources available; allocates workloads and measures performance in relation to workload standards;   

Plans and directs induction and training of new staff members; plans and coordinates in-service training for staff; encourages continuing interest in increased job effectiveness;   

Consults with agency management regarding unit requirements; makes recommendations regarding budget requirements for the unit such as staffing, equipment, space, etc.;  

Submits period reports to agency management regarding unit operations; makes recommendations regarding revised systems and procedures to accommodate program changes and improvements;    

May supervise other lower level staff; 

Performs other related work as required.

Knowledge of:  philosophy of public welfare; State and Federal welfare laws and regulations; principles, problems, and practices of public welfare administration; principles of individual and group behavior, social and economic conditions and their effects upon individuals. Understand Medicare and Medicaid policy; interviewing techniques; office procedures and practices; supervisory skills and management principles; personnel system and community resources.    

Ability to:  express ideas clearly; work cooperatively with staff, clients and members of the community; supervise, train, and develop staff. Read and interpret the Washington Administrative Code, Revised Code of Washington state laws, federal laws governing Medicaid programs, Social Security Administration Operating Manual, and multiple program specific procedure manuals; manage a large volume of work; communicate and maintain working relationships with a wide range and level of staff; evaluate job performance; interview job applicants; make professional judgements; exhibit tact, courtesy and discretion; be a contributing and effective member of designated management team; analyze management information and recommend modification to improve program performance.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

One year of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 3 or 4. 

OR 

Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience examining/processing medical insurance or rehabilitation claims, unemployment insurance claims, or a job providing staff support in public assistance eligibility determination, or in a job analyzing, verifying, and evaluating financial data and information. 

Three years of out-of-state experience, conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance to include financial, medical and food benefit programs will be considered toward experience. 

Note: Related or closely related employment experience may substitute year for year for education.

New class (replaces Financial Service Supervisor 1 and 2, codes 3505 and 3507) Effective March 1, 1987 (emergency basis June 12, 1986; permanent August 14, 1986)
Revised May 15, 1987 Revises minimum qualifications
Revised new class code: (formerly 34990) effective July 1, 2007
(8/9/2012) Revised.  Removed language from Desirable Qualifications:  or Financial Service Technician 3.
Revised definition and typical work; adopted June 30, 2017; effective July 1, 2017.
Revised title, definition, distinguishing characteristics, typical work, knowledge and abilities and desirable qualifications; adopted June 13, 2019; effective July 1, 2019.