Federal Survivor Benefits Program Administrator

Job Title

Finance Unit Manager

This position is a hybrid position.

Please note:

These working arrangements are subject to change. About this position:
This position serves as the statewide program administrator and subject matter expert responsible for implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of Federal Benefits for Youth in Foster Care. The position develops rules, statewide guidance, fiscal controls, monitoring systems, and training to ensure counties comply with statutory screening, representative payee, conservation, non-supplantation, notice, and release requirements. This role ensures consistent and lawful administration of federal survivor benefits across Colorado's 64 counties.

The position develops statewide rules, policy guidance, fiscal controls, monitoring systems, and training infrastructure to ensure federal survivor benefits are individually conserved and protected for the direct benefit of children and youth in foster care in accordance with statute and federal regulations. This position serves as the primary statewide liaison and subject matter expert coordinating with the Social Security Administration (SSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), Colorado ABLE within the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), and other state and federal partners to establish implementation processes and fiscal safeguards related to federal survivor benefits for youth in foster care.

The position ensures statewide implementation does not create unintended impacts on Medicaid eligibility, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility, federal tax reporting requirements, or protected asset and resource limitations associated with federal and state benefit programs.

Summary of

Job Duties:

Senior Authority Statewide Policy Development & Program Implementation Serves as the statewide expert in federal survivor benefits and the lead policy developer responsible for drafting and revising administrative rules and standards required under CRS 19-7-105 and related sections. Leads development and implementation of statewide policies, rules, procedures, and operational guidance to ensure compliance with statutory requirements governing federal survivor benefits for youth in foster care.

Drafts policy manuals, procedural guidance, templates, and training materials. Ensures alignment between state statute, federal regulations, fiscal constraints, and county operational practices. Coordinates and consults with SSA, IRS, HCPF, Colorado ABLE within CDHE, and other governmental entities to develop statewide implementation standards, fiscal safeguards, representative payee procedures, account establishment processes, and eligibility protection protocols associated with federal survivor benefits for youth in foster care.

Designs and implements statewide transition protocols for federal survivor benefits, including procedures for benefit initiation upon entry into foster care, reassessment during placement changes, continuity of representative payee services, coordination of interagency transfers, and final benefit release and account closure when youth exit care or reach eligibility milestones.

Representative Payee & Screening Oversight Develops statewide screening protocols and monitoring systems to ensure counties consistently identify eligible youth and pursue federal survivor benefits as required by statute. Designs and implements statewide oversight mechanisms to monitor county compliance with screening timelines, eligibility determinations, appeals processes, benefit conservation requirements, notice obligations, and fund release procedures. Conducts desk audits, compliance reviews, and risk assessments.

Fiscal Compliance & Conservation Oversight Develops and oversees fiscal accountability systems, ensuring counties do not use federal survivor benefits to offset foster care maintenance or cost-of-care expenditures, consistent with statutory prohibition under CRS 19-7-105 and related sections. Develops fiscal tracking standards to ensure benefits are…