Human Services Specialist -Ii

Human Services Specialist I-II (Formerly known as Family Services Specialist I-II)

$22.50/hour - $34.14/hour

Department of Health & Human Services, Bureau of Family Assistance, Keene NH District Office

See total compensation information at the bottom of announcement.

Provides direct service to individuals and families to determine and certify eligibility for state and federal public assistance programs. Provides professional, whole-person needs assessments and connects citizens with other internal and external resources and services to assist them in reaching economic stability and self-sufficiency. Audits and analyzes client records to ensure accurate and timely decisions. This position is assigned to a District Office within the Bureau of Family Assistance and/or other work location as business requires.

Assesses whole-person service needs as well as emergent needs to address barriers to economic mobility and/or self-sufficiency. Achieves, maintains, and applies comprehensive knowledge of diverse populations and their environmental trends, and connects individuals and families with other internal and external services to address needs or barriers related to social, economic, employment, education, health, mental health, child and vocational rehabilitation. Assesses, identifies, and addresses client language and cultural needs in order to ensure meaningful and equitable access to the Department’s programs, activities and services.

Determines and certifies applicants’ eligibility for state and federal public cash, medical and non-cash assistance programs, including but not limited to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Child Care, disability assistance and Long Term Care, including Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) waiver programs, as well as expedited support for individuals and families with emergency needs such as food insecurity, homelessness, utilities, domestic violence, child care or health, by systematically reviewing, evaluating, applying and deciphering applicant financial information, medical information, household composition, citizenship, and other factors applicable to eligibility requirements.

Applies complex and evolving federal and state law, regulations, policies and procedures for approximately 46 federal and state benefit programs, following required state and federal processing time frames to efficiently meet clients’ needs in a timely manner.

Researches and analyzes applicant and client information with proficiency in automated databases, system interfaces, web-based software applications, and other resources, including but not limited to: the State’s integrated eligibility and enrollment system known as New Hampshire Empowering Individuals to Get Help Transitioning to Self-sufficiency (New HEIGHTS), as well as other State agency systems including the New England Child Support Enforcement System (NECSES), EBTEDGE, Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS), Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE), Verify Current Income (VCI), Asset Verification System (AVS), NH Employment Security (NHES), New Hampshire’s Unemployment Insurance System (NHUIS), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) self-service portal known as NH EASY.

Uses state and federal data exchanges, as well as collateral internal and external sources to attain and verify information required to complete determinations and verify accuracy of decisions.

Conducts interactive in-person or phone interviews with applicants, current clients and/or their authorized representatives; ensures individuals’ communication needs, e.g., language barriers,…