Veterans Services Counselor

General Description Of Duties

Under general direction, the purpose of the position is to provide counseling and advising in assisting Veterans, surviving spouses, and their dependents in claims for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or other Federal, State, or County agencies. Employees in this classification perform at journey level to facilitate efficient and effective award of benefits. Work includes maintaining communication and knowledge of client progress with benefit attainment, and providing informative counseling services with sensitive matters.

• Conducts interviews and provides direction, information and counseling to assist veterans and their dependents, and dependents of deceased veterans in obtaining government benefits and assistance; advises clients of other benefits or services for which they may be eligible and assist in obtaining or referral to agency responsible for those benefits or services; explains terms and conditions of programs; monitors the status of claims.
• Assists veterans and the dependents of deceased veterans, in completion of applications for claims, providing assistance needed to obtain evidence required to support claims.
• Clarifies inconsistent or incomplete awards, questions situations, and follows-up on delayed decisions awarding entitled benefits.
• Performs a variety of complex and specialized administrative functions, e.g., analyzing applications, typing, reports processing, documentation verification; gathers, interprets, and prepares data for reports and recommendations; provides information to clients and/or supervisor.
• Assists with Veterans' Services Officer duties in his/her absence.
• Acts as liaison between veterans and Veterans' Administration.
• Receives services inquiries and concerns, ascertaining the nature of the request, and resolving personally, directing it to the appropriate individual or department, or acting as liaison to the assigned supervisor.
• Generates various specialized correspondence, articles, memos, agendas, orders, reports, forms, manuals, or other relevant materials appropriate to the assigned department.
• Maintains individual case files, current reference files of laws, rules, regulations, policies, and referral list required for office operations.
• Maintains a wide variety of detailed legal records and reports; collects and prepares various information; prepares legal documentation as required, i.e., case narratives, field case notes, modifications.
• Performs duties as assigned/necessary which are related, or logical in assignment to the position.

Education: High School Diploma or GED.

Experience: Three (3) years of responsible experience in administrative/secretarial support functions to include one (1) year of experience in client interviewing, counseling, public or business administration, or handling Veterans' affairs, or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

Miscellaneous: Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License.

• In accordance with Florida Statute 292.11, must be a veteran who served as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States during a period of war, as defined in Title 38, U.S.C.; who served at least 18 months  active duty in the Armed Forces; and who was separated from such service under honorable conditions, or the surviving spouse of any such veteran, or any honorably discharged wartime veteran who was so discharged for service-connected or aggravated medical reasons before serving 18 months of active duty;
  
  who completed a tour of duty other than active duty for training, regardless of the length of tour; or who satisfied his military obligation in a manner other than active duty for training or reserve duty.
• Must attend the training program established by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and successfully complete an examination administered by the Department.

• Considerable knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations governing veterans  benefits under Federal and State Statutes.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of human services programs; knowledge of government benefits administration as it relates to veterans and their dependents, and dependents of deceased veterans.
• Knowledge of modern records management techniques.
• Ability to understand, follow, and supervise written and oral instructions.
• Ability to make independent decisions in applying standardized procedures to individual cases involving initial qualifications and continued eligibility development issues.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with all levels of management, employees, other departments, officials, and the general public; skill in the principles and techniques of customer service skills.
• Skill in preparing complex correspondence, summaries, and reports in a clear and concise manner; skill in business English, e.g.,…