Eligibility & Referral Social Worker

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Job Description - Benefit Eligibility & Referral Social Worker (260006OO)

Job Description

Benefit Eligibility & Referral Social Worker - ( 260006OO )

Description

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) at Tewksbury Hospital is accepting applications for a Benefits Eligibility & Referral Social Worker (A/B).In this role, you will serve as a trusted resource for patients, families, guardians, and interdisciplinary care teams, ensuring individuals have access to the benefits, financial assistance, and community resources they need to support their health, recovery, and successful transition of care.

This position is ideal for professionals who are passionate about advocacy, problem-solving, and improving access to essential services while working in a mission-driven healthcare environment.

As part of the Department of Public Health, you will join a dedicated team committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care while developing expertise in Mass Health, Social Security, disability benefits, long-term care eligibility, and care coordination. This role offers the opportunity to build strong relationships with patients and community partners, expand knowledge of public benefit programs and healthcare systems, and contribute to meaningful outcomes that improve financial stability, continuity of care, and overall quality of life for some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations.

Please note:
The schedule for this position is Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm.

• Provides individualized financial counseling to patients, families, and responsible parties to explain insurance options, out-of-pocket responsibilities, and available financial assistance programs.
• Conducts private ‑ pay assessments using the hospital sliding fee scale, documenting findings and recommendations clearly in the medical record and billing systems.
• Completes patient registration for new and returning patients, ensuring accurate entry of demographics, contact information, emergency contacts, and insurance details.
• Assists residents, families, and responsible parties with completion of Mass Health LTC applications, ensuring that all required sections are filled out accurately and completely.
• Educates patients and surrogates about SSI and SSDI eligibility criteria, application processes, and timelines.
• Maintains up ‑ to ‑ date spreadsheets, logs, or databases tracking Mass Health eligibility, applications in progress, key deadlines, redeterminations, and SC ‑ 1 submissions.
• Assists patients and families in completing paper and electronic USCIS applications related to immigration status, work authorization, and residency.
• Reviews Personal Needs Accounts (PNA) balances and prepares PNA reports to identify patients whose assets exceed allowable limits.
• Tracks SORB ‑ related requirements for designated patients, including annual fee obligations and reporting deadlines.
• Completes Disabled Person Protection Commission (DPPC) reports as required, in collaboration with clinical teams and according to mandated reporting standards.

• Knowledge of the methods of general report writing.
• Ability to read, interpret, apply and explain the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications. standards and guidelines governing assigned area.
• Ability to gather information through questioning and by examining records and documents.
• Ability to conduct interviews
• Ability to accurately record information provided orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to write concisely, to express thoughts clearly and to…