DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist

DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist 2 – Social Security Income Facilitation

The Economic Services Administration (ESA), Community Services Division (CSD), is seeking a Social Service Specialist 2 to join our Supplemental Security Income Facilitator team at our Mt. Vernon location.

• Assist individuals receiving TANF or Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) benefits in completing SSI application and appeal packets.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to understand each person’s medical, social, vocational, cultural, educational, and psychological history.
• Gather, review, and interpret medical information to understand diagnoses, prognosis, and functional limits relevant to the SSI claim.
• Serve as a liaison with SSA, Disability Determination Services, medical providers, attorneys, and social service partners to support the SSI determination process.
• Track all SSI facilitation steps and ensure required deadlines—particularly appeal timelines—are met.
• Document all case actions and client interactions in multiple electronic systems, including ICMS, eJAS, Barcode, and ACES.
• Participate in home or alternate-site visits when a client cannot come to the office due to physical, cognitive, or behavioral barriers.
• Monitor SSI-related outcomes and run reports for local, regional, and statewide use.
• Facilitate transitions to other federal medical programs as appropriate.
• Cross‑train in ABD/TANF policies to ensure accurate referrals, documentation, and program awareness.
• Provide referrals to community resources and supports.
• Review invoices to ensure charges for referred evaluations and medical evidence are in accordance with State maximums.
• Carry out other duties as assigned.

• Twelve months of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1 AND completion of the agency’s Social Service Specialist training program.
• A master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or an allied field, AND one year as a Social Service Specialist 1 or equivalent paid social service experience. A two‑year master’s degree that included a practicum will substitute for one year of paid social service experience.
• A bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or an allied field, AND two years of paid social service experience performing functions equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 1.
• An equivalent combination of education/experience of six or more years.
• Paid social service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and/or adults and providing direct family‑centered practice services.
• Employees must successfully complete the formal training course within eighteen months of appointment.

• Be comfortable supporting people with complex needs: partner with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, or substance use needs, offering grounded, consistent support in a respectful and non‑judgmental way.
• Client‑focused planning: listen deeply, understand each person’s circumstances, and use that information to shape assessments, case plans, and participation requirements that support stability and progress.
• Clear, respectful communication: interact with clients, coworkers, medical providers, and community partners with tact, professionalism, and courtesy, even during challenging conversations or emotionally charged moments.
• Assessment and decision-making: interpret medical documentation, determine eligibility pathways, take timely case actions, and make sound decisions in a fast‑paced environment with competing demands.
• Technical and regulatory proficiency: use multiple automated systems and apply program manuals, the Washington Administrative Code, and agency and federal procedures to ensure accurate, policy‑aligned work.
• Adaptability and conflict management: navigate change, manage stress, and de‑escalate conflict while maintaining focus, empathy, and professionalism for the people you support.

• Insurance benefits: medical (including vision), dental, basic life, long‑term disability, and optional additional coverage. Multiple medical plans with affordable…