Public Benefits Specialist In-Training; PBS- Richland

Overview

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Public Benefits Specialist 1-3 In-Training (PBS3)

Location: Richland, WA. This position is hybrid with the expectation of in-person attendance to meet business need. Therefore, the selected candidate must be willing and able to commute to 1661 Fowler Street, Richland, WA 98952.

Closes: Tuesday January 13th, 2026

Salary: Public Benefits Specialist 1 (PBS1): $4,428 - $5,137 Monthly;
Public Benefits Specialist 2 (PBS2) $4,119 - $5,531 Monthly;
Public Benefits Specialist 3 (PBS3) $4,428 - $5,956.

Do you want to help families and communities safely care for their children? We are looking for a Public Benefits Specialist to join our team and provide eligibility determination support services, working toward the common goal of eliminating child and youth outcome disparities at the Richland Child Care Subsidy Call Center. If you have a passion for helping others and want to see families flourish, we encourage you to apply.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) was created to be a comprehensive agency exclusively dedicated to the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children, youth, and families regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other socioeconomic factors. We believe our workforce should reflect the communities we serve, and are actively searching for candidates that reflect that diversity.

We serve the mission. DCYF's mission is to work alongside Washington's vulnerable children, youth, and families to foster safety, stability, and better outcomes by strengthening opportunities, connections, and community.

to learn more about DCYF.

The Public Benefits Specialist conducts interviews, reviews information, and makes eligibility determinations for child care subsidy assistance. As the incumbent of this position, you will use your extensive and specialized financial knowledge, as well as your ability to interpret public laws and policies and make independent decisions. In this role, you will provide customer service delivery and support children receiving early education.

• Conduct intensive interviews with customers to determine eligibility for services, or continued eligibility for services when notifying the program of changes of circumstances for Child Care benefits.
• Provide information about program requirements, application procedures, and verification needs.
• Obtain and review necessary data, documentation and verification for Federal or State assistance as it relates to an individual’s specific circumstances.
• Process Child Care applications received from the Washington Connection online applications, in the Document Management System (DMS), and through interactive interviews.
• Responsible for interviewing, gathering and analyzing information, reviewing documents and system information.
• Analyze collected oral and written information to determine accurate benefits and continued program eligibility.
• Finalize Child Care applications and reapplications with information received and verified for accurate determination of eligibility.
• Refer clients to both mandatory and optional services, including other agencies as required.
• Take actions necessary to ensure that limited English proficient clients receive properly translated forms and translation services from state certified, contracted translators and interpreters.
• Authorize Working Connections Child Care Subsidy payment to approved Licensed facility and Family Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Subsidy Providers through the Social Services Payment System (SSPS).

We are considering candidates at the Public Benefits Specialist 1 through 3 levels. Candidates, if hired, at the 1 and 2 levels have a training plan to advance to Public Benefits Specialist
3. Experience is the only difference between qualifications for levels and is evaluated by the hiring manager.

Public Benefits Specialist 1 (PBS1): One (1) year of experience conducting financial eligibility determination for public…