Benefits Specialist

Description

The Benefits Specialist helps members enrolled in Alium Health’s SMI services access and maintain public benefits that support health, nutrition, income, and stability. This position screens members for potential AHCCCS and other benefit needs, assists with SNAP and related applications or renewals, gathers verification documents, tracks application activity, and coordinates follow-up with members, case managers, and community agencies. The specialist helps members navigate benefit systems but does not determine eligibility, provide legal advice, or guarantee approval.

• Meet with members to assess current health coverage, food assistance, income supports, and other benefit needs, including barriers that may affect access or continued eligibility.
• Screen members for potential AHCCCS coverage needs and other public-benefit programs using approved questions, tools, and current program guidance.
• Assist members with completing and submitting AHCCCS and SNAP applications, renewals, and required follow-up within the specialist’s training and scope.
• Support applications or referrals for other benefit programs and community resources when indicated, including income, nutrition, utility, transportation, disability, and related assistance.
• Educate members about application steps, verification requirements, interview expectations, renewal dates, reporting responsibilities, and common causes of delay or closure.
• Help members gather identification, proof of residence, household information, income verification, benefit letters, medical documentation, and other required supporting materials.
• Review applications and supporting documents for completeness before submission and assist members with correcting missing or inconsistent information.
• Obtain required releases of information and coordinate with benefit agencies, authorized representatives, guardians, case managers, providers, and community partners.
• Assist members with creating or accessing approved online benefit accounts, uploading documents, checking application status, and responding to requests for information when authorized.
• Prepare members for benefit interviews and help them understand agency notices, deadlines, approvals, closures, and requests for additional information.
• Track applications, renewals, verification requests, interviews, deadlines, approvals, denials, and unresolved items through completion or appropriate handoff.
• Conduct timely outreach regarding appointments, missing documents, application status, renewal deadlines, scheduled interviews, and other required follow-up.
• Refer members to qualified legal resources, Social Security assistance, advocacy organizations, or specialized agencies when an appeal, disability determination, or issue exceeds the position’s role or expertise.
• Clearly communicate that eligibility and benefit decisions are made by the responsible agency and cannot be guaranteed by Alium Health.
• Document screenings, member contacts, outreach attempts, applications, renewals, referrals, coordination activities, outcomes, and unresolved needs in the electronic health record within required time frames.
• Provide case managers and the interdisciplinary care team with clear updates regarding progress, barriers, deadlines, approvals, denials, and recommended next steps.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Coordinator and case management team to prioritize urgent benefit needs and support coordinated service planning.
• Maintain member confidentiality and follow HIPAA, organizational policies, payer requirements, and applicable federal and state standards.
• Participate in team meetings, training, quality‑improvement activities, and chart reviews, and perform other related duties as…