Easterseals Nebraska Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor

Position Overview

This position exists to provide work incentives planning assistance and outreach services to Social Security beneficiaries who experience a disability and who want to return to work.

The goal is to assist people with disabilities to successfully enter, (or re-enter), the workforce and increase their self–sufficiency by providing clear, accurate, and credible information about the impact of work on benefits; providing access to work incentives; providing referrals to other supports such as employment networks, the state vocational rehabilitation program, and other private agencies and non-profit organizations that serve beneficiaries with disabilities; and assisting with problems related to benefits that may arise when a beneficiary begins working.

This position requires advanced professional skills and knowledge of all federal and state benefit programs. The incumbent is expected to fully demonstrate their ability to provide CP-WIC services independently, following a period of orientation, training, and on the job experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Complies with all federal, state and local laws and regulations as appropriate for the position.
• Complies with all policies and procedures of the agency, including those specified in the employee handbook.
• Meets all documentation and productivity standards as identified by the agency.
• Completes VCU accreditation and other benefits planning training.
• Provides comprehensive work incentives planning and assistance services.
• Provides specialized information and referral services.
• Provides problem solving and advocacy services.
• Develops benefit summary and analysis (BS&A) services.
• Performs quality assurance and relationship-building duties.
• Maintains internal and external customer confidentiality.
• Maintains up-to-date working knowledge of each public benefit program and Ticket to Work programs.
• Develops and maintains contact with public and private sector individuals and/or groups to promote the effective coordination of services using the work incentives.
• Identifies, creates, and organizes internal and external resource materials.
• Contributes to the development of reports and documents all activities to assist the management team in meeting funding and/or billing requirements.

Education And/or Work Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required.
• Two or more years of experience in working directly with individuals who experience barriers.
• Ability to interpret state and federal laws, regulations, and administrative codes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers.
• Excellent computer proficiency. (MS Office – Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service.
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of standards effectively. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written or oral form. Ability to prioritize. Ability to collect data and write complete and accurate reports.
• Adapts to changes in procedures and technology. Willingly learn new skills as required for the position.
• Be able to successfully pass the initial VCU training certification and annual recertification thereafter.
• Must pass a federal clearance screening by the Social Security Administration

Physical Requirements/Environment

• Ability to perform the essential job functions consistently safely and successfully with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards.
• Requires full range of body motion, including unrestricted lifting, pushing, and pulling capability. Requires corrected vision and hearing within normal ranges. Will frequently sit, stand, walk, drive, crouch, bend, kneel, climb stairs.
• Frequent exposure to extreme conditions (e. g., temperature, fumes, dust, pets, vermin, and other environmental factors in client homes). Potential exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids. May work irregular hours and under stressful conditions.
• Must maintain current driver’s license and auto insurance coverage within the limits specified by VNA’s liability insurance carrier and stated in the VNA employee handbook. Must provide proof of license and insurance upon request and have access to reliable transportation. Must maintain an acceptable driving record as set forth in VNA’s policies and procedures.