Senior Benefits Counselor - Queens

Position: Senior Benefits Counselor – Queens

Supervised by: Director of Consumer Services

Number of employees directly supervised: 3

Salary: $70,000

Office: 80-02 Kew Gardens Rd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415

About CIDNY

The Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York (CIDNY) is a leading organization serving and representing people with all disabilities in New York City. CIDNY's mission is the removal of barriers to full integration of people with disabilities. CIDNY helps people with disabilities to gain the skills and obtain the services they need to live independently in the community and advocates for fair and effective policies that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. CIDNY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The majority of CIDNY’s staff are people with disabilities who are dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Basic Function

• The Senior Benefits Counselor will assist consumers with a comprehensive intake, assessment of needs, benefits screening, information, and referrals, and ensure appropriate follow-up of services. In addition, consumers will have the opportunity to develop an independent living plan that documents their goals, steps to achieve them, services that will support them in seeking their goals, and outcomes. The benefits counselor will assist individuals in knowing their rights and understanding how to self-advocate. The counselor will engage in advocacy together with and on behalf of consumers, including representation in hearings and appeals. This position is currently hybrid but will be based at our Queens office.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive intake and assessment relevant to consumer needs including a full benefits review: explain eligibility rules, assist with enrollment and/or recertification, and assist with the appeal process.
• Follow-up with information to consumers about their options for services, service provision applications and rules, and provide appropriate referrals.
• Collaborate with consumers to create plans of service and periodically review the plan for adjustments.
• Identify and work directly or indirectly with individuals who need services to avoid institutional placement or to transition from institutions to the community.
• Conduct outreach, workshops and presentations to enhance community referral services, building networks with external agencies.
• Maintain compliance with grant standards by organizing and documenting consumer and program files, ensuring accurate/timely entries of case notes in the agency’s consumer database for annual reporting purposes
• Stay current on benefits and services available to consumers.
• Comply with all confidentiality and HIPAA requirements.
• Complete all required paperwork for consumer files as per agency policy.
• Assist consumers in development and exercise of self-advocacy skills and independent living skills building through active involvement in the achievement of service goals.
• Act as a liaison and/or advocate with other service or benefits providers for consumers.
• Contribute, as needed, to the organization’s systems-based advocacy programs by communicating observed barriers/successes related to benefits and services available to people with disabilities, participate in selected advocacy activities and/or identify consumers who are representative of certain systems-based advocacy issues.
• Must Attend all agency’s in-service training and unit meetings, as well as any other agency-related activities and off-site training.
• Perform other program-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree with at least 5 years of experience with government benefits counseling, or AA degree with at least 10 years of experience in government benefits counseling.
• Multilingual preferred.
• Understanding or experience with disability-related issues.
• Knowledge of public benefits preferred.
• Excellent advocacy, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills required.
• In addition, the ability to work well independently as well as part of a team.
• Must be computer literate in basic Microsoft Programs and learn new applications and database systems quickly, knowledge of Salesforce a plus.
• Respectful and comfortable with people from different backgrounds.
• Ability to travel
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccine and booster is required.

How to Apply

• Please send a thoughtful cover letter and resume to Massiel Felix, Director of Consumer Services. Please use the job title as the email header. The cover letter should include your work history and other relevant life experience, and it should clarify what transferable skills you bring to the posted job description. No application will be considered without this cover letter.

Other Information

• We conform to all laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose discrimination.