The Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks a mission-driven, dynamic, and highly organized individual with experience and knowledge of Social Security benefits and child disabilities to fill the Social Security Benefits Manager role. Reporting to the Director of Federal Relations, the selected candidate will be responsible for the supervision of the Regional Social Security Benefits Social Workers tasked with ensuring the Department is screening, applying, and maintaining eligibility for social security and other federal benefits of children in the care and custody of the department. In addition, the Benefits Manager and team will play a crucial role in ensuring children’s personal needs allowance (PNA) accounts are closed timely and in transferring ownership process of Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts for children with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) savings when they exit foster care. The Benefits Manager will serve as the subject matter expert on the department’s SSI-RSDI Child Benefits Policy, the department’s social security benefits processes, and Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts and facilitates training on these topics to the larger DCF community.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all-inclusive):

Supervision Exercised

Provides direct supervision to 3 Regional Social Security Benefits Social Workers to ensure screening of children for benefit eligibility, applying for benefits, changing of Representative payee status at the local SSA office, and tracking benefits applications.

Day to Day Activities

Reviews account-related issues and disbursement requests that have been escalated to the central officeCoordinates with the Department’s contracted benefits accounting provider to manage and maintain social security benefit funds for children in DCF care.Ensures timely submission of PNA closeouts, reviews requests for direct payments, returns conserved funds to SSA, and transfers ownership of existing ABLE accounts when a child exits foster care.Oversees the dissemination of SSA correspondences and tracks and ensures appropriate follow-up of these notificationsResolve benefit-related issues and respond to queries and requests in a timely manner.Manages the day-to-day monitoring of ABLE accounts by maintaining and reviewing account balances and managing access to the Fidelity investments website.Schedules and co-facilitates quarterly meetings for area liaison calls and benefits status meetings between DCF, EHS, and the contracted benefits accounting providerMeets regularly with the contracted benefits accounting provider to ensure timely application submissions and discharges to the ABLE account

Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting

Monitors new SSI recipients and ensures the opening of ABLE accounts every month, reviews ABLE account discharges, and follows up on any discrepancies. Monitors the PNA and ABLE accounts balances to maintain eligibilityServes as the business owner of the SSI-RSDI Child Benefits Policy and ensures agency complianceEstablishes internal controls and processes for ABLE accounts to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse Provides leadership and support in SSA periodic reviews and internal PNA reviewsDirects the review of ABLE Account correspondences from Fidelity Investments and ensures it is appropriately processed or archived as outlined by the Massachusetts Records Retention policyDisseminate PNA disbursement reports to the SSI-RSDI liaisons and ensure the collection of receipts for purchasesProvides reports on ABLE account balances and develop and maintain a process for transferring ABLE account ownership to a new Representative payeeMaintains and manages documentation in accordance with federal and state regulations

Communication and Record-keeping

Communicates directly with the Social Security Administration and Fidelity Investments on benefits and account-related matters Serves as the primary contact on SSA-DCF Data Exchange and respond and follow up on inquiries from local SSA offices across Massachusetts. Communicates and provides direct support to the contracted benefits accounting provider, SSI-RSDI Area Office Liaisons, Disability Unit staff, social workers, and Child Attorneys/GALs, as needed.

Training and Technical Assistance

Assists with developing training materials, eLearning Videos, standard operational procedures (SOPs), and one-pagers.Provides technical support and training to the area offices on SSA benefits and ABLE accountsResearches new social security policies and procedures to ensure agency compliance

Preferred Qualifications:

Minimum ofthree (3)years of management experience in a child welfare agencySuccessful candidates will have demonstrated leadership success in child welfare settings, relative to benefits and benefits eligibilityDemonstrated strong written and oral communication skillsDemonstrated ability to interact and communicate with all levels of staff, professional partners, and youth and young adultsDemonstrated knowledge of and ability to incorporate Department Principles of Practice, policy, and regulations into practice.

TO APPLY:

Please upload both Resume and Cover Letter for this position when applying.

About the Department of Children and Families:

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to upholding the fundamental mission of protecting children from abuse and neglect to ensure they are able to grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. DCF’s vision is that all children have the right to grow up in a nurturing home, free from abuse and neglect, with access to food, shelter, clothing, health care and education.

DCF works toward establishing the safety, permanency and well-being of the Commonwealth's children by: stabilizing and preserving families; providing quality temporary alternative care when necessary, safely reunifying families; and when necessary and appropriate, creating new families through kinship, guardianship or adoption. Preferred applicants will possess a demonstrated commitment to the core practice values: 1) child-driven, 2) family-centered, 3) community-focused, 4) strength-based, 5) committed to diversity/cultural competency, and 6) committed to continuous learning.

For more information about our agency and programs visit:www.mass.gov/dcf

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visithttp://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete theADA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form.

For questions, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks a mission-driven, dynamic, and highly organized individual with experience and knowledge of Social Security benefits and child disabilities to fill the Social Security Benefits Manager role. Reporting to the Director of Federal Relations, the selected candidate will be responsible for the supervision of the Regional Social Security Benefits Social Workers tasked with ensuring the Department is screening, applying, and maintaining eligibility for social security and other federal benefits of children in the care and custody of the department. In addition, the Benefits Manager and team will play a crucial role in ensuring children’s personal needs allowance (PNA) accounts are closed timely and in transferring ownership process of Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts for children with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) savings when they exit foster care. The Benefits Manager will serve as the subject matter expert on the department’s SSI-RSDI Child Benefits Policy, the department’s social security benefits processes, and Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts and facilitates training on these topics to the larger DCF community.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all-inclusive):

Supervision Exercised

Provides direct supervision to 3 Regional Social Security Benefits Social Workers to ensure screening of children for benefit eligibility, applying for benefits, changing of Representative payee status at the local SSA office, and tracking benefits applications.

Day to Day Activities

Reviews account-related issues and disbursement requests that have been escalated to the central officeCoordinates with the Department’s contracted benefits accounting provider to manage and maintain social security benefit funds for children in DCF care.Ensures timely submission of PNA closeouts, reviews requests for direct payments, returns conserved funds to SSA, and transfers ownership of existing ABLE accounts when a child exits foster care.Oversees the dissemination of SSA correspondences and tracks and ensures appropriate follow-up of these notificationsResolve benefit-related issues and respond to queries and requests in a timely manner.Manages the day-to-day monitoring of ABLE accounts by maintaining and reviewing account balances and managing access to the Fidelity investments website.Schedules and co-facilitates quarterly meetings for area liaison calls and benefits status meetings between DCF, EHS, and the contracted benefits accounting providerMeets regularly with the contracted benefits accounting provider to ensure timely application submissions and discharges to the ABLE account

Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting

Monitors new SSI recipients and ensures the opening of ABLE accounts every month, reviews ABLE account discharges, and follows up on any discrepancies. Monitors the PNA and ABLE accounts balances to maintain eligibilityServes as the business owner of the SSI-RSDI Child Benefits Policy and ensures agency complianceEstablishes internal controls and processes for ABLE accounts to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse Provides leadership and support in SSA periodic reviews and internal PNA reviewsDirects the review of ABLE Account correspondences from Fidelity Investments and ensures it is appropriately processed or archived as outlined by the Massachusetts Records Retention policyDisseminate PNA disbursement reports to the SSI-RSDI liaisons and ensure the collection of receipts for purchasesProvides reports on ABLE account balances and develop and maintain a process for transferring ABLE account ownership to a new Representative payeeMaintains and manages documentation in accordance with federal and state regulations

Communication and Record-keeping

Communicates directly with the Social Security Administration and Fidelity Investments on benefits and account-related matters Serves as the primary contact on SSA-DCF Data Exchange and respond and follow up on inquiries from local SSA offices across Massachusetts. Communicates and provides direct support to the contracted benefits accounting provider, SSI-RSDI Area Office Liaisons, Disability Unit staff, social workers, and Child Attorneys/GALs, as needed.

Training and Technical Assistance

Assists with developing training materials, eLearning Videos, standard operational procedures (SOPs), and one-pagers.Provides technical support and training to the area offices on SSA benefits and ABLE accountsResearches new social security policies and procedures to ensure agency compliance

Preferred Qualifications:

Minimum ofthree (3)years of management experience in a child welfare agencySuccessful candidates will have demonstrated leadership success in child welfare settings, relative to benefits and benefits eligibilityDemonstrated strong written and oral communication skillsDemonstrated ability to interact and communicate with all levels of staff, professional partners, and youth and young adultsDemonstrated knowledge of and ability to incorporate Department Principles of Practice, policy, and regulations into practice.

TO APPLY:

Please upload both Resume and Cover Letter for this position when applying.

About the Department of Children and Families:

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to upholding the fundamental mission of protecting children from abuse and neglect to ensure they are able to grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. DCF’s vision is that all children have the right to grow up in a nurturing home, free from abuse and neglect, with access to food, shelter, clothing, health care and education.

DCF works toward establishing the safety, permanency and well-being of the Commonwealth's children by: stabilizing and preserving families; providing quality temporary alternative care when necessary, safely reunifying families; and when necessary and appropriate, creating new families through kinship, guardianship or adoption. Preferred applicants will possess a demonstrated commitment to the core practice values: 1) child-driven, 2) family-centered, 3) community-focused, 4) strength-based, 5) committed to diversity/cultural competency, and 6) committed to continuous learning.

For more information about our agency and programs visit:www.mass.gov/dcf

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visithttp://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete theADA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form.

For questions, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required experience.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics?Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC)may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required experience.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics?Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC)may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.