Goodwill Industries NYNJ

Job Description

Title: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)-Benefits Advisor

Department: Mission Services

Reports To (Title): Program Manager

Cost Center: N/A

Supervising Staff: No

General Purpose:

The CWIC provides work incentives planning and assistance to beneficiaries who receive Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI/SSI) for our Work Incentive Planning & Assistance (WIPA) and Benefits Advisement program. The CWIC/Benefits Adviser is responsible for obtaining accurate information from Social Security and other NY & NJ State and Local assistance programs in order to write a comprehensive individualized Benefits Analysis report (BS&A). The report is then used to counsel and educate beneficiaries about how employment will affect their current benefits (including public and private health insurance, and other federal, state, and/or local benefits received) so that individuals may make informed choices towards employment and self-sufficiency.

CORE CWIC Essential Functions

• 
  Advices beneficiaries on how their work activity could impact their Social Security disability cash benefits (SSDI and/or SSI), Medicare and/or Medicaid, as well as, private health insurance, SNAP (Food Stamps), subsidized housing, workers compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, TANF, Veterans benefits and any other Federal, NY and NJ State and Local benefits.
• Maintain communication with the Social Security Administration, Local Department of Social Service, and other state and local agencies’ personnel.
• Develop accurate, individualized, and detailed written Benefits Summary and Analysis reports, as well as Work Incentives Plans, as per SSA guidelines.
• Encourage and support accurate and timely earned income reporting to Social Security to reduce the size or likelihood of overpayments on benefit record.
• Obtain accurate and document beneficiary information, contacts and efforts in a database system.
• Ensures confidentiality of all beneficiary information received or provided.
• When necessary, refers beneficiaries to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Employment Networks (EN’s), DOL one stop career centers as well as other organizations that emphasize/provide seamless employment related and ticket assignments.
• Provides ongoing follow-up assistance to beneficiaries who have previously received work incentives planning, and provide updates regarding the impact of employment and other changes on benefits and work incentives.
• Adhere to all Goodwill policies and procedures.
• Complete the CWIC continuing education and training necessary to maintain certification.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Established CWIC Certification from VCU and Level 5 SSA Suitability Clearance strongly preferred.
• Obtain Level 5 SSA Suitability Clearance within one year.
• Completion of full CWIC certification from VCU within one year.
• A Bachelor’s degree is preferred and at least 2 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities
• An Associate’s degree and at least 3 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities
• Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.

Skills Required:

• Candidate must possess strong computer skills including experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs, comfortable using various databases and/or case management information systems and Web Based software.
• Adept at using internet searches to find and research related benefit advisement and other information.
• This position requires math skills, analytical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Candidate must possess excellent organizational, analytical and systems management abilities; ability to pay attention to details, handle multiple priorities, and facilitate communication among staff across programs.
• This position requires interviewing and partnering skills, as well as disability and cultural sensibility.
• Comfortable with public speaking.

Scope of Responsibility & Positions Supervised:

• Candidate is expected to work independently to completed the initial CWIC certification process in a timely manner, while meet project goals.
• Candidate is expected to work well independently and as part of a team with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines while remaining flexible.