What are the responsibilities and job description for the SOAR Benefits Specialist position at Kenneth Young Center?
SOAR Benefits Specialist
Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to individuals of all walks of life. Located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, we offer a wide range of services including outpatient therapeutic care, recovery-oriented support, community prevention, LGBTQ outreach, older adult services, and crisis intervention. Our team welcomes and celebrates unique perspectives and represents the diversity and vitality of our local communities. Join our team to grow in your career while building stronger, healthier communities.
Kenneth Young Center offers a robust benefit package that is highly competitive to the market and offers all full-time employees the following:
Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to individuals of all walks of life. Located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, we offer a wide range of services including outpatient therapeutic care, recovery-oriented support, community prevention, LGBTQ outreach, older adult services, and crisis intervention. Our team welcomes and celebrates unique perspectives and represents the diversity and vitality of our local communities. Join our team to grow in your career while building stronger, healthier communities.
Kenneth Young Center offers a robust benefit package that is highly competitive to the market and offers all full-time employees the following:
- 403(b) plan with organizational matching
- Medical Insurance (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois - BCBS)
- Dental (BCBS), and Vision Insurance (BCBS) with low employee premiums
- Long Term and Short Term Disability (BCBS), no cost to employee
- Flexible Spending Account (with annual rollover)
- Basic life insurance (50k) paid for by the organization and option for additional voluntary coverage for self, spouse, or dependents (BCBS)
- Incentive program with potential for quarterly bonuses
- Opportunity for annual bonus and salary increase (discretionary based on annual KYC financial audit)
- Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
To further promote an active and healthy work/ life balance, KYC also offers a generous amount of paid time off and staff holidays.
- 4 weeks of Paid Time Off (With increases based on seniority)
- 8 Paid Organization-Wide Holidays
- 3 Personal Floating Holidays annually
Job Scope: The goal of the SOAR Benefits Specialist is to increase access to income and benefits to persons with no income or low income. SOAR specialists provide targeted services to adults transitioning out of nursing facilities through the Colbert/Williams transition program, as well as adults diverting from nursing facility placement with Front Door program. SOAR specialist will assist individuals that have serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder apply for Social Security disability benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income benefits. Assist in applying, obtaining medical documentation, and coordinating with Social Security staff. SOAR is a certified process and stands for SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Complete SSDI/SSI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) training within 45 days of hire and maintain knowledge of best practices.
- Conduct basic evaluation of client's eligibility for Entitlements.
- Maintain a caseload of clients that includes persons actively applying for benefits, going thru appeal, and monitoring the case for persons who have previously applied.
- Gather medical history from clients and submit record request to facilitate benefits application.
- Complete SSI/SSDI benefit applications per SOAR process and enter into SOAR system to track applications.
- Facilitate the transfer of SSDI/SSI benefits and entitlements starting prior to transition and within 5 days of transition into the community.
- Explain representative payee services and assist client to transfer benefits to a new payee, as needed.
- Accompany clients to attend appointments and hearings with Social Security
- Assess client eligibility and complete applications with clients for pharmaceutical assistance programs, housing assistance programs, LINK/food stamps, Medicaid, and other available benefits, when appropriate.
- Assist clients with Medicaid Spenddown Requirements and facilitate completion of all necessary paperwork and supporting activities to establish the spenddown deductible prior to the Class Member moving from the NF/SMHRF/IMD.
- Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Center policies and procedures.
- Meet or exceed productivity target of approximately 50% direct service.
- Remain compliant with internal reporting and documentation requirements as set by Kenneth Young Center and State Funder.
- Participate in a Statewide learning collaborative to share ideas and successful strategies with other SOAR providers.
- Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Center policies and procedures and meet agency quality and compliance standards
- Submit, in a timely and accurate fashion, schedules timesheets, mileage and other reports required by the Center’s policies and procedures
Education & Experience
- BA/BS in Social Work or closely related discipline from an accredited institution of higher learning
- Valid Illinois driver’s license, auto insurance, and access to reliable vehicle
- Basic technology, smartphone, and computer proficiency; knowledge of web-based team communication tools (ex. Microsoft Teams), electronic health records, telehealth programs, and internet skills
- Preferred experience working with adults with serious mental illness and/or adults with other complex physical health and mobility needs
- Preferred experience with review of medical records pertaining to medical conditions and impact on life functioning
- Employee must successfully complete SAMHSA’s online SOAR training within 45 days of being hired
Work Environment
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in the community: within Nursing Facilities, client residences, or public benefits offices
- Roughly half of the employee’s time will be spent in an office space: employee has accessibility to all KYC locations, based on office vacancy.
- While in transit, the employee may experience changing road and whether conditions
- In supporting clients to live independently, employee may be exposed to varying home conditions
- Opportunity for a portion of the week to include Work from Home with Director/Deputy Director approval. This schedule and approval is subject to change based on the needs of program.
Travel Requirements
- Will be required to drive daily for meetings and/or visits to nursing facilities. Will work in varied residential environments based on assigned caseload
Schedule
- Full Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt, 37.5 hour work week
- Majority of hours are Monday-Friday during regular business hours
Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer