Salary: $54,204.00 - $72,924.00 Annually
Location : Spokane County - Spokane, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 3
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: Financial and Business Services Division
Opening Date: 04/18/2025
Closing Date: 4/25/:59 PM Pacific
Description Our vision is to ensure that "Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and healthy-thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."
Job Title: Public Benefits Specialist 4 Title IV-E (PBS4)
Location: Spokane, WA - Flexible/Hybrid
Closes: Friday, April 25th, 2025
Salary: $54,204.00 - $72,924.00 Annually.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is looking for a Title IV-E Specialist (Public Benefits Specialist 4)to help maintain the child welfare system funding in the State of Washington. On behalf of the Eligibility and Supports Division, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, and the State of Washington, a Title IV-E Eligibility specialist determines eligibility for federally reimbursable funds through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act for children placed in foster care, Guardianship Assistance Program, and Adoption Support
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The Opportunity: As an essential member of our team, you will conduct periodic redetermination of ongoing eligibility for the federal reimbursements for Foster Care cases. Additionally, the Title IV-E Eligibility Specialist maintains the caseload, ensuring funding for foster care is appropriated from the correct funding source. The Title IV-E Specialist's function is essential in maintaining financial viability of the foster care system in the State of Washington. If you have keen attention to detail and want to have a positive impact on Washington State children, we encourage you to apply today and join our team.
Some of what you will do: - Interpret policies and disseminate governing eligibility for Title IV-E Federal Funding reimbursements.
- Access and utilize state and federal computer database systems to gather additional eligibility information.
- Synthesize, evaluate, and verify information to determine if households meet specific criteria for financial needs.
- Gather all needed eligibility determination information to establish the linkage home, household composition of the child's home, income and resources of the child's family, in order to determine eligibility for Title IV-E programs.
- Review judicial documents to determine whether children placed in foster care followed federal guidelines.
- Conduct independent eligibility decisions to approve or deny applications.
- Prepare the case for the correct funding source.
- Create a durable case record comprising of all documentation and verification necessary to establish proven eligibility.
- Update database systems to ensure foster care payments are made from the correct funding sources.
- Review court documents to determine whether children placed in foster care remain eligible for Title IV-E federal funding.
- Identify foster children potentially eligible for SSI or SSA disability benefits, making referrals to SSI Facilitator.
- Make periodic and scheduled (every 6 months) case reviews to ensure ongoing eligibility.
- Review foster care payments to be sure they originate from the correct funding source, whether state or federal.
Required Qualifications: - Equivalent combination of education and experience totaling five years (5 years) examining/processing loan applications, medical insurance or rehabilitation claims, unemployment insurance claims, or a job providing staff support in financial eligibility determination, or in a job analyzing, verifying, and evaluating financial data and information.
OR - A Bachelor's degree, AND one (1) year of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 3.
OR - A Bachelor's degree, AND one (1) year of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 2 determining eligibility for long-term care services.
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: - Six (6) months of experience determining eligibility for Title IV-E federal funding.
- Knowledge of public welfare philosophy, State and Federal welfare laws and regulations, principles, problems, and practices of public welfare administration.
- Demonstrated experience in determining eligibility for needs-based public welfare programs; compilation of sufficient documentation to verify all criteria required for the public welfare application for benefits.
- Ability to express ideas clearly; work cooperatively with staff, clients, and members of the community; direct and assist others in interpretation and analysis of information and data.
- Ability to make independent decisions; lead and train staff; work independently in a fast-paced, high stress, multi-tasking environment.
- Ability to direct and assist others in interpreting information and data and make independent decisions.
- Ability to identify problems and troubleshoot solutions.
- Ability to organize, assess, prioritize, and manage individual caseloads, and read extensive amounts of written case and policy materials.
How do I apply? In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:
- Cover Letter
- Resume (current/updated)
Supplemental Information: The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington's children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.
This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information:
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Veronica Jones (Talent Acquisition Specialist) at If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at or email
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at .
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More than Just a Paycheck. Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits: The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
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