Position: Benefits Counselor

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week.

Starting Salary Range: *$21.00-$25.00/hr

*The stated starting salary pay range for this position is meant to reflect a range of where a typical entry level candidate would start and is not meant to be all inclusive. Additional education and experience may result in a starting pay outside of the stated range.*

If you genuinely care about providing youth and/or adults with a sense of direction and hope, then you’ll get huge satisfaction from this role. Your influence will not only impact the lives of youth and/or adults, but the community as a whole. Laradon staff work extremely hard and are challenged every day, but they play a key role in supporting the well-being of the individuals that we serve.

As a Benefits Counselor you will be a valuable asset to Laradon’s mission by maintaining participant checking/personal needs funds/benefits. Assisting individuals with disabilities interested in working understand the impact their wages will have on their Social Security and other government benefits. Benefits counselor helps job seekers understand the potential benefits of employment for a person receiving disability benefits from Social Security.

No day is ever alike but you can generally look forward to the following responsibilities:

• Manage personal needs including all transactions, filing and follow-up.

• Reconcile individuals served checking/savings/bank statements and receipts.

• Generate personnel needs reports for management.

• Organize/maintain participants' paycheck stubs and cash cards monthly.

• Complete all social security and social services paperwork including individuals served redetermination of benefits and prescription drug plans.

• Communicate and coordinate social security benefits for individuals served.

• Create Food Stamp program and process and maintain food stamp eligibility.

• Initiate and maintain HUD section 8 for eligibility.

• Coordinate yearly HUD certificates and all mandated waiting list requirements.

• Maintain and update residential individual addresses with County.

• Analyze how work and earnings may impact SSI, SSDI, healthcare and other public benefits.

• Explain the services offered by Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) or other agencies and how they might help the individual.

• Provide proactive follow-up services to ensure that work incentives are properly applied and resolve benefit-related problems

• Offer long-term work incentives management on a scheduled, continuous basis to support employment efforts

• Other duties as assigned.

We proudly support our employees by providing the following benefits for this position:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance/FSA
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short Term Disability
• 401(k) + 4% Match
• 11 Paid Holidays and 16 Days Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Bilingual Pay Differential
• Wellness Reimbursement - $100 per calendar year
• Tuition and Certification Reimbursement
• Student Loan Assistance
• Development, job growth, and internal training opportunities
• The opportunity to work in a dynamic, supportive, and rewarding environment alongside other Laradon staff – one where everyone is truly appreciated
• CDC and CDPHE protocols to ensure the safety and welfare of all employees

We believe in providing continuing education and development opportunities for our employees. To start you off right in your position, we’ll make sure you are trained in the following:

• All training deemed mandatory by Laradon
• Orientation
• Mandatory Reporting
• Incident Reporting
• First Aid/CPR
• Medication Certification
• Safety Care
• Defensive Driving
• Person Centered Training
• Trauma Informed Care
• Requires on-going training on state and federal regulatory agency requirements.
• Receive and/or maintain HUD certification.

We ask that you bring the following assets to our workplace:

• Excellent communication (verbal and written)
• Superior problem-solving skills
• Must have, or be willing to obtain, either WIPA or CWIC certification
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Physical requirements include the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force; ability to lift and transfer individuals served; physical condition to enable walking, standing, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling; stamina to be on feet and active for full work days; ability to complete training and perform physical management of individuals as necessary, including physical restraints; ability to speak or exchange information in an audible manner.
• Must be organized, self-directed and meet deadlines.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Experience with Social Security, Medicaid and HUD paperwork and inspections.
• Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Excel.

Our commitment to you once you get here:

Laradon is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our DEI policy supports and strengthens Laradon’s mission of promoting advocacy, community access and independence for the individuals we serve and celebrating the unique differences and abilities of our employees. We honor and celebrate the contributions of ALL individuals in our workplace and in the community.

To provide culturally competent services to individuals, students, guests, and staff/employees, our hiring practices reflect our values by offering an environment that celebrates diversity and embraces inclusion. All of our team members – regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, language, abilities/disabilities, veteran status, religion, citizenship, socioeconomic status, geographic region, or other defining characteristics – should feel a sense of belonging and value. We applaud everyone.

Our Values:

Inclusion | Compassion | Advocacy | Respect | Empowerment

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