Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) - Granite State Independent Living

Basic Function

Provide information, referral, and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities who are looking for work and who are receiving disability benefits from Social Security or have questions about NH Medicaid programs, state benefits, and public health insurance. Provide work incentives counseling services to individuals with disabilities or receiving state benefits who are looking for work or who are working and trying to navigate the benefits/entitlements systems. Participate in economic development outreach activities for members of the general community, service providers, community organizations, and individuals with disabilities and family members. Provide support to the CED team and the GSIL organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide information and referral services to members of the general community: service providers, community organizations, individuals with disabilities and families about available work incentives for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries, medical coverage options (including NH Medicaid programs), subsidized housing options, and state benefits.
• Conduct timely intakes to ascertain facts about beneficiary issues, provide accurate information, and counsel individuals' about how earnings from employment will affect their SSI and/or SSDI work incentives and state benefits programs (especially medical coverage).
• Provide in-depth benefits analysis services for NH Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) fee-for-service and referrals with the development of a comprehensive Benefits Summary and Analysis and Work Incentives Plan.
• Refer job searching beneficiaries to community partner organizations such as NH Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Employment Networks (ENs), New Hampshire Works/One-Stop Career Center/Unemployment Office, etc.
• Provide on-going financial counseling follow-up services to all beneficiaries, with priority going to those who are employed or have a job offer pending.
• Refer general information, referral, and advocacy questions to I&R specialists if they need further information and referral.
• Participate in general GSIL and CED events and activities.
• Maintain professional knowledge and skills by reviewing professional literature and attending trainings and workshops given by VCU, SSA, and other professional resources.
• Attain 18 Continuing Certification Credits (CCCs) to maintain CWIC certification each year through VCU trainings, benefits analysis reviews, and state trainings
• Support and uphold GSIL policies and procedures, workplace regulations and safety practices.
• Share newsworthy information appropriately throughout the organization.
• Conduct other duties as assigned by the Financial Planning for Employment Program Director or Administration to help increase options for persons with disabilities live as independently as possible in their communities.
• Attend any relevant CWIC training to maintain special knowledge.

Education/Training/Experience

Minimum of a bachelor's degree in social services, human services, or in a relevant field, education, and/or related experience preferred. Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) may possess a combination of education and experience. Seeking outgoing individual with ability to communicate well and organize work independently. Ability to provide information, direct services, and advocacy for consumers. Personal experience with a disability preferred. Former beneficiaries may substitute up to two years of full-time work for the education requirement if they can demonstrate that they used Social Security Administration (SSA) work incentives to successfully gain employment. A CWIC must demonstrate successful completion of required work incentive training and training around the State of NH public programs and shall complete said trainings within 3 months of hire. A CWIC must pass a high level of Security Clearance from the Federal government.

CWICs should bring the following knowledge, skills and abilities to the position:

• Deductive ability with analytical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrate competent interviewing and partnering skills.
• Demonstrate ability to link individuals with disabilities to employment opportunities.
• Ability to interpret Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and administrative code about public benefits.
• Knowledge of disability terminology used to describe awareness of cultural and political issues for various disability populations.

CWICs are required to be proficient in the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability programs.
• Knowledge of SSA and other Federal, State, and local work incentive programs.
• Knowledge of all public benefits programs (including TANF and public medical coverage), basic operations and inter-relationships among the programs, specifically in terms of their impact upon employment.
• Translating technical information for lay individuals.
• Accessing information in a variety of ways (including the ability to be able to recognize when additional information is needed);
• Accessing specific Employment Network (EN) information.
• Interpersonal skills (e.g. recognize and help people manage anger and conflict, enjoy working with individuals).
• Counseling and evaluation-related skills (ability to listen, evaluate alternatives, advise on potential course of action).
• Knowledge of SSA field office structure and how to work with various SSA work incentive specialists e.g., Area Work Incentives Coordinator (AWIC), Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) Specialists, Work Incentive Liaisons (WILs); and
• Knowledge of ethics (e.g., confidentiality, conflict of interest);
• Ability to manage beneficiary case files and information electronically.

About Us

Granite State Independent Living is a statewide non-profit and New Hampshire's only Center for Independent Living, we stay close to our roots with a focus on our 5 core services of education, information, advocacy, support, and transition services for people with disabilities and underserved youth. We can speak and think with authority on behalf of the people we serve and support because we are led by a board of directors and staff of which over 51% are people with disabilities.

We carry out our mission through our Home Care Services, Community-Based Disability Supports and Employment Services. With the help of our local New Hampshire communities, we assist people with the tools for living life independently, so they can change their lives for the better. While much has changed over the years, one thing remains the same; GSIL is committed to the principle of personal choice and direction.