Fair Hearings Specialist 1 (NY HELPS)

Fair Hearings Specialist 1 (Spanish Language) (NY HELPS)

Salary:

$60,278 to $66,634

Location:

Office of Administrative Hearings

40 North Pearl Street

Albany, NY 12243

Office Of Administrative Hearings

14 Boerum Place

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Plus $3,400 Location Pay

Grade:

14

# of Positions:

Varies by location

Candidates Must Meet the Following Qualifications:

NY HELPS: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required, but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive, and the official probationary period will begin.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

NON-COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS:

Four years of paraprofessional or professional experience providing services to individuals in need of and/or eligible for social services programs or implementing/administering programs regulated by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, or the New York State Department of Health.

Substitution:

1. College education in any field may substitute for up to four years of the experience noted above at the rate of 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent thereof. A bachelor’s degree may substitute for all four years of experience.

2. An associate or higher degree in law or legal assistant/paralegal education from a regionally accredited college or university, or college or university accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), may substitute for all four years of the experience noted above.

3. Completion of a legal assistant/paralegal education, qualifying non-degree certificate program where the certificate was issued by a regionally accredited or ACICS accredited college or university AND two years of paralegal experience may substitute for all four years of experience noted above.

OR

55 b/c: This position is eligible for 55 b/c appointment, and candidates with 55 b/c eligibility are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for a 55 b/c appointment, candidate must be currently enrolled in the Civil Service 55b/c program and meet the qualifications listed above.

Information about the 55b/c program can be found here: 55b/c Recruitment Resources Center (ny.gov).

COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS:

Eligible for a lateral transfer or eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law by having one year of permanent competitive service in an appropriate title. Information regarding transfer eligibility is available on the Civil Service Career Mobility Office website at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/.

OR

Reachable on the appropriate eligible list in Albany.

Duties of Position:

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides information regarding hearing procedures to State agency and local district staff, clients and their representatives, and other parties.
• Processes requests for administrative hearing records, Fair Hearings, Homebound Hearings from appellants/representatives, Intentional Program Violations Hearings, and waiver of appearance requests from local social services districts and its agents; schedules hearings; prioritizes hearings in accordance with federal and state regulations, law and court decisions; manages workflow at hearing locations; and conducts other matters regarding the administrative hearing process.
• Handles general inquiries from clients, their representatives or local agencies and makes referrals to appropriate program areas or proper agency.
• Determines continuation of aid status and good cause for adjourning and reopening hearings.
• Drafts responses to correspondence relating to the hearing process.
• Screens and processes emergency hearings.
• Retrieves, analyzes and/or updates information from the Fair Hearing Information System, Welfare Management System, Automated Child Care Information System, New York City Work Accountability and You, State Supplemental Program, Client Notification System, eMedNY, and other relevant systems.
• Identifies governmental entity or agent taking adverse action against clients and ensures all relevant parties are notified about a hearing request. This includes identifying the appropriate local district location, managed care organization, or State entity.
• Fields compliance complaints, referring more complicated cases to the appropriate supervisor.
• Gathers statistical data and prepares reports.
• Assists supervisor in preparing written procedures.

Conditions of Employment:

Full-time permanent or temporary appointments will be made.  If certified by Civil Service, mandatory reemployment list candidates must be considered first for appointment to this title. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Candidates for the Fair Hearings Specialist 1 (Spanish Language) must be capable of communicating with the Spanish-speaking population regarding fair hearing-related inquiries, requests, and complaints. In processing written correspondence and e-mail requests, the incumbent must possess the ability to directly translate the incoming source documents without having to obtain verbatim written translations.  In addition, in order to be considered for appointment to a Spanish language position, applicants will be required to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish at a level that will ensure their ability to adequately perform the duties of the position.

Your resume must indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for these positions. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.

Working for New York State:

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is looking for applicants who are seeking a rewarding career. 

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is recognized as a national leader in the field of Human Services and innovative social welfare programs. OTDA is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals.

OTDA’s functions include: Providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State’s Child Support Enforcement Program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations.

Applicants and recipients of Public Assistance, Medical Assistance, SNAP, and other social services benefit programs have a right to a fair hearing if they disagree with a decision made by the state or local government agencies or their agents. Tens of thousands of pro se New Yorkers exercise their due process rights to a hearing annually.

As a New York State employee, you are afforded great fringe benefits exceeding 60% of your salary.  Our comprehensive package includes:

• Health care coverage with provisions for hospitalization, medical/surgical coverage, prescription drug benefits, dental, and vision.
• Generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.
• Up to thirteen paid holidays per calendar year.
• Pre-Tax Health Care.
• Voluntary enrollment in deferred compensation plans.
• Access to financial assistance for further career-related study.
• Membership in the New York State Retirement System.

NYS OTDA seeks to promote a diverse workforce that is a representation of the various cultures, voices, backgrounds, ideas, and talents of the citizens and communities that we serve. We actively solicit and encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (“BIPOC”); LGBTQIA+ individuals; women; people with disabilities; and military veterans. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Remarks:

• Candidates should reference posting #24103M when submitting your application.