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Benefits Advocate Mental Health Project
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Urban Justice Center
Remote
$61,846 Salary, Part-Time
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Job Description
Benefits Advocate
- Mental Health Project Vacancies Benefits Advocate
- Mental Health Project The Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project (MHP) seeks a disability advocate to assist and represent clients with mental health concerns on public benefit claims on our interdisciplinary team.
We work to:
secure financial and medical benefits to prevent homelessness and hospitalization; provide peer advocacy and social work support to empower clients in the community; impact systemic reform through litigation, legislation, and policy; ensure proper discharge planning occurs prior to release from jail and psychiatric hospitals; connect people to the appropriate organizations through advice and referrals; and educate people about their rights and how to advocate for themselves and their peers. Job Summary and Qualifications The client benefits advocate will be part of an interdisciplinary team who provides advocacy services for adults with mental health concerns with low income. The position will be responsible for assisting clients with supportive housing applications, shelter advocacy, eviction prevention, and applications for public benefits, including supporting clients who are experiencing homelessness apply for federal disability benefits using the SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) model. SOAR is an evidence-based model that helps individuals with mental health concerns who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness apply forSSI/SSDI
benefits. The Mental Health Project seeks a candidate with the following qualifications: Excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills; Experience navigating government public benefits systems (e.g. HRA, SSA, Medicaid, SNAP, cash assistance); Ability to analyze extensive data and create written reports with accuracy and brevity; Attentive to detail and strong time-management skills; Able to manage numerous long-term cases with varying needs and deadlines; Experience working within a client-centered, trauma-informed, and harm reduction framework; Commitment to anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and other social justice work; Ability to be collaborative and work with a team; SOAR experience preferred; Proficiency in Spanish preferred, but not required; A Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent degree required; and At least three (3) to four (4) years of relevant experience.Responsibilities:
Provide comprehensive advocacy across a broad range of needs, including housing stability, income supports, benefits access, and healthcare navigation; Support eviction prevention and housing stabilization efforts, including rental assistance applications and supportive housing applications (e.g., HRA 2010E); Assist clients in accessing and maintaining public benefits, including SNAP (food stamps), cash assistance, SSI/SSDI, Medicaid, and other eligible government programs, including support with recertifications and reinstatements; Help clients in applications for federal disability benefits (SSI/SSDI); Maintain accurate, timely, and organized client records in both physical and electronic databases; Review and analyze medical records to assess eligibility and prepare comprehensive disability applications; Collect and compile medical records and supporting documentation to strengthenSSI/SSDI
applications; Write SOAR Medical Summary Reports for individual disability applications; Perform outreach and collaborate with referral sources and community partners to identify, engage, and support clients; Accompany clients to Social Security Administration, medical, and other similar appointments; Conduct home and community visits to provide direct client engagement and support; Collaborate with MHP team members to provide advocacy and help clients access mental health and holistic support services; and Perform duties to support the MHP, as needed. The Mental Health Project is currently on a hybrid working schedule. This position requires in-office work for client walk-ins (Wednesdays) and client Open Mic Night (every 4 th Thursday per month). The work schedule will depend on and may change given the Project's needs.Benefits/Compensation:
Salary ranges from $61,083.34- $62,610.
Apply:
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and references to [email protected] . Please write "Client Benefits Advocate" in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis for immediate hire. Due to the high volume, we are unable to respond to all applicants and will contact only those candidates selected for further consideration. The Urban Justice Center (UJC) is strongly committed to equal employment opportunities for all individuals. UJC will make all employment decisions for employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military status, marital status, familial status, caregiver status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, actual or perceived physical, mental, or other disability, veteran status, lawful use of health insurance benefits, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. This is a bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys, International Union UAW, Local 2325. Recent Vacancies Benefits Advocate- Mental Health Project Social Worker
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