DSHS ESA Public Benefits Specialist 4 (Case Planning & Support Specialist)

About the role

The Economic Services Administration's (ESA) Community Service Division (CSD) has an exciting opportunity for a Public Benefits Specialist 4 (PBS4) – Case Planning and Support Specialist (CPSS) to join our team at the Columbia River Community Service Office in Vancouver, WA. This position works full-time in the office, providing hands-on support and leadership to staff and clients alike. As a Case Planning and Support Specialist, you’ll be the go-to expert for clients navigating challenging life circumstances and the public systems designed to support them. This is the perfect role for someone who can read between the lines, build trust quickly, and connect individuals to the right mix of services, at the right time. You’ll assess eligibility for multiple assistance programs, develop tailored case plans, and coordinate with partners across healthcare, housing, employment, and more. Every day is varied. Every decision matters. You’ll need excellent judgment, a strong grasp of policy, and the ability to manage complexity with care.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed interviews to assess eligibility for public assistance, including cash, food, and medical programs.
• Facilitate program orientations and explain benefit pathways clearly and empathetically.
• Design, monitor, and update personalized case plans to address barriers and support employment goals.
• Refer clients to services such as domestic violence support, substance use treatment, mental health counselling, housing, and job training.
• Coordinate with external agencies and service providers to align support plans.
• Review and interpret complex documents—court orders, leases, medical notes—to determine appropriate program fit.
• Authorize and track supportive services such as transportation, childcare, or work clothing.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date case notes and documentation in multiple systems (ACES, Barcode, eJAS, HPF, etc.).
• Respond to case audits, resolve discrepancies, and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Participate in outreach efforts, home visits, and client advocacy as needed.

Qualifications

Core competencies

• Eligibility expertise – Deep knowledge of Washington’s public assistance programs and the ability to assess and re-determine eligibility with accuracy.
• Policy fluency – Comfort navigating and applying WAC, RCW, and internal procedural manuals to ensure services are legally sound.
• Case planning insight – Strong understanding of how to build service plans that are realistic, trauma-informed, and grounded in each client’s context.
• Analytical skills – Interpreting complex data and documentation to make fast, high-stakes decisions with precision.
• Communication – Clear, respectful, and empathetic communication, especially when explaining tough decisions or diffusing high-tension situations.
• Crisis navigation – Ability to stay calm, clear-headed, and grounded in professional boundaries when working with people in distress.
• Resilience and flexibility – Adapt quickly to shifting programs and priorities, manage multiple tasks, and maintain high performance without burning out.

Experience and education requirements

• Professionals with 12 months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 3.
• OR a bachelor’s degree or higher AND twelve months of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 2 determining eligibility for public assistance or long-term care services.
• OR 5 years of combined higher education and/or equivalent experience may substitute for degree and PBS work experience requirements. Total must include at least one year’s equivalent work experience. Examples of equivalent experience include but are not limited to:
  • Providing eligibility for services or direct customer service serving historically marginalized communities
  • Experience examining/processing loan applications
  • Medical insurance or rehabilitation claims
  • Unemployment insurance claims
  • Providing staff support in financial eligibility determination, or in a job analyzing, verifying, and evaluating financial data and information
• Satisfactory completion of the agency’s Public Benefits Specialist Training Program.

Additional information

Work schedule: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Interested applicants should include an updated resume and three professional references with contact information. Questions may be directed to DSHS Recruiter Vincent Hamilton at vincent.hamilton@dshs.wa.gov (reference job number #08700).

Supplemental information

• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job.
• This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
• Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
• Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
• If selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism.
• E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.