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. 

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.

Telecommuting up to 50% may be available in accordance with The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance policy, and can be discussed during the interview.

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, candidates may be hired via a non-competitive appointment if they meet the below NY HELPS minimum qualifications.

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.

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 will be made.  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.

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.

Remarks:

• Candidates should reference posting #24-196 when submitting your application.
• If submitting electronically, please reference posting #24-196 as part of your subject line.
• If you are interested in applying to these positions, please scan the QR code below for applicant instructions.

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.