INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST I - 60020468

Requisition No: 841231 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST I - 60020468

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60020468 

Salary:  37,178.18, in accordance with DCF salary policy 

Posting Closing Date: 12/10/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

This is an Internal Agency opportunity.

Only current department employees are eligible to apply.

Investigation Specialist I

Department of Children and Families

  THIS IS A STATEWIDE VACANCY – POSITON LOCATION WILL BE DETERMINED BY SELECTED CANDIDATE LOCATION.

MULTIPLE POSITIONS MAY BE FILLED FROM THIS ADVERTISEMENT.

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking, and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Economic Self Sufficiency (ESS) Program helps to promote strong and economically self-sufficient communities by determining eligibility for food, cash and medical assistance for individuals and families on the road to economic recovery.

Under the ESS Program, the Office of Public Benefits Integrity (OPBI) is responsible for investigating public assistance fraud or misuse regarding the SNAP (Food Assistance), D-SNAP (Disaster Food Assistance), TANF (Cash Assistance), and Medicaid programs by individuals or merchants.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

*The requested information must be disclosed on the State of Florida Candidate Profile. It is not acceptable to write "see resume" on the Candidate Profile (application). *

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements to be hired for this position.

INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST I – 60046295 - ESS OPBI Benefit Recovery Program

This is a statewide vacancy, and the location of the positions will be determined based on the locations of the selected candidate’s location.

Some travel may be required.

This is a full-time position working 40 hours per week.

Business hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST, Monday - Friday.

The incumbent is a member of the DCF D-SNAP Disaster Response team and, in that capacity, may be required on short notice to perform duties and travel in support of disaster relief. During such events, incumbent may be required to work more than 8 hours per day.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be a current Florida DCF employee.
• Must have a minimum of 1 year (12 months) Florida DCF ESS experience determining eligiblity for Public Assistance Programs (Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Assistance, Medicaid and Refugee Assistance). 

PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO:

• Candidates with OPBI experience
• Candidates with experience monitoring and/or reviewing cases for accuracy and correct application of Food Assistance, Cash, and/ or Medicaid policy.
• Candidates who are proficient in using the FLORIDA system and Microsoft Office Suite. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

This is a professional position in the Benefit Recovery Program within the Economic Self Sufficiency Program that is responsible for investigation, calculation and recovery of overpayment claims for public assistance programs (Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Assistance, Medicaid, and Refugee Assistance) as a result of pre-eligibility and eligibility investigations for Public Assistance applicants/recipients, community complaints or edibility staff referrals. The incumbent must have a detailed knowledge of the eligibility process and procedures for the Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Assistance, Medicaid, and Refugee Assistance programs, and have expertise in the use of the system of record and other on-line systems. The person occupying this position works to ensure the Benefit Recovery Program is administered in conformity with federal, state, and regional policies.

 Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Timely investigates referrals for potential overpayment(s) as a result of fraud, inadvertent household error or agency error.
• Analyzes cases and investigative findings by using specific program policies and procedures to determine who is responsible/liable and reason for the overpayment. Accurately establishes overpayment claims and the dollar amount of overpayments eligible for recoupment, based on current and past Federal and State laws and Public Assistance policies.
• Completes referral reviews and claims in accordance with current program requirements. Takes timely and appropriate corrective action on identified errors through the Quality Management System, management evaluation reviews, and quality control reviews.
• Reviews existing information when available, initiates telephone contacts when necessary to validate information or respond to customer inquiries. Answers general telephone inquiries and exchanges information with other agencies and Department staff. Assists customers and providers with questions or concerns pertaining to overpayments.
• Represents the Department in Fair Hearings or State Attorney cases as assigned.
• Attends and participates in supervisory conferences, meetings, trainings, work groups and quality initiatives, as appropriate.
• Completes other related duties as assigned.

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of public assistance program objectives and policies; problem-solving techniques; training principles and practices; goal setting techniques; arithmetic.   
• Skill in operating a personal computer. 
• Ability to conduct fact-finding interviews; accurately prepare and maintain records and reports; work with a diverse range of people; adapt to change; deal calmly and effectively in high stress situations; compose documents or correspondence involving technical information; complex arithmetic operations; interpret and apply regulatory materials; prioritize and meet deadlines; establish and maintain effective working relationships; communicate effectively orally; apply ethical business practices.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION/ CANDIDATE PROFILE AND RESUME. 

**It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history information. **

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety. 

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• All previous DCF positions must be listed separately. Include the total years in each position along with all required duties.
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history.

The position will perform all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures. 

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

The Department of Children and Families is a tobacco-free environment.

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

BENEFIT RECOVERY SCREENING Candidates applying to positions in the Economic Self Sufficiency Program will have a Benefit Recovery check completed to validate current or former public assistance case information before completing the hiring process.

 If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.