Assistant Service Officer

Incumbent works under the direction of the Veterans Service Officer or designee, assisting veterans and their dependents/families in accessing federal, state, and County veteran benefits and assistance.  

 Essential Functions:

• Conduct interviews obtaining financial and medical information, determining eligibility and assessing needs for veteran’s benefits or assistance.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Provide information and access to federal, state and County programs for veteran benefits (e.g. economic aid, health care, education, home loans, pensions, compensation).
• Serve as a case manager coordinating and developing claims through the Veterans Administration (VA) Regional Office, State Service Officers, Service Organizations and community resources.
• Provide information and services to veterans and dependents at their residence due to homebound, nursing home, or hospitalized status.
• Counsel and assist in resolution planning for monetary assistance and crisis situations.
• Research, verify, and follow-up on provided information (e.g. employment, income, assets, marital/dependent status).
• Assist with applications, forms, and documents ensuring accurate completion.
• Assist applicants in obtaining and/or preparing supporting documents for claims and applications to various programs (e.g. DD214, birth certificate, marriage certificate, military medical records, personnel files).
• Accept and process applications, forms and documents, forwarding to appropriate agencies or authorities.
• Prepare statements assisting veterans with the VA claims and appeals process.
• Provide information and referral to community resources (e.g. abuse, addiction, basic needs, counseling and mental health, education and employment, health, disabled and senior services).
• Create, update, and manage hard copy and electronic veteran file information.
• Assess, manage, and follow through on a case-by-case basis clarifying veteran, dependent or family goals.
• Coordinate and/or make referrals to appropriate community organizations and resources, providing a holistic case management approach.
• Prepare and maintain various records, reports, correspondence and documents (e.g. summaries, recommendations, statistics).
• Maintain job knowledge and skill set (e.g. research, meetings, trainings, workshops, webinars, seminars, continuing education).
• Provide information and/or referral to companion programs (e.g. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid).
• Provide and present Veterans Services information to veteran and community organizations, increasing awareness of benefit changes and issues.
• Maintain affiliation and community contact with local service organizations (e.g. National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans).
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

 Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements:

• Two (2) years of college in Business Administration, Public Administration, Sociology, Social Work, or Psychology required.*
• One (1) year of interviewing, consulting, public contact or human services experience/training required.*
• Two (2) years of MSOffice experience required.
• Service as active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than active duty for training, and discharge or separation with a characterization of honorable from the service.  (State Statute #80-410)
• Current resident of the State of Nebraska and must have been a resident continuously for at least one year. (State Statute #80-410)
• Valid driver's license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen required.
• *Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

 Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed in an office setting. Noise level is usually moderate. Work hours are typically standard day-shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. weekend, holidays, overtime/extra hours, emergency call-in). Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals.
• Work requires some physical activity, including extended periods of sitting and standing, frequent walking, reaching, carrying, and occasional climbing, balancing, bending and kneeling. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.