What are the responsibilities and job description for the L&I Workers' Compensation Adjudicator 3/Pension Benefits Specialist position at State of Washington?
Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working!
Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability
Please Note: This recruitment is for Internal Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) employees only.
Do you like numbers? Are you looking for a change? The Pension Benefit section of Insurance Services Claims Administration is looking for you. As a member of the Pension Benefit Specialists section, you will manage a caseload of claims where the worker has been determined to be totally and permanently disabled or has died because of an industrial injury or condition. In this position you will help the department achieve the overall agency mission by providing timely and appropriate benefits to those who can’t return to work.
Some of what you’ll do:
- Establish new pensions for claimants and/or their beneficiaries.
- Calculate benefit entitlements and make appropriate adjustments throughout the claimant, or their eligible beneficiaries, lifetime.
- Adjust and offset ongoing benefits when a worker receives benefits from both the Social Security Administration and the Department of Labor & Industries.
- Ensure the claimant or beneficiary receives the appropriate cost of living and federal triennial adjustments in a timely manner.
- Participate in quality assurance reviews to ensure appropriate benefits are paid to recipients.
- Provide information and respond to customers about their benefits, how the benefits were calculated, and what laws or procedures support the decisions and how our process works.
Required:
- Successful completion of the Department of Labor and Industries Workers’ Compensation Adjudicator 2 Apprenticeship program.
AND
- Six months of experience as a Workers’ Compensation Adjudicator 2.
OR
- Bachelor’s degree
AND
- Two years of experience in adjudicating workers’ or crime victims’ compensation insurance claims, or adjudication of time loss payments.
OR
Equivalent education/experience
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
- Mathematical aptitude to include basic algebra and accounting skills.
- Advanced ability to research, analyze facts and apply rules and regulations contained in federal law, state law and department procedures.
- Presentation and communication skills with the ability to provide testimony in a legal setting in support of departments’ position, decision, and calculations of benefit
ATTENTION: Consideration will be given to complete applications. In addition to your application, please submit a letter that clearly addresses your experience performing the job duties and your qualifications.
Things You Need To Know
To help you maintain a proper work-life balance, teleworking is one of the work schedule options for this position. L&I also offers flexible custom work schedules.
State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.
At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.
For this position, telework is dependent upon business needs and supervisor approval. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington.
For positions where in-office work is necessary, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.
To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up for GovDelivery and select L&I job alerts.
Application process
We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.
Please include the following documents with your application:
- A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
- A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
- A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.
Please do not attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included) within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.
To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.
Background Check Notice:
Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.
Other information
- For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
- This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
- Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
- The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
- Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.
- (IF DOING ASSESSMENT): Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process will be contacted by email to schedule a skills assessment.
Did You Know?
Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.
In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.
Veterans Preference
Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s Jobs@lni.wa.gov.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.
The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
You are welcome to include the name and pronoun(s) you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.
For more Information
If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, the agency, or to request a copy of the Position Description Form (PDF) please contact Rachael Niles at Jobs@lni.wa.gov.
Salary : $58,380 - $78,468
