Unemployment Insurance Senior Claims Deputy (#MDDZ69)

A class incumbent renders non-monetary determinations of claimants' eligibility to receive unemployment benefits; assists the Unemployment Insurance Local Office Manager in the training and guiding of office personnel and in general office administration.

A class incumbent performs with general supervision from the Unemployment Insurance Local Office Manager.  Other positions reporting in at this level include Claims Deputies, Processors and Interviewers.  A significant aspect of this position is to act as a technical resource:  render eligibility decisions in the more complex cases; train claims deputies in proper handling of their responsibilities; lend technical guidance to claims deputies and other personnel by explaining and interpreting unemployment compensation guidelines; oversee the office in the manager's absence.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Issues non-monetary eligibility determinations in more complex cases such as those involving legal matters, labor disputes and multi-claimants by consulting unemployment compensation guidelines and precedents.
   
• Reviews more complex unemployment claims against program eligibility requirements by comparing claims to written state and federal guidelines regarding the program.
   
• Collects information from claimants and employers in the more complicated cases in order to ascertain the factors involved in determining eligibility.
   
• Responds to the more complex, difficult telephone and written requests for policy and procedural information or interpretation from claimants, employers, other Department of Labor Personnel, concerned citizens/general public.
   
• Explains determinations to claimants and employers citing state and federal regulations and important facts.
   
• Explains and interprets unemployment compensation state and federal guidelines as well as local office procedures to office personnel for consistent application.
   
• Assists office personnel in determining the eligibility of claims in less clearly defined cases by consulting appropriate guidelines and gathering information relevant to the determination.
   
• Assists the local office manager by training claims deputies in proper handling of their duties by supplying and interpreting unemployment compensation guidelines and localoffice procedures so that work is performed with a minimum of guidance; may also assist in training of claims personnel.
   
• Assists office manager by delegating work to other office personnel, monitoring workloads, taking attendance, providing information in the evaluation of office personnel, and acting as office manager in the absence of superior.
   
• May recommend and implement changes in office procedures by evaluating the effectiveness of current practices.
   
• Explains appeals process and file appeals in the more complicated cases for claimants and employers if either party is dissatisfied with the eligibility determination.
   
• Compiles information; may prepare related administrative reports.
   
• May review appeal decisions to decide whether or not results can be upheld.
   
• Performs related duties as required.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of federal and state unemployment rules, regulations and case precedents involved with claims eligibility determination.
• Knowledge of unemployment benefits administration and office procedures.
• Knowledge of office administration.
• Knowledge of types of union actions which affect unemployment compensation.
• Skill in interviewing to obtain sensitive, complete information.
• Skill in analyzing data to make complex eligibility decisions.
• Skill in interpreting State and Federal laws as they apply to complex unemployment benefits administration.
• Skill in effective oral and written communication.
• Skill in exercising tact, good judgment, and diplomacy in very difficult situations.
• Skill in compiling data to prepare administrative reports.
• Ability to work with a variety of people.
• Ability to effectively train others and evaluate their progress.
• Ability to perform simple mathematical calculations:  addition, subtraction, multiplication, division.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to perform routine data entry and retrieval.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Unemployment Insurance Senior Claims Deputy
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Six months experience in case management which includes assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individuals human service needs.
2. Six months experience in making recommendations as part of a clients service plan such as clinical treatment, counseling, or determining eligibility for health or human services/benefits.
3. Six months experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
4. Six months experience in narrative report writing.
5. Six months experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.