Eligibility Specialist

Friendship Public Charter School operates a network of high-performing college-preparatory public charter schools serving students frompre-K3 through 12th grade. Our mission is to provide aworld-class educationthat equips students with the knowledge skills and character necessary for success in college career and life.

We are seekingdedicated mission-aligned professionalsto join our team for the school year. If you are committed to accelerating student achievement fostering joyful and rigorous learning and preparing students for bright postsecondary futures we encourage you to apply.

The Eligibility Specialist ensures that families participating in Friendships aftercare program can access and maintain OSSE child care subsidy benefits through accurate application support documentation verification timely eligibility determinations/redeterminations (as permitted by OSSE) complete and auditable case record maintenance and compliant communication with families DHS and OSSE. This role is designed to perform the operational work of an OSSE/DHS Eligibility Worker within the boundaries of OSSEs delegation and oversight authority.

We look forward to learning more about you and your passion for serving students in Washington DC.

*Please note that the salary scale for this position is $62000 - $72000

Application intake and client interviewing (new applicants and recertifications)

• For Friendships Level II aftercare subsidy clients conduct structured intake and redetermination interviews to capture and apply all OSSE-required eligibility factors (household status DC residency income and qualifying need such as work education or training).
• Ensure each interview also covers program requirements and family responsibilities and use an in-person or otherwise verified process when OSSE standards require document authentication.

Document collection verification and authenticity checks

• Collect review and verify every required document for Friendship families to establish eligibility (identity child and household information residency legal relationship income and qualifying need) including meeting OSSE recency rules where applicable.
• Confirm families understand that signatures certify information as accurate under penalty of law and that Friendship cannot treat an application as complete until all required documentation is received and properly handled (copy versus original) under OSSE rules.

Eligibility determination and adverse action processing

• When Friendship is authorized to determine eligibility under OSSE Level II requirements (including any waitlist-era approvals) apply OSSE rules to determine initial eligibility subsidy level and family co-payment and document the decision rationale in the case record. If documentation is missing issue a request track the OSSE deadline (including the 30-calendar-day window to provide missing documents) and provide required notices for denials or terminations when requirements are not met.

Admission Form management and placement coordination (voucher execution)

• For Friendship aftercare placements issue track and reconcile OSSE Admission Forms and ensure the family and provider sign and return forms within OSSE timelines before the child starts care.
• Verify each Admission Form includes all required elements (provider service start date assigned co-pay and other required fields) and complies with OSSE validity rules including the 30-day validity window described in OSSE guidance.

Eligibility redetermination/recertification and continuity

• Maintain a proactive recertification calendar for Friendship families and complete redeterminations on time to prevent lapses in subsidy coverage for enrolled students.
• Apply OSSE rules for ongoing eligibility (including the typical 12-month eligibility period and change reporting expectations).

Data entry case records and documentation quality control

• Create and maintain complete chronological case records for each Friendship family including required forms checklists document copies income/co-pay calculations and case action notes and enter required information into the applicable OSSE/DHS subsidy systems and provider tools.
• Securely store and retain records to meet OSSE requirements (including retention of closed case records for at least five years) so files can be produced quickly and cleanly during monitoring or audits.

Communication with families DHS and OSSE

• Provide timely family-friendly communication for Friendship families on missing documents deadlines eligibility decisions co-payment responsibilities and program expectations and document key communications in the case file. Serve as Friendships primary operational liaison with DHS and OSSE for case escalations documentation clarification waitlist-related updates and appeal support while ensuring timelines and notices are handled correctly.

Audit support and compliance monitoring

• Keep Friendships subsidy-related files inspection-ready year-round by maintaining complete documentation responding promptly to OSSE requests and ensuring records are secure organized and easily retrievable.
• Conduct routine internal quality checks to identify missing documentation or policy misalignment early and drive corrective actions that reduce compliance risk for the program.

Confidentiality non-discrimination and fraud reporting

• Protect the confidentiality of all families subsidy participation and personally identifiable information sharing information only with proper consent and authorized parties and delivering services consistent with OSSE non-discrimination expectations.
• Monitor for suspected fraud indicators and report suspected fraud to OSSE immediately as required while preserving documentation and notes needed for review.

Aftercare-specific compliance coordination

• Align Friendships subsidy authorizations to aftercare operations by ensuring services and billing correspond to OST hours when public educational services are not available for school-age children. Track attendance-related compliance triggers that can affect subsidy eligibility (including OSSE requirements related to extended unexcused absences) complete required family outreach and submit required reporting to OSSE when thresholds are met.

• A bachelors degree (or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience) is recommended.
• At least 24 years of experience in benefits eligibility determination case management school enrollment/residency verification or similar documentation-driven public program administration is recommended to meet OSSEs interview/documentation/case record expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidential records consistent with OSSE confidentiality rules and privacy requirements.
• Ability to perform structured intake interviews and document verification including in-person verification when original documents must be reviewed.
• Willingness and ability to complete mandatory OSSE training and maintain written approval/authorization where required for Level II eligibility functions.

Preferred skills and technical competencies

• Proficiency with productivity tools (Microsoft Excel/Word/Outlook) is strongly recommended.
• High-quality customer service communication skills for explaining documentation requirements co-payment rules denial/appeal rights and deadlines in a family-friendly manner.
• Analytical skills for income and household composition evaluation and attention to detail in case file completeness and audit readiness.

FPCSs policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of their race color religion sex age national origin disability sexual orientation gender identity or expression marital status genetic information veteran status status as a special disabled veteran or any other protected criteria as established by federal state or local laws. This policy applies to recruitment and hiring training promotion compensation benefits transfer layoff termination and all other terms and conditions of employment. Employment decisions at FPCS are based solely upon relevant criteria including an individuals capabilities qualifications training experience and suitability.