Mario Monero

I currently work for the Long-Term Care Department within the Community Options Home Care Services division. In this capacity I have been responsible for a caseload of assigned applicants undergoing the review process of income and assets to determine their eligibility for federally funded medical services to be received at home. In addition, I also determine eligibility for programs such as Snap, State Supplement, Saga Cash, and Husky Medical. And with the current Long Term Care integration of services for DSS, I have gained experience determining eligibility for programs within the Skill Nursing Facilities, Residential Facilities and Boarding Homes. My reviews involve investigating documentation of assets, income, medical expenses, living arrangements, demographics, and other
sources of verifications required in the eligibility process. From reinstating cases having issues with updating income, assets and expenses; To, troubleshooting errors in calculations of premiums,
programs closed in error and adding programs to existing cases. My daily work process involves a high level of attention to detail. My duties also include coverage for the Community Options Benefit Phone Center. Each member of our unit has a weekly rotation to assist our clients with calls and concerns regarding their cases. As an Eligibility Service Worker for DSS, I have gained valuable experience in customer service, agency policy, divers programs and their case management.

As an Eligibility Service Worker for Community Options Applications Unit in the Greater Hartford Office, I have gained valuable experience as an application caseload worker for the home care federal waiver program. With each application assigned, I reviewed all information and verifications provided by the clients. I investigated financial and asset information to determine the eligibility of clients to received home care medical services. In addition I also processed renewals for homecare clients as well as for clients institutionalized within Skilled Nursing Facilities, Residential Care and Boarding Homes. The diversity of programs reviewed also included determining eligibility for SNAP, SAGA Cash, STATE SUPPLEMENT, and HUSKY Medical. As a caseload worker I was responsible for communications with authorized representatives and clients to assist with questions and answers regarding their cases.

At the DSS Processing Center in Middletown, I reviewed and determined eligibility for applications and yearly renewals of Snap, Saga Cash, State Supplement, and Husky medical. I also was responsible for weekly rotations within the DSS local field office service center which provided client walk-in services. The Middletown Processing Center was also a back-up Benefit Phone Center. When the request from the Directors of Eligibility was made for all available back-up field office to assist, all available workers logged on to the Benefit Center Phone lines to assist the client call volume. In this capacity I obtained further knowledge of DSS program policy and obtained a greater skill set of working with the state eligibility system. I worked well with others and offered good problem-solving abilities.

As an Eligibility Service Worker for DSS Benefit Center in New Britain, CT, I have gained great experience servicing clients in the Benefit Phone Center and within the walk-in Service Center. I have assisted clients with new applications and their yearly renewals of eligibility for ongoing benefits. Over the
years I have obtained a strong knowledge of various DSS programs and policies, such as SNAP, SAGA CASH, STATE SUPPLEMENT, and HUSKY Medical. I gained experience working with CT State Eligibility System. I also became highly familiar using CT State Interface systems to investigate data and verifications provided by clients in the review process. These Interface systems included Social Security, Dept of Labor, Dept Motor Vehicles, Dept Unemployment Compensation, and the Federal US Citizens and Immigration System. Throughout the years in this capacity, I obtained strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in regard to resolving case issues. With my experience and skillset, I contributed to a great team and was a strong addition to the unit.