Dakota Russell
Higginsville,MO
Summary
Personable and dependable, displays the utmost level of professionalism and confidentiality, follows directives and employs all necessary steps to excel in high-pressure situations.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Benefit Authorizer (Legal Administrative Specialist)
Social Security Adminstration
08.2020 - Current
- Makes final determinations on a full range of post-adjudicative actions, entitlement and non-entitlement to benefits, continuing entitlement to benefits, and the corresponding payment amounts.
- Adjusts established benefits and makes payments through the Personal Communication (PCOM) system, or Single Payment System (SPS).
- Initiates telephone contacts, to resolve issues or discrepancies and/or explain or obtain information.
- Examines incoming messages, determinations of awards, supporting documents, annual earnings reports, work notices, death notices, student forms, and a variety of other incoming information in a folder-less and paperless environment; In many cases, requiring multiple actions to resolve.
- Determines whether additional information is needed from SSA records systems (e.g., online databases, the claims record, etc.) and other sources to complete the necessary action.
- Identifies the need for and makes determinations to re-entitle and continue entitlement for previously entitled beneficiaries, such as life to survivor benefits, student benefits, disability to retirement benefits, young spouse to aged spouse benefits, and disabled widows to widows' benefits.
- Makes final determinations to adjust, resume, reinstate, suspend, withhold and/or terminate benefits and computes the benefit payment rates in accordance with provisions of the Social Security Act considering factors such as: type of benefit, age, family maximum, changes in family composition, prior or simultaneous entitlement to other types of benefits, and periods of non-entitlement.
- Recognizes factors involving the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), workers' compensation or disability entitlement, SSI windfall offset, health and medical insurance entitlement, alien taxation, attorney fees, school attendance, prisoner status, voluntary tax withholding and government pension offset.
- Takes appropriate action and notifies beneficiary in writing of any action taken that affects the benefit rate, payment and/or entitlement and non-entitlement to benefits including an explanation of due process and reconsideration rights.
- Examines award screens in Modernized Claims System (MCS) Automated SSA-101's for accuracy and, as appropriate, makes corrections or refers to Claims Authorizer.
- Effectuates payment or nonpayment of benefits based on a review and analysis of the facts of the claim in initial and subsequent award situations.
- Adjusts record for Critical Payment System (CPS) actions initiated by the Social Security District Offices.
- Makes determinations of overpayment, procedurally required waivers, and method of recovery.
- Provides the beneficiary, in writing, with an explanation of the overpayment, their rights to reconsideration, waiver and/or appeal (due process), and their options regarding possible methods of recovery.
- Makes determination of underpayments, determines and/or develops for qualified recipient and makes payments.
- Recognizes circumstances requiring referral and refers to the appropriate resource.
- Determines and effectuates suspensions and/or deductions, benefit reinstatements or recomputation, based on reports of work and earnings; readjusts benefit payments; resolves earnings discrepancies between statements from beneficiaries and information furnished by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and determines the effects of earnings on basic benefit rates; e.g., reduction factors, delayed retirement credits, combined family maximum, Medicare, workers' compensation, Government Pension Offset or SSI offset, etc.
- Makes the withholding and subsequent payments of attorney fees on user fee agreement cases.
- Coordinates with district offices to determine the amount of retroactive benefits to be withheld based on SSI benefits paid.
- Assisted in training new Benefit Authorizers, sharing best practices to improve overall team performance.
- Acted as a resource for colleagues when they required assistance with difficult or unusual cases.
- Initiates, develops and evaluates all facts and supporting evidence via direct contacts with beneficiaries and/or their representatives, third parties, employers, district offices (DOs) and other SSA components when information is incomplete, missing or conflicting to resolve processing problems or issues.
- Responds to DO telephone, electronic, and telecommunication requests and/or beneficiary inquiries for information, explanation, or action regarding taxation statements, overpayments, etc.
Painter's Assistant
Dierking Painting
06.2014 - 08.2020
- Completed interior and exterior painting for variety of residential and commercial clients.
- Performed minor repair tasks like patching holes or sanding rough areas before painting to ensure a smooth and even final result.
- Maintained clean job sites by promptly disposing of debris, unused materials, and cleaning tools after each task''s completion.
- Protected surfaces from damage and spills by using drop cloths prior to and during painting.
- Managed inventory of paint supplies and equipment.
- Conducted final work check to assess quality and make corrections if necessary.
- Participated in the bidding process, taking accurate measurements, and applying expertise to deliver precise bids.
Education
High School Diploma -
Lafayette Co. High School
Higginsville, MOBachelor of Science - Economics
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO05.2020
Skills
- Case management
- Office management
- Database management
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Excel spreadsheets
- Advanced MS Office Suite knowledge
Interests
Volunteers through Heart of America United Way, Crosslines, The Department of Veterans Affairs, The American Lung Association and The MS Society.
Skills
Access, Excel, Power Point, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Google Docs
Timeline
Benefit Authorizer (Legal Administrative Specialist)
Social Security Adminstration
08.2020 - Current
Painter's Assistant
Dierking Painting
06.2014 - 08.2020
High School Diploma -
Lafayette Co. High School
Bachelor of Science - Economics
University of Central Missouri