U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsLegal Administrative Specialist
Dec. 2019 - Oct. 2022Phoenix, ArizonaPerforms routine clerical and administrative work, supports executive leadership, provides customer/public assistance, explains benefits, and maintains and updates records/databases. Researches reference materials, regulations, and standards and complies with policies and directives.
- Counseled Veterans, their dependents, and survivors via assigned access channel (telephone/email/video/chat); explored available VA benefits as well as connected to external organizations/resources to assist client.
- Educated clients/Veterans on numerous programs including compensation and pension benefits, home loan eligibility, education, healthcare, life insurance, and burial benefits, vocational rehabilitation services, fiduciary assistance, general Social Security Administration benefits/programs, and other federal, state, and local domestic relations and assistance programs; determined short- and long-term needs to help resolve situation.
- Explained documents necessary to facilitate timely processing of claims and appeals; assisted Veteran with obtaining and completing documents/forms per submitted claim/appeal.
- Handled administrative tasks; provided status updates using mandatory scripting requirements, processed change of address requests, corrected/changed direct deposit information, managed burial allowance claims as well as dependency claim, and clarified VBA rating decisions; established excellent relationships with Veterans and family members.
- De-escalated charged situations; extended empathy towards identified problem, implemented proactive listening, and spoke respectfully when addressing challenges.
- Entered data to generate accurate benefit payments, monitored pending issues, and scheduled future actions; released completed and corrected notifications of benefits determinations via internal system.