City Of Philadelphia Office Of Human Resources

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2H45

PENSION COUNSELOR 3

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General Definition

• This is counseling work at the advanced performance level, providing training and technical guidance to employees who advise and inform individuals of the provisions and applications of the Municipal Retirement Ordinances. Reviewing the work of and providing technical oversight to a staff of pension counselors and clerical support staff engaged in advising and instructing individuals on the provision, ordinances, laws, and application of the City's pension program as well as the computing of pensions are significant aspects of the work.
• Employees at this level may have rotating assignments between units as required, at the discretion of the Pension Board Director or Pension Program Administrator. The employee reports to a technical or administrative superior.

Allocating Factors:

(The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

• The position must act as a lead worker to pension counselors who advise individuals of the provisions and application of the City's pension program.
• Only three positions will be allocated to this class.
• The position must be located in the Board of Pensions and Retirement.

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Typical Examples Of Work (Illustrative Only)

• Instructs and trains, makes work assignments and provides technical direction to, pension counselors, trainees, and support staff on the provisions of the pension program and on the methods and procedures employed in computing pensions, adjustments, and other benefits; advises staff members on changes affecting the pension program.
• Interviews and counsels employees, pensioners, beneficiaries, survivors and their representatives regarding the scope and provisions of the Municipal Retirement Ordinances, as well as its health and welfare program.
• Computes payments, repayments, health and welfare benefits and survivors' benefits; examines personnel history folders to verify employees' employment and pension contribution histories and to obtain necessary data for computations; verifies the calculations of other Pension Counselors; reviews computations of the equitable distribution of marital pension property under the Pennsylvania Divorce Act.
• Examines applications for pension and survivors' benefits for completeness and accuracy; investigates and secures facts necessary to process pension and survivors' applications; recommends approval or disapproval of applications; prepares case histories for pensioners and survivors' applications for Board meetings.
• Composes correspondence requesting and replying to correspondence for information for such matters as payment of death claims, repayments, leaves of absence, and changes in pension options; corresponds with employees, pensioners, survivors, beneficiaries and their representatives in obtaining and verifying information necessary to ensure compliance with the ordinances.
• Contacts personnel in other City agencies to obtain data and to advise them on the proper methods for processing pension cases and applications.
• Advises disability applicants on the provisions of the City's Disability Reform Program.
• Assists pensioners with federal income taxes as they pertain to the pension system; performs tax calculations.
• May represent the Board of Pensions at orientation sessions for new hires and at retirement planning seminars; appears as an expert witness in court proceedings as they relate to the City's pension program.
• Performs related work as required.

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Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Knowledge Of:

• the principles and practices of pension systems
• the methods and techniques employed in maintaining a comprehensive pension program
• the techniques involved in interviewing and counseling individuals and groups
• the principles and provisions of the Municipal Retirement Ordinances
• the various pension programs and the employees who are covered
• the Internal Revenue Services tax laws and regulations as they pertain to pension benefits
• the laws and regulations governing the pension program
• computer software as it relates to the pension program

Ability To:

• apply the provisions of the City's pension program
• train staff members on the provisions of the City's pension program
• analyze facts and exercise sound judgment
• prepare and maintain reports and records
• use and adapt to computer systems as they relate to the City's pension program
• use the City's existing computer systems for the processing of the pension payroll
• compute pension payments, repayments and survivors' benefits quickly and accurately
• interpret and explain the various retirement plans, laws and regulations
• understand and apply medical terminology
• express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees, pensioners, beneficiaries, survivors and their representatives
• adapt to changes in the City's pension laws and apply them to each case

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Minimum Acceptable Training And Experience

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards, which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved 10/11.)

Education

• Completion of an associate degree program at an accredited college or university. AND

General Experience

• Three years of experience interviewing and counseling individuals or groups on the provisions of the City's pension program. AND

Specific Experience

• One year of pension counseling experience at the full performance level.

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included an associate’s degree as an educational minimum.

Physical And Medical Requirements

1. Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

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PAY RANGE:

21

• Class Established:

  • CSC: 6/05, Ad Board: 6/05

• Class Revised:

  • CSC: 9/11, Ad Board: 10/11

PF/jl

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End Of Job Class Specification - 2H45