Benefit Claims Specialist (Hybrid work in Atlanta)

Under general supervision of the unit manager, the incumbent will review member accounts, process routine requests for benefits, and communicate with members and other authorized entities regarding member accounts, state/federal laws, rules, regulations, and policies of the Teachers Retirement System.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Prepare, submit and process routine requests relating to member benefit records and documents.
• Determine eligibility for benefits, calculate benefits and payments.
• Ensure compliance to plan provisions, state and federal regulations.
• Analyze and review accounts for reconciliation of benefits.
• Research and determine overpayments.
• Prepare and review relevant forms and documents for authenticity, accuracy, and completeness.
• Provide prompt, accurate, and friendly customer service to members, beneficiaries, and employers regarding processes, procedures, and regulations of the retirement system.
• Manage work flow queues to ensure agency standards are met.
• Responsible for deactivating pay status and removing retirees from payroll; calculate overpayments amounts and submit for recollection.
• Process account maintenance updates.
• Manage multiple reports and spreadsheets.
• Process Stop payments with Replacements.
• Review Retirement accounts to include, but not limited to determine selected plans, contribution amounts, refundable balances, taxable and non-taxable amounts, beneficiaries and authorized contacts.
• Prepare and process ACH deletions, reversals, request stop payments/voids on paper checks and cancelation of retirement benefits; Prepare and remit bank reclamation requests.
• Prepare and remit health insurance memos to appropriate agencies for activation and deactivation of retiree health coverage.
• Process duplicate 1099R requests; Make corrections to 1099R as required.
• Provide account information and guidance to include, but not limited to retirees, employers, members and external customers.
• Conduct face-to-face consultations, both scheduled and walk-in.
• Ability to work overtime as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SPECIALIZED DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Benefit Claims
• Deactivate deceased retiree accounts according to State law and Agency guidelines. Verify and document accounts with death information.
• Process and update Daily/ Weekly/Monthly Death Reports; Research obituaries, death certificates and current beneficiary contact information.
• Create overpayment invoices, allocate cash receipts and appropriately assign accounts for collections.
• Coordinate and process payroll for lump sum distributions and continuing monthly benefits according to State law and Agency guidelines.
• Identify and process excess payments, unclaimed pop-up refunds and any other refunds identified to the retiree’s estate.
• Process retirement checks for deceased members.

TRS administers the fund from which teachers in the state's public schools, many employees of the University System of Georgia, and certain other designated employees in educational-related work environments receive retirement benefits. TRS offers a defined benefit plan, guaranteeing a monthly benefit - based on a member's final average salary and service - which is payable for the life of the member, and when applicable, transferable to a member's spouse or beneficiary.