Legal Advocate

Minnesota Disability Law Center: Legal Advocate / ​Compliance Reviewer

Position Type: ​Regular Full-Time​ Non-Exempt​  

Location: ​ Northern Minnesota – Preferably North of Brainerd (Remote or hybrid work)

Introduction:  

The Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC), a division of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, serves as the protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in Minnesota. MDLC is seeking a full-time legal advocate position that will conduct compliance reviews as part of MDLC’s Representative Payee Review Team. This legal advocate may live in the Northwest or North Central Minnesota, with the ability to travel across the state. All work must be performed on a secure laptop issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This position will also require extensive travel and frequent in-person interviews with payees and beneficiaries. Pre-approved travel and mileage costs will be reimbursed. The applicant must have a dependable automobile, valid driver’s license, and current liability insurance. Position is contingent on passing an extensive SSA background check.  

What’s in it for you?  

• We believe in work-life harmony. This role offers the flexibility to blend remote work with in-office collaboration.   

• On Fridays, the office closes at noon and employees enjoy a half-day of paid flex time.  

• MMLA provides on-the-job training and mentorship, with opportunities for growth within the organization.    

Why MMLA?  

• We’re not just ticking boxes. We’re genuinely committed to diversity. Bring your unique identity, experiences, and perspectives—we want them all!  

• Our mission? Equal justice for all. In your cover letter, tell us how your background can amplify this cause. Let’s change our lives together.  

• Discrimination and harassment have no place here. We’re building a respectful, supportive workplace where everyone thrives.  

MDLC’s Representative Payee Review Team

You will join our Rep Payee Review Team that is responsible for completing in-person onsite reviews of representative payee’s activities and financial records. This project monitors the payees’ compliance with SSA policy and uncovers any instances of exploitation or financial abuse. SSA selects representative payees for a periodic reviews while some reviews are assigned in response to allegations or concerns about performance, compliance or suitability.

Purpose of the Job

The Rep Payee Review Team is looking for self-motivated legal advocate who will conduct compliance reviews to protect SSA beneficiaries, strengthen accountability, and advance MDLC’s mission. Working closely with MDLC staff and attorneys, this position will be responsible for the reviews and investigations of Social Security Administration (SSA) representative payees to ensure compliance with legal standards and SSA policies and to uncover and correct any misuse, mismanagement, or fraud of beneficiary SS benefit income. 

This position will work in a hybrid environment with travel throughout Minnesota required. This position will investigate money management practices and report findings that will result in lasting programmatic improvements to the way SSA beneficiary income is managed by representative payees. Ultimately, success in this role means consistently delivering high-quality investigative work.

In addition to conducting compliance reviews/investigations of representative payees, our legal advocate/rep payee reviewers are valued members of a team that offers education, advocacy, resources and referrals to rep payees and to vulnerable populations from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Responsibilities:  

Essential functions are the job responsibilities an employee must be able to perform. Essential job functions include:

Investigations:

• Conduct site reviews and investigations as requested by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and directed by MDLC, following SSA case processing guidelines. These reviews require review and analysis of financial documents, interviews of beneficiaries and rep payees, and confidential management of protected data.

• Develop corrective action plans to assist representative payees to conform to requirements specified by the SSA. This corrective action plans should provide practical, respectful guidance to representative payees to help them achieve compliance and improve their financial management practices.

• Provides referrals to help the SSA beneficiaries and others gain access to alternative advocacy agencies, legal services or other resources.

• Prepares comprehensive and accurate reports detailing the representative payee review using approved SSA forms, citing deficiencies, notifications, issues, and referrals. These reports must be submitted to SSA for final review within a timely manner.

• Applies the principles of Legal Aid’s Racial Justice Values Statement in all work-related business and interactions   

• Performs other responsibilities as assigned 

Community-Based Advocacy:

• Prepare written materials and conduct outreach to, and education and training of, consumers, community groups, advocates and others, particularly those from traditionally underserved communities on issues pertaining to their rights as SSA beneficiaries and the duties of their rep payee.

• When travelling throughout the state for rep payee reviews, this position will also engage in voting rights outreach and education for people with disabilities.

Qualifications:  

• This position must be able to obtain a Level V moderate risk public trust government clearance by the United States Government Office of Personnel Management

• A minimum of two years previous investigation, program audit, disability service program supervision or case management experience is required. This experience should demonstrate attention to detail including confidentiality and contemporaneous record-keeping.

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); plus 3 years related experience and/or training; Associate’s Degree (AA) in related subject may substitute for 2 years’ experience.

• Knowledge of federal and state disability benefits and service programs (i.e. Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income), housing, employment, or wage laws.

• Demonstrated functional knowledge in basic accounting principles and terminology.

• Good communication skills, both verbal (phone, TEAMs & in person) and written (email, letters, teams & reporting in SSA database),

• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain and manage large amounts of records 

• Ability to meet case processing deadlines such as completing and filing paperwork, record keeping, and submission of records into the SSA database 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team 

• Strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and cultural competency to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds including people with disabilities

• Experience conducting interviews of individuals with disabilities, including cognitive or mental health disabilities, and gathering relevant information from multiple sources, including documents and witnesses.

• Experience working with individuals with disabilities, including individuals with cognitive, developmental, and/or mental health disabilities.

• Access to reliable transportation is required 

• Valid Driver’s License and current liability insurance required