The services offered by the BPAO Program fall into five major categories, which vary greatly in terms of function and intensity.

• Information and Referral involves providing basic written and verbal information in response to inquiries about all Federal and State benefit programs, and/or referral to government agencies and other community resources. This level of service may involve one to several contacts over a relatively short period of time.

• Problem Solving and Advocacy, which generally occurs over a period of several weeks to several months, involves providing time-limited, intensive assistance to recipients in solving specific federal and state benefit and work incentive problems, and may involve advocating on behalf of the recipient with other agencies and programs.

• Benefits Analysis and Advisement requires the specialist to assess the real or potential effects that employment or other such changes will have on the recipients overall financial well-being, and to inform the recipient of the various options available and the projected outcomes for each.

• Benefits Support Planning involves time-limited services aimed at directly assisting recipients in constructing plans to promote effective monitoring and management of their benefit programs and work incentives.

• Benefits Management, which generally occurs on a scheduled basis over an extended period of time, involves providing ongoing, comprehensive, benefits monitoring and management assistance to recipients who are likely to experience employment, benefits, or other changes that will dramatically affect their benefits status, health care, or overall financial well-being.