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What does a benefits assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
What does a benefits assistant do

Typically working in a human resources department, a benefits assistant is in charge of performing clerical support tasks for an efficient workflow. They primarily communicate with employees to answer inquiries regarding benefits and compensation programs, assist in processing documents, and resolve issues and concerns. Their responsibilities also include conducting research and analysis, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, organizing documents, and maintaining records. Above all, it is essential to carry out duties while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

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Benefits assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real benefits assistant resumes:

  • Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
  • Audit HIPAA and outgoing correspondence.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality, observing HIPAA and other policies and guidelines.
  • Post patient payments, verify insurance coverage for new and Medicaid patients.
  • Provide information, education and assistance to clients regarding Medicare and Medicaid by phone and in person.
  • Audit, correct and record all attendance records, vacation records, vacation carryover and vacation/sick accruals.
  • Enroll eligible participants into the cobra benefits program, and ensure insurance premiums are collected and process in a timely manner.
  • Track and determine ACA eligibility.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding rules around HIPPA guidelines.
  • Prepare month-end payroll accruals and benefit reconciliations, including 401K contribution reporting.
  • Verify insurance benefits for multiple specialty medications and communicate benefits timely to patients and physicians.
  • Provide input on benefit renewals, negotiations and implementation while maintaining compliance with ACA regulations.
  • Participate in month end procedures for several business units within the organization including several balance sheet reconciliations.
  • Conduct outreach efforts including PowerPoint presentations and discussion panels to promote the service and inform clients and professionals of available benefits.
  • Collaborate with payroll to monitor benefit deductions and adjust premiums and arrears when necessary, guaranteeing accuracy in reporting W2 information.

Benefits assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Benefits Assistants are proficient in Human Resources, Data Entry, and Cobra. They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills, Organizational skills, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Benefits Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Human Resources, 10%

    Supervised other locations within the Human Resources Department.

  • Data Entry, 8%

    Assist Disability Specialists in functions necessary for claims management including claimant contact and system data entry.

  • Cobra, 7%

    Provided assistance in various areas of benefits administration, including recording COBRA elections, notification and payments.

  • Health Insurance, 7%

    Audited health insurance premiums and cafeteria plan deductions from pension and disability payments to financial accounting records to ensure accuracy.

  • Open Enrollment, 6%

    Organize open enrollment meetings with multiple retail locations; incorporate ordering benefit information from selected vendors for distribution during open enrollment.

  • HRIS, 5%

    Entered benefit plan enrollment data into PeopleSoft benefit administration HRIS system.

Common skills that a benefits assistant uses to do their job include "human resources," "data entry," and "cobra." You can find details on the most important benefits assistant responsibilities below.

Communication skills. benefits assistants are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to benefits assistant responsibilities, because "specialists need to provide information about compensation and benefits in a way that is understandable to employees at all levels throughout their organization." A benefits assistant resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "assist in organizing and processing annual benefits open enrollment communications and elections. "

Analytical skills. For certain benefits assistant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "analytical skills." The day-to-day duties of a benefits assistant rely on this skill, as "compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists perform data and cost analyses to evaluate their organization’s policies." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what benefits assistants do: "enter payroll and hr data in the payroll system or weekly processing; i.e. "

Business skills. A commonly-found skill in benefits assistant job descriptions, "business skills" is essential to what benefits assistants do. Benefits assistant responsibilities rely on this skill because "specialists must understand basic finance and accounting." You can also see how benefits assistant duties rely on business skills in this resume example: "experience using an automated payroll system (preferably pro-business payroll system. )"

See the full list of benefits assistant skills

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Compare different benefits assistants

Benefits assistant vs. Staffing recruiter

A staffing recruiter is primarily in charge of handling the hiring operations of a company or organization. Typically their responsibilities revolve around advertising and publishing job openings on boards or online platforms, devising strategies to bring in more potential employees, and coordinating with department personnel to develop criteria or requirements for applicants. Aside from promoting employment opportunities, a staffing recruiter is also responsible for handling training and internship activities, producing progress reports and presentations, and implementing the company's policies and guidelines.

The annual salary of staffing recruiters is $4,357 higher than the average salary of benefits assistants.Even though benefits assistants and staffing recruiters are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require human resources, data entry, and fmla in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, benefits assistant responsibilities require skills like "cobra," "health insurance," "open enrollment," and "hris." Meanwhile a typical staffing recruiter has skills in areas such as "customer service," "business development," "reference checks," and "healthcare professionals." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Staffing recruiters tend to make the most money working in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $51,478. In contrast, benefits assistants make the biggest average salary, $45,800, in the government industry.The education levels that staffing recruiters earn slightly differ from benefits assistants. In particular, staffing recruiters are 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a benefits assistant. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Benefits assistant vs. Human resources recruiter

A human resources recruiter is responsible for sourcing potential candidates on filling in organizational roles to support business operations and maintain efficiency on project deliverables. Human resources recruiters work closely with every department's head to analyze their qualifications and posting the job requirement on the company's job board and other communication platforms. They screen applicants, conduct background checks, provide timely updates of the application progress, and inform the successful candidate of the job's compensation and benefits. The human resources recruiter also assists with recruitment events and maintain an organized hiring process.

Human resources recruiter positions earn higher pay than benefits assistant roles. They earn a $7,699 higher salary than benefits assistants per year.A few skills overlap for benefits assistants and human resources recruiters. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "cobra," "hris," and "fmla. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that benefits assistant responsibilities requires skills like "human resources," "data entry," "health insurance," and "open enrollment." But a human resources recruiter might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "good judgment," "applicant tracking systems," and "open positions."

Human resources recruiters earn a higher average salary than benefits assistants. But human resources recruiters earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $55,012. Additionally, benefits assistants earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $45,800 annually.In general, human resources recruiters achieve higher levels of education than benefits assistants. They're 5.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Benefits assistant vs. Employment coordinator

An employment coordinator is in charge of overseeing a company's employment procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They coordinate and work together with a company's human resource department to facilitate job opening and hiring procedures, developing strategies to optimize operations. It is also their duty to maintain records of all employees, conduct background checks, and participate in screening applicants. Furthermore, an employee coordinator typically represents a company at college or job fairs, aiming to find and reach out to potential employees.

On average, employment coordinators earn higher salaries than benefits assistants, with a $960 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on benefits assistants and employment coordinators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "hris," "fmla," and "i-9.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, benefits assistants are more likely to have skills like "human resources," "data entry," "cobra," and "health insurance." But a employment coordinator is more likely to have skills like "hr," "payroll," "rehabilitation," and "social work."

Employment coordinators earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,687. Comparatively, benefits assistants have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $45,800.employment coordinators typically earn higher educational levels compared to benefits assistants. Specifically, they're 5.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Benefits assistant vs. Recruiter

Recruiters are responsible for filling up vacancies in the organization. They put up job postings on the company website and other recruitment websites, screen applicants, prospective schedule candidates for interviews, conduct initial interviews, and, should candidates pass the initial interview, endorse them to hiring managers. They act as guides to applicants throughout the whole application process. Upon successful screening and interviewing of applicants, recruiters then guide them through the employment process, usually endorsing them to medical exams and other pre-employment requirements needed. At times, recruiters are responsible for providing job offers to applicants. Recruiters should have a good judge of character, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.

Recruiters typically earn higher pay than benefits assistants. On average, recruiters earn a $11,524 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, benefits assistants and recruiters both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "human resources," "hris," and "i-9. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A benefits assistant uses "data entry," "cobra," "health insurance," and "open enrollment." Recruiters are more likely to have duties that require skills in "applicant tracking systems," "customer service," "linkedin," and "healthcare. "recruiters enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $62,293. For comparison, benefits assistants earn the highest salary in the government industry.The average resume of recruiters showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to benefits assistants. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.

Types of benefits assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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