Eligibility and Benefit Specialist

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Iowa (LA); Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Flexible spending accounts

Long-term disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Employee discounts

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is hiring up to 15 Eligibility and Benefit Specialists (Income Maintenance Worker 2) to process SNAP, Medicaid and FIP applications. These are full-time roles, Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm, with a possible hybrid option after six months of training.

Starting pay is $48,630.40 per year and is non-negotiable. Responsibilities include determining initial and ongoing eligibility, interviewing applicants by telephone, processing eligibility changes,

Qualifications

• Sixty semester hours (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university.
• OR a combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time public contact work experience per year of education.
• OR current continuous experience in the state executive branch at Clerk Advanced level or above with regular public contact.

Responsibilities

• Determine initial and ongoing eligibility for State and Federal assistance programs administered by HHS.
• Process applications and recertifications within specific time frames.
• Interview applicants telephonically.
• Communicate program rules and responsibilities.
• Document case actions.
• Manage an assigned caseload with duties including reviewing documents, processing changes in eligibility, participating in the appeals process, and making referrals.
• Complete other duties as assigned including committees, work groups, and trainings.

Skills

Customer service

Policy interpretation

Communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Sixty semester hours

Education + experience substitution

Public contact experience (18+ months)

Job description

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking up to 15 Eligibility and Benefit Specialists (Job Classification: Income Maintenance Worker 2) to join our team of dedicated specialists. These positions will be part of our Multi Economic Assistance Programs Application Team responsible for processing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), Medicaid, and Family Investment Program (FIP) applications.

HHS has hundreds of team members across the state and is in search of highly motivated and compassionate individuals interested in a rewarding career assisting those in need of food, medical care, cash assistance and other social services through programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) and Temporary assistance for Needy Families (TANF). You’ll work with customers, assess information to approve benefits, and receive dedicated training to understand how we serve Iowans.

This is a full-time opportunity, Monday – Friday with a work schedule of 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. This position may be eligible to become a hybrid position offering the opportunity to work from home and in the office at the nearest full-time HHS office to your residence after a 6-month training and probationary period.

Please note the beginning rate of pay, $48,630.40 annually, is non-negotiable. State employees have access to promotional opportunities within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as across other state agencies, allowing them to expand their skills, explore new career paths, and advance within state government.

Core Essential Functions

• Determine initial and ongoing eligibility for State and Federal assistance programs administered by HHS.
• Process applications and recertifications within specific time frames.
• Interview applicants and clients telephonically.
• Communicate program rules and responsibilities.
• Document case actions.
• Manage an assigned caseload with duties that include reviewing documents, processing changes in eligibility, participating in the appeals process, making referrals to other services, and completing corrective actions when necessary.
• Complete other duties as assigned including participation in committees, work groups, public forums, and trainings.

The Ideal Candidate Will Be Able To

• Provide exceptional customer service.
• Collect, analyze and interpret complex policies, procedures and information from customers or 3 rd parties.
• Communicate effectively in person, via phone, and in writing.
• Excel at meeting processing timeframes and managing an individual workload while working within a team.
• Prepare and present documents verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills and strong attention to details.
• Possess strong computer navigation and math skills.

The ability to communicate in another language in addition to English is a plus. If you have those skills, please note in the application any additional languages in which you are proficient.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

Background Checks

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

All work performed on behalf of Iowa Health and Human Services must occur in the State of Iowa.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Sixty semester hours (or equivalent academic units) from an accredited college or university;
• OR a combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time public contact work experience obtaining, analyzing and/or evaluating data for each year of the required college education (on the basis that thirty semester hours is equal to one year of work experience);
• OR employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to 18 months of full-time work at a Clerk Advanced level or above involving public contact experience on a regular basis in a service area.
• For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.