Eligibility Caseworker

Guilford County Government; Proximity (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Guilford County Government is seeking an Eligibility Worker to determine eligibility for multiple social assistance programs. You will interview applicants, verify data, and complete required forms while adhering to strict deadlines.

You will maintain client records, provide information to clients and the community, and refer cases to appropriate services as needed. Training is provided to stay current with program policies.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and relevant public contact experience.
• Ability to document complex situations clearly and legibly.
• Experience working with diverse communities and explaining information.

Responsibilities

• Determine eligibility for financial, medical, special assistance and food programs.
• Interview applicants, verify data, and complete forms within policy deadlines.
• Maintain accurate client eligibility records and respond to inquiries.
• Make referrals to other social services or community resources as needed.
• Attend training and stay current with program policies and procedures.

Skills

Interviewing

Data documentation

Policy interpretation

Mathematical calculations

Time management

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Job description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Performs detailed work determining eligibility for the financial, medical, special assistance and food stamp programs.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

Work involves interviewing applicants for one or more of the above programs, verifying and evaluating data obtained from the applicant in order to make a correct eligibility determination. Work includes completion of various standardized forms, verifying information gathered, and computation of budgets. The job may also include occasional home visits. Cases must be reviewed periodically to determine continued eligibility for assistance. Programs have a substantial amount of policy and procedural changes and have stringent deadlines. Employees assigned to some programs work under court-ordered deadlines and penalties for non-compliance. Reports to an Eligibility Supervisor I or Eligibility Supervisor II. Supervision is received through individual conferences and unit meetings and by review and evaluation of cases.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Determines eligibility for one or more of the above programs based on constantly changing Federal, State, and County policies.
• Must adhere to strict policy deadlines for each assistance program.
• Interviews to obtain necessary factual information and verifies information received from applicants.
• Explains and interprets policy and application procedures to clients, and individuals in the community, and assists individuals in completing the application form.
• Maintains complete and accurate records on client eligibility.
• Responds to complaints of clients, advocates, professionals, and community members.
• Assesses clients’ needs and, when appropriate, makes referrals to other Social Service areas or appropriate community resources.
• May make visits to community facilities or client’s home to gather information.
• Presents pertinent information at agency conferences, appeals or state hearings.
• Required to attend introductory training and ongoing training in assigned area.
• Responsible for keeping all manuals and policy materials up to date and organized.
• Other duties as assigned

RECRUITMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the English language sufficient to interview clients, communicate and interpret programs to people of various socio-economic backgrounds.
• Ability to document complex situations in a comprehensive and legible manner.
• Writing skills used to correspond with clients and members of the community.
• Reasoning skills used to follow directions and procedures; arrive at logical conclusions; objective analysis of facts.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers and fractions, including use of decimals and computation of percentages.
• Ability to plan and organize work and time in an efficient manner which will result in applications, reviews, desk revisions, etc. being processed by program deadlines.
• Make constructive use of supervision.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently when appropriate.
• Ability to work with hostile or emotionally distraught individuals. The skill to pacify an individual in an agitated or highly emotional state is a plus.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from high-school or equivalency and three years ofparaprofessional, clerical or other public contact experience which included negotiating, interviewing, explaining information, gathering and compiling of data, analysis of data and/or the performance of mathematical or legal tasks
• One year of experience in an income maintenance caseworker may substitute for two of the three years of relevant experience. A higher education level may be considered as a substitution for all or part of the experience requirement

Preferred Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.

Residency Requirement

Candidate must reside within a two-hour driving radius of Guilford County to be considered for employment.

Transcripts are required.

Copy of transcript must be submitted with application for consideration when applicable.

Official college transcripts required at time of hire when applicable.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motion.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involve sit most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, operate a computer terminal, and do extensive reading.

May Require Driving

This position may require driving for this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business such as but not limited to attending conferences, meetings, or any other county related functions. Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver's license and that the driving record is compatible with the county's driving criteria. If a personal vehicle is operated for county business proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County's vehicle use policy.

Special Note:

This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job questionnaire with a physical abilities check list which can give further details about that one specific position. Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions.