Eligibility Specialist — Public Benefits & Impact

Reasors Food Stores; Owatonna (MN); On-site; USD 80,346,000 - 102,524,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HSA/VEBA

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Pension

Paid time off

Job summary

Steele County Human Services is seeking an Eligibility Worker to determine eligibility for a range of public assistance programs through client interviews and interagency collaboration. The role supports medical, cash, food, energy, childcare, and related programs with accuracy and compliance.

You will verify assets, interpret policies, and coordinate with social workers and partners to ensure proper benefits while upholding confidentiality and program rules.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalence.
• Minimum of 3 years related clerical experience that includes experience in a related industry or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Knowledge of benefit assistance programs and requirements learned through the Department of Human Services.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and agency programs, services, policies, procedures and organization.
• Fundamental knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge concerning the operation and use of computer equipment and human service customized applications and business productivity software (e.g. MAXIS, MMIS, SSIS, MNSURE, PRISM, SharePoint, etc.) programs.
• Fundamental knowledge of human behavior and mandated reporting.
• Fundamental knowledge of office procedures.
• Oral and written communications.
• Implementing and maintaining customer service orientation approach and skills.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and rapport with employees, clients, supervisors, department heads, officials, and the public.
• Assessing general client issues and making necessary referrals to others inside or outside of the department, as warranted.
• Serving as an advocate for clients and in assisting clients to problem solve or address disputes with other providers.
• Prioritizing and organizing a variety of responsibilities.
• Considerable attention to detail, accuracy and precision in the documentation and performance of case responsibilities.
• Applying, learning and interpreting rules, regulations, tax records, financial documents and guidelines of various financial assistance programs consistently and appropriately across all clientele.
• Interviewing and gathering client information in a variety of areas including financial, employment, social, medical and emotional.
• Learning, operating, using, inputting and maintaining case management records, procedures and software.
• Working independently with limited direct supervision and maintaining confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Conducts interviews with clients to obtain the necessary and relevant information needed to process applications, assess client needs, status and financial situation, to address questions or concerns. Expedites food support benefits if applicant meets established criteria.
• Determines initial eligibility and performs ongoing case management activities for such programs as Medicaid, General Assistance, MN Supplemental Aid, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance, MN Family Investment, Work Benefit, Diversionary Work, Emergency General Assistance, Group Residential Housing, Refugee Cash Assistance, MNSURE, Long-Term Care, Child Care and Foster Care Assistance programs.
• Interprets and applies public assistance program policies and statutes. Keeps informed of changing guidelines, rules and eligibility requirements for a multitude of assistance programs available to applicants and clients.
• Examines applicant/client financial information including assets such as annuities, trusts and/or burial funds and evaluates earned and unearned income in accordance with policies and rules.
• Performs program overrides to achieve accurate eligibility results for programs applied for.
• Determines if any overpayments in benefits occur and initiates recapture procedures to reimburse federal, state and/or county governments.
• Determines and assesses the most cost effective transportation services through contracted business partners. Coordinates and partners with other agencies both internal and external to address and resolve client needs. Provides information to social workers and child support officers regarding new and existing cases for child support or medical support.
• Identifies potential or suspected cases of fraud and initiates referrals for fraud investigations. Provides the investigator with all relevant information and documentation. Collaborates with County Attorney staff and testifies at fraud hearings. Takes corrective action against participants or providers if fraud is confirmed. Established overpayments in accordance with policies.
• Verify if third party insurance is available. Request documentation from client and/or employer regarding coverage options and individual cost per pay period. Calculates the cost effectiveness of premium covering medical assistance recipients. Sends documentation to client, the cost effective reimbursement worker and fiscal department. Re-determine reimbursement amounts when any changes reported impact eligibility or premium costs.
• Evaluates applicant assets to correctly determine protected assets for spouse who remains on assistance. Educates clients on how assets are evaluated and instruction on ways to protect assets for community spouse. Educates clients on how to properly reduce assets for long-term care. Determines probate and estate recovery amounts for medical assistance and revenue recapture.
• Represents the agency at appeal proceedings. Utilizes resources to resolve individual case disputes at the agency level. Compiles documentation collaborating eligibility determination. Presents evidence and testifies as to the determination processes. Initiates any corrective actions resulting from judicial rulings. Establishes and calculates any overpayments. Pursues and tracks client repayment.

Skills

Interviewing techniques

Communication

Public assistance knowledge

Confidentiality

Education

High School Diploma or GED Equivalence

Tools

MAXIS

MMIS

SSIS

MNSURE

PRISM

SharePoint

Job description

Steele County Human Services is seeking an Eligibility Worker to determine eligibility for a range of public assistance programs through client interviews and interagency collaboration. The role supports medical, cash, food, energy, childcare, and related programs with accuracy and compliance.

You will verify assets, interpret policies, and coordinate with social workers and partners to ensure proper benefits while upholding confidentiality and program rules.