ELIGIBILITY WORKER

Isanti County; Cambridge (MN); On-site; USD 56,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Isanti County in Cambridge, MN seeks an Eligibility Worker to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for federal and state public assistance programs, assisting clients with inquiries and explaining procedures.

The role requires strong analytical skills, data entry accuracy, and the ability to work on-site Monday–Friday; complete application, verify documents, and process reports.

Benefits include competitive pay, union representation, and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required with moderate experience assisting the public in applications/eligibility.
• Ability to interview and determine eligibility for income maintenance programs and related cash/medical assistance.
• Familiarity with MAXIS, MMIS, PRISM, MEC2, ISDS, SIR, SMI and related procedures.

Responsibilities

• Interview and determine eligibility for income maintenance programs (SNAP, Medical Assistance, etc.).
• Obtain verifications and maintain client accounts in MAXIS/MMIS/PRISM; update benefit amounts.
• Submit Fraud Referrals and keep up to date with federal/state regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Interviewing techniques

Public assistance knowledge

Communication skills

Data entry

Computer literacy

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

MAXIS

MMIS

MEC2

PRISM

ISDS

SIR

SMI

Job description

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL JOB POSTING

Position: Eligibility Worker
Department: Health and Human Services
Location: Cambridge, MN
Job Type: Full-time (40 hours per week)
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Work Setting: On site, regular in-person attendance required
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Union: Teamsters Local 320 Family Services Union

Compensation

• Expected 2026 Hiring Range: $27.02 - $28.81 per hour ($56,201.60 - $59,924.80 annually), depending on qualifications, relevant experience, and internal equity.
• Full Range: $27.02 – $34.91 per hour ($56,201.60 – $72,612.80 annually), with the potential for additional longevity-based pay.

Application Requirements

The hiring manager for this position requires applicants to complete all sections of the online application, including the Work Experience and Education sections, and attach a resume. Applications that are incomplete or missing required documents will not be considered.

Posting Details

• Posted: Thursday, August 20, 2026
• Application Deadline: Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
• Equal Opportunity: AA/EEO

Application and Selection Process

Following the application deadline, Human Resources will review all submitted applications. If your qualifications align with the requirements, you will be contacted via email with details regarding the next steps in the selection process.

Please note:

Emails from Isanti County Human Resources may occasionally be filtered into junk or spam folders. Applicants are encouraged to monitor these folders regularly to avoid missing important communication regarding their application status.

General Definition of Work

Performs work interviewing applicants to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for federal and state public assistance programs for county residents, assisting clients with inquiries and explaining application procedures, maintaining, and updating accounts and computer systems, completing reports, and related work as apparent or assigned.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assists the general public by phone, email, and in person; answers questions and provides information; directs inquiries to the appropriate resource as needed; explains application procedures to individuals or groups; interviews and determines eligibility of clients for income maintenance programs, emergency assistance, SNAP, all cash programs, medical assistance, child care assistance, long term care, IV-E and adoption assistance, group residential housing, and County burials.
• Obtains verifications and reviews various computer information systems; maintains and updates ongoing eligibility and correct benefit amounts in client accounts.
• Completes and Submits Fraud Referrals to the Welfare Fraud Investigator; determines overpayments; maintain up to date knowledge of federal and state regulations by researching related manuals and documents.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED and moderate experience assisting the general public with the application and eligibility process of assistance programs, explaining programs and forms, providing administrative support, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Qualifications

• None.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic mathematics and office procedures and practices.
• Knowledge of workplace diversity human behavior.
• Knowledge of Federal and State policies and procedures relating to appropriate social services activities.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge and implementation of agency programs, operations, policies and procedures and available community resources (i.e.: MAXIS, MMIS, MEC2, PRISM, ISDS, SIR, SMI).
• Knowledge of federal and state regulation using the Combined Manual,
• Knowledge of the laws and rules pertaining to data privacy and its implications.
• Knowledge of all cash, SNAP, Medical Assistance, Child Care Assistance, Housing Support, Emergency Assistance, IV-E and Adoption Assistance programs, and related documents.
• Skill and familiarity with computers.
• Ability to prioritize, organize and coordinate job activities with deadlines
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to accept and profit by supervision.
• Ability to comprehend and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to easily adapt to continuous changes in policy and procedures.
• Ability to manage, calculate, and distribute Emergency Assistance Funds.
• Ability to adapt to continuous, stressful and massive changes in the federal and state programs administered by department.
• Ability to prepare and gather proper information and documents for fraud referrals and appeal hearings.
• Ability to decelerate aggressive and potentially aggressive clientele.
• Ability to be aware of other clients and co-workers safety while working with volatile clients.
• Ability to make decisions while remaining objective.
• Ability to navigate through MAXIS, MMIS, PRISM, METS, and MEC2 while processing detailed information accurately and rapidly.
• Ability to establish and maintain accurate and systematic records and to prepare reports from such records as required.
• Ability to enforce policy.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, clients, community organizations and the public.
• Ability to maintain a regular and timely work attendance.

Working Conditions

Physical Requirements and Activity

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and pushing or pulling.

Sensory Requirements

Work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.

Sensory Utilization

Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.

Environmental Conditions

Work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

The statements in this class description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbent(s) assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Supplemental Information

Veterans Preference will be applied in accordance with Minnesota law. A top group of qualified applicants will be invited to the interview process.

Final appointment is contingent upon the applicant passing a background investigation including a criminal history search. Costs of the background will be paid for by Isanti County.

Mission

Working Together to Deliver Quality Services that are Valued by the Community, Today and For Generations to Come.