Eligibility Worker

Association of Minnesota Counties; Minnesota; On-site; USD 56,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid Time Off

12 paid holidays per year

PERA contributions

Job summary

Isanti County is seeking an Eligibility Worker to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for federal and state public assistance programs. The role involves interviewing clients, explaining procedures, and updating accounts across MAXIS, MMIS, PRISM, and MEC2 systems.

You will review verifications, process fraud referrals, and ensure accurate documentation. Strong communication and timely, independent work are essential.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Experience assisting the public with applications and eligibility.
• Knowledge of federal/state policies for social services.

Responsibilities

• Interview and determine eligibility for income maintenance programs and related assistance.
• Obtain verifications and maintain/update client accounts in systems.
• Submit fraud referrals and review overpayments; research regulations.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports as required.

Skills

Interviewing

Communication

Data entry

Multitasking

Problem solving

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

MAXIS

MMIS

MEC2

PRISM

ISDS

SIR

SMI

Job description

Eligibility Worker

Job Category

Health & Human Services

Requisition Number

ELIGI001317

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

Union

Teamsters Local 320 Family Services Union

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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.

Posting Details

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

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.

Application and Selection Process

1. 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.
2. 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.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts for health and dependent care
• Life insurance (basic coverage for yourself plus optional voluntary coverage)
• Long-term disability insurance
• Paid Time Off, including vacation, sick, and personal leave
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation plans
• Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) contributions from both employer and employee
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Wellness Program

To view the available insurance and benefit options, click here.

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

• 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

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regular 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).

Supplemental Information

A fully completed Isanti County Online Application and resume must be received by Human Resources by the closing date and time listed on the posting. Any materials received after the closing date and time will not be considered.

The application will be evaluated in a Training and Experience Assessment worth 100 points. 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.