Eligibility Worker

Hubbard County; Park Rapids (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Ultipro is seeking a Human Services Eligibility Worker to determine and maintain client eligibility for income maintenance programs in a county setting. You will educate and assist participants, coordinate across financial, health care, employment, and child support services, and refer clients to community resources.

The role involves handling inquiries, appeals, and case documentation, with emphasis on confidentiality and meeting regulatory requirements in a non-exempt environment.

Qualifications

• 3 years clerical work experience or experience working with the public, or some combination totaling three years.
• OR 2 years clerical work experience in a social services/human services agency.
• OR 2 years of study at an accredited two-or four-year college or university with emphasis in behavioral sciences, business, or related subjects.
• OR successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker diploma program (within six months of completion).
• OR successful completion of the diploma/substitute program for one year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Interview and advise clients to determine and maintain eligibility for public assistance programs.
• Serve as a central point of coordination for financial, health care, employment, and child support services; provide referrals.
• Handle client inquiries, complaints, appeals, and legal proceedings; prepare case documentation and reports.

Skills

Interviewing

Communication

Organization

Detail orientation

Problem solving

Confidentiality

Job description

Reports to Financial Assistance Supervisor

Human Services Director

Unit Teamsters Local 320 – Human Services

FLSA Status Non-exempt

Position Description

Perform a variety of tasks related to the determination of eligibility of clients for income maintenance programs and services; establish initial and on-going eligibility for multiple income maintenance programs; communicate program requirements and assist program participants in understanding how to maintain eligibility; support program participants in achieving the highest degree of independence and in addressing barriers to self-sufficiency; provide education, enrollment and assistance to managed health care enrollees; make appropriate referrals to other community resources.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Interview and advise clients to determine and maintain eligibility for public assistance programs, including cash, food, medical, and child care benefits.
• Serve as a central point of coordination for financial, health care, employment, and child support services; provide referrals to community resources; and promote client self-sufficiency.
• Handle client inquiries, complaints, appeals, and legal proceedings, prepare case documentation and reports, collaborate with community agencies and law enforcement, and contribute to policy and procedure development.

Qualifications and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 3 years clerical work experience or experience working with the public, or some combination of the two, totaling three years;

OR 2 years clerical work experience in a social services/human services agency;

OR 2 years of study at an accredited two-or four-year college or university or similar institution, with emphasis in the behavioral sciences, business, or closely related subjects (at least 23 quarter credits or 16 semester credits);

OR successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker diploma program (applicants must be within six months of completion of the program);

OR successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker certificate program will substitute for one year of the required clerical work experience or experience working with the public.

• Valid Driver’s License

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge: Office procedures, practices, equipment and software programs. Multiple complex computer systems. Interviewing techniques and skills in conducting interviews. Income maintenance program rules, regulations, benefits and methods of determining eligibility. Other sources of financial support, including Social Security, reemployment insurance, veteran’s benefits, worker’s compensation, and disability insurance/pension programs. Basic principles of foster care, child and adult protection criteria, and a general understanding of mental and physical illnesses. Community resources such as emergency housing, food, social services and diversionary assistance programs. Real and personal property, estate and ownership laws, and their relationships to public assistance program eligibility. Human behavior. Agency programs, operations, policies and procedures. Adhere to all laws, statutes, policies and rules with the essential level of confidentiality and safety required of the position.

Skills: Proficient in using automated systems relevant to the position. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with all stakeholders relevant to the position. Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills, accuracy, and problem solving.

Abilities: Attend meeting, conferences, and trainings, via a reliable means of transportation. Effectively explain income maintenance programs and procedures to recipients who are distraught. Handle frequent procedural changes and client personal and financial crises. Organize work, set priorities, make decisions and work independently under stress. Be objective/non-judgmental. Accurately and rapidly process detailed information. Establish and maintain accurate and systematic records. Express ideas clearly and ability to comprehend and follow complex written and verbal instructions. Interpret legal documents, complex rules, manual materials and bulletins as they apply to income maintenance programs. Maintain confidentiality. Establish and maintain effective working relationships. Follow established procedures and directives from supervisors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Work experience with Microsoft Word, Excel.

Physical Requirements

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 involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Note (Management Right)

The above position description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department. Regular attendance on the job and the performance of other duties as assigned are required. The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this position description at any time.

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.