Eligibility Worker I

County of Santa Barbar; California (MO); On-site; USD 57,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bilingual allowance

Job summary

The County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services is seeking Entry-level Eligibility Workers to determine eligibility for public assistance programs and guide clients through required steps. Training occurs in Santa Maria, with 15 vacancies across Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara.

All positions are onsite. Ideal candidates possess strong listening and communication skills, excellent customer service, and the ability to navigate multiple computer applications while meeting strict

Qualifications

• Equivalent to graduation from high school and one year of public contact experience (40 hours/week).
• Equivalent to graduation from high school and one year of office experience (40 hours/week).
• A combination of training, education and experience providing the required knowledge and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Interviews people to determine eligibility and need for public programs.
• Assists applicants with applications and forms; elicits information in difficult situations.
• Determines program eligibility using CalSAWS and related systems; computes benefits.
• Manages inbound/outbound calls and prepares documentation for benefits.
• Provides information and referrals to health, housing, food, employment, child care, and transportation services.

Skills

Active listening

Verbal communication

Written communication

Customer service

Time management

Team player

Multitasking

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma + 1 year public contact experience

High school diploma + 1 year office experience

Equivalent mix of training/education/experience

Tools

CalSAWS

Document imaging systems

Task management tools

Job description

ELIGIBILITY WORKER I SALARY: $56,821.44 - $67,600.00 Annually

ELIGIBILITY WORKER II SALARY: $61,932.00 - $73,852.48 Annually

Bilingual allowance when applicable

Are you a natural problem-solver with a passion for helping people navigate difficult times?

Join our team as an Eligibility Worker and make a direct impact on the lives of individuals and families in our community.

The County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services is accepting applications to fill 15 current vacancies for Eligibility Worker positions. The vacancies are in Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara. These positions are 100% onsite.

Please select all locations where you are willing to accept initial employment. All new hires will begin in Santa Maria for training.

Under supervision, the incumbent applies regulations and procedures to determine eligibility for public assistance programs and referrals for social services, utilizing automated eligibility systems and multiple computer applications in conjunction with several ancillary systems.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is an entry-level position within the Eligibility Worker series. Incumbents attend training sessions in Santa Maria to learn regulations, work procedures, forms, and structured public contact techniques. The first year of employment is a probationary period consisting of four months of classroom training and two months of on-the-job training. Successful candidates must satisfactorily complete this training; if training is not satisfactorily completed, the trainee will be released from County employment. Vacations will not be approved during the training period, as absences may jeopardize successful completion of the probationary period.

NOTE:

Candidates may be appointed at the I or II level. Appointment at the II level requires prior verifiable experience performing Eligibility Worker I duties (or equivalent duties performed with another county in California).

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Active listening skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Calm composure under pressure
• Excellent customer service orientation
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multi-task, set priorities, and manage time effectively
• Experience working as a team player
• Ability to navigate between multiple computer applications simultaneously to perform daily tasks
• Ability to adapt to change
• Strong professional references
• Ability to meet rigid deadlines
• Must demonstrate a reliable attendance record, strong commitment to punctuality and dependability.

Incumbents are expected to learn to assume the full scope of duties, which may include but are not limited to the following:

• Interviews people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and temperaments using a variety of standard interview and interaction techniques to determine eligibility and need for public social programs and services; interviews clients individually and in group settings to obtain required information; explains program requirements and procedures individually and in a group setting.
• Assists applicants in the completion of applications and declaration forms upon which eligibility decisions are based; elicits information in difficult and emotional situations on matters such as applicant earnings, financial obligations, parental status, and living arrangements.
• Determines program eligibility in accordance with a variety of regulations, using the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) and various ancillary systems, including document imaging and task management tools. Computes eligibility and authorized benefits for various public assistance programs using all potential income and allowable deductions from earnings; completes accurate computer entries by navigating through computer-guided workflows.
• Manages inbound and outbound calls in a timely manner; prepares necessary documentation to initiate, continue, and modify public assistance; plans and organizes workload to ensure necessary work is completed in accordance with regulations relating to eligibility and timeliness; reviews documentation for accuracy, completeness, and consistency; contacts applicants and recipients regarding discrepancies and refers questionable cases to the fraud unit for further follow-up; ensures accurate case record entries.
• Identifies customers' needs and clarifies information; provides information and makes routine referrals to resources available through the County and within the community to help meet health, housing, and food needs, or to provide assistance with employment, child care, and transportation; makes referrals to protective services.

1. Equivalent to graduation from high school and one year of public contact experience (at 40 hours per week), performing duties in a customer service environment; OR,
2. Equivalent to graduation from high school andone year of office experience (at 40 hours per week), performing administrative duties; OR,
3. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge of: standard office procedures; work and time management techniques; public contact and communication techniques.

Ability to: read and understand complex regulations and procedures; learn, apply, and explain complex regulations and procedures; work and navigate between multiple computer applications simultaneously to perform daily tasks; utilize automated eligibility systems in conjunction with several ancillary systems; accurately record information and complete complex forms; learn to conduct skilled interviews to elicit information concerning income, other financial resources, and other personal information affecting eligibility over the phone and in person; communicate effectively verbally and in writing with persons from a variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds; maintain cooperative relationships with applicants and clients in tense and emotional situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees; determine appropriate course of action in emergency or stressful situations; maintain confidentiality of information; budget time and effectively organize and perform work amid interruptions; learn about and make referrals to other County and local social service agencies.

Additional Qualifications

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required at the time of appointment.
• Bilingual – Speaking and Writing Required for Some Positions: The ability to converse and write fluently in English and Spanish is required for some positions.

Note:

You must self-certify on your application that you are fluent in English and Spanish. Hiring departments may test you on your fluency. If you do not demonstrate sufficient fluency, your name may be withheld from future certifications that require bilingual skills, in accordance with Civil Service Rules.

• Selectees must, as a condition of employment, sign statements agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code relating to child abuse reporting and Section 15630 of the California Penal Code relating to elder abuse reporting.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
• Supplemental Questionnaire Rating – Responses to the required examination supplemental questions will be evaluated and scored (auto-scored). Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the responses to these questions.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire rating examination to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule 6. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the examination, rank on the employment list, and duration of the employment list.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS:

The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of the accommodation needed from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Conditional Job Offer:

Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check and satisfactory reference checks. The appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Benefits:

The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

Disaster Service Workers:

Pursuant to Government Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE:

Tuesday, September 1st at5:00 p.m. PST; postmarks not accepted. Applications and job postings are available 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.