Income Maintenance Caseworker I

Alamance County Government; Burlington (NC); On-site; USD 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Vacation time

Sick time

Employee Assistance Program

Health Center

Job summary

Alamance County Government seeks an Income Maintenance Caseworker I to assist individuals and families in navigating the Economic Services Program. The role emphasizes compassionate service, accuracy, and confidentiality while handling eligibility determinations and program guidance.

Responsibilities include interviewing applicants, reviewing documents, and maintaining case records, with potential Title variations such as Human Service Specialist.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited associate degree program in Human Services Technology, Social Services, Paralegal Technology, Business Administration, Secretarial Science, or closely related field.
• Graduation from high school with 2 years paraprofessional/public contact experience including data gathering and analysis, especially in income maintenance.
• Graduation from high school with 3 years paraprofessional/public contact experience including interviewing, data gathering, and policy interpretation.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and basic computer systems.
• Valid NC driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Receive, review, and scan documentation supporting eligibility determinations into the system.
• Conduct interviews with applicants for Medicaid to gather information and assess eligibility.
• Complete case maintenance activities including changes in circumstances and address updates.
• Request, obtain, and document additional information from clients as needed.
• Explain program requirements and available options to clients and refer to appropriate services.
• Assist with answering and returning telephone calls and provide client support.
• Deliver professional, courteous service while maintaining confidentiality.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Attention to detail

Accountability

Accuracy

Oral communication

Written communication

Concentration

Conflict management

Relationship building

Judgment

Time management

Multi-tasking

Problem solving

Education

Associate degree in Human Services Technology or related field

High school diploma + 2 years paraprofessional/public contact experience including income maintenance

High school diploma + 3 years paraprofessional/public contact experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Purpose

The Income Maintenance Caseworker I plays a vital role in supporting individuals and families in our community by helping them access essential benefits and services through the Economic Services Program. Through compassionate customer service, hard work, attention to detail, and effective communication this position helps individuals and families navigate the application process and access the support they need.

Make a Difference. Change Lives. Build a Career You Can Be Proud Of.

All DSS positions are subject to reallocation contingent upon funding, agency needs and client population and are subject to perform work during emergency or disaster situations as required and may be required to staff shelter overnight.

At least one of these positions is time-limited contingent on county, state and federal funding.

(Income Maintenance Caseworker can also go by the title of Human Service Specialist, Economic Services Caseworker, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Receive, review, and scan documentation supporting eligibility determinations into appropriate system.
• Conduct interviews with applicants for the Medicaid Program to gather necessary information and assess eligibility.
• Complete case maintenance activities, including changes in circumstances, participant registration and maintenance, address changes, and updates to contact information.
• Request, obtain, and document additional information from clients as needed to support eligibility determinations and maintain accurate case records.
• Explain program requirements, eligibility criteria, and available options to clients, providing guidance and referring them to appropriate programs or services as needed.
• Assist with answering and returning telephone calls and providing support to clients.
• Deliver professional, courteous, and responsive customer service while maintaining confidentiality and treating all clients with dignity and respect.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support departmental operations.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited associate degree program in Human Services Technology, Social Services Associate, Paralegal Technology, Business Administration, Secretarial Science, or a closely related curriculum; or
• Graduation from high school and two years of paraprofessional, clerical, or other public contact experience which included negotiating, interviewing, explaining information, gathering and compiling of data, analysis of data and/or performance of mathematical or legal tasks with at least one year of such experience being in an income maintenance program; or
• Graduation from high school and three years of paraprofessional, clerical or other public contact experience which included negotiating, interviewing, explaining information, the gathering and compiling of data, the analysis of data and/or the performance of mathematical or legal tasks; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and basic computer systems.
• Valid NC driver’s license.

Competency Statements

• Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.
• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
• Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
• Concentration, Ability to concentrate on tasks through many distractions.
• Conflict Management - Ability to be objective and empathic while maintaining self composure and control of the conversation ensuring proper handling of all comments.
• Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the customers' needs while following company procedures.
• Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful, maintain high level of confidentiality and be seen as credible in the workplace.
• Judgment – Ability to use good judgment and discretion as it relates to interpreting policies and procedures.
• Multi-tasker – Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.
• Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers.
• Safety-Minded – Creating a safe work environment; managing risks; reducing exposure liabilities.
• Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines

Physical Demands

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position.

O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs./day)

F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs./day)

C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs./day)

Stand F

Walk O

Sit F

Manually Manipulate F

Reach Outward O

Reach Above Shoulder O

Climb O

Crawl N

Squat or Kneel O

Bend O

Talk/Hear C

See C

Taste/Smell N

10 lbs. or less O

11-20 lbs. O

21-40 lbs. O

41-100 lbs. N

Over 100 lbs. N

12 lbs. or less O

13-25 lbs. O

26-40 lbs. O

41-100 lbs. N

Vision (Near, Distance, Peripheral)

Work is performed in a standard office environment.

Health Insurance

• Full-time employees are eligible for medical/health (Cigna Insurance) benefits upon the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Alamance County Government currently offers three plans of medical/pharmacy benefit options including 2 Standard PPO plans and a High-Deductible Health Plan with HSA.

Dental Benefit

• Alamance County offers one dental insurance (Delta Dental) plan for FT employees at no cost. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment.

Vision Insurance

• A voluntary vision program (Superior Vision) is available to FT employees. The current PPO style plan allows employees to seek treatment and hardware from any vision care provider of their choice. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.

Voluntary Benefits

• Alamance County Government provides a variety of voluntary health related benefits (Voya) to allow employees to purchase protection from what life may bring. A sampling of voluntary benefits includes Flexible Spending Accounts with dependent care opportunities, Health Saving Account with an employer contribution, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Cancer Protection Plan, Group Critical Care Insurance and more.

Life Insurance

• Basic term life insurance is the amount of one times the annual salary (no greater than $70,000) is provided for all FT employees.
• Additional coverage is available for purchase through payroll deductions for employee and eligible dependents.

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System (NCLGERS) is a requirement for all full-time and regular part-time employees (working more than 1,000 hours annually).
• Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed.

Vacation Time

• Annual Leave is accrued based on years of service. Employees can accrue from 10-25 days per year.

Sick Time

• All County full time employees earn 12 days of sick leave per year.

County Observed Holidays

• Alamance County will observe the State of North Carolina Holiday Schedule.

Employee Assistance Program

There are times when everyone needs a little help or advice. The confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through a local provider can help you with things like stress, anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, relationship issues, legal issues, parenting questions, financial counseling and dependent care resources. Best of all it's free for County employees and available for your household to utilize. Utilization of the EAP is completely confidential and participation isn't recorded. Help is available 24/7/365 by telephone.

Alamance County Employee Health Center

Available to employees and spouses who are covered under the Alamance County Insurance Plan and their covered dependents, 18 years of age and older. Retired employees under age 65 are also eligible to use the health center. Depending on insurance coverage elected, care at the clinic ranges from free to a fair market value cost.

Services Available

• Treatment of injuries or illnesses such as flu, sinus Infection, pink eye, sprains, strains or fever.
• Monitor chronic conditions (Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Health Disease, Asthma, etc...).
• Assistance with finding a Primary Care Provider.
• Health Education and Counseling.
• Triage and referrals to specialists when appropriate.
• Alamance County provides a variety of additional benefits including bereavement pay, Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Leave to focus on work-life balance initiatives, Volunteer Time Off (paid time) opportunities to be a part of the Alamance Community, to opportunities for professional certification pay.

Employee Fitness Center

Alamance County encourages all employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle both at home and at work. In support of this philosophy an Employee Fitness Center is available for all County employees to use at their convenience during non-work hours and is open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday-Sunday. This center includes weight training equipment, cardio equipment, a small aerobics room along with restrooms, changing room and lockers.