Public Benefits Eligibility Specialist

Wisconsin Counties; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation from day one

Health insurance options

Wellness incentive up to $600/year

Flexible spending account

Dental insurance

Retirement plan with county contrib.

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Life insurance paid by County

Long term disability paid by County

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

Job summary

Portage County Health & Human Services is seeking an Economic Support Specialist to help individuals access FoodShare and Medicaid/BadgerCare+. You’ll interview applicants, determine eligibility, and issue benefits, guiding clients through complex processes with care.

The role emphasizes accuracy and timely determinations in a community-focused county. You'll work with CARES and other state systems, with a strong emphasis on customer service, referrals, and data integrity.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency required.
• Two years post-secondary education in related human services field preferred.
• One year experiencing record keeping, documentation, reporting, or bookkeeping required.
• Experience using computers is required.
• Prior experience with benefits determination is a plus.
• Must be a licensed driver and have access to an insured vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide information about public assistance programs and eligibility to applicants and the public.
• Conduct interactive interviews to determine initial and continued eligibility.
• Assess financial need and issue appropriate benefit levels per policy.
• Provide information and referrals for additional assistance.
• Monitor state systems for accuracy and correct errors as needed.
• Process changes to cases per program policy.
• Verify and document client information per policy.
• Encourage FoodShare participants to engage in related programs and referrals.
• Use CARES, CARES Worker Web, KIDS, ForwardHealth interChange, CSAW/CCPI, SAVES and more.
• Provide technical assistance and collateral contact to other agencies.
• Investigate discrepancies using data like wage or unemployment data and resolve issues.

Skills

Record Keeping

Documentation

Reporting

Bookkeeping

Computers Proficiency

Driver License

Education

Two years post-secondary education in related human services

Job description

Portage County Health & Human Services is seeking an Economic Support Specialist to help individuals access FoodShare and Medicaid/BadgerCare+. You’ll interview applicants, determine eligibility, and issue benefits, guiding clients through complex processes with care.

The role emphasizes accuracy and timely determinations in a community-focused county. You'll work with CARES and other state systems, with a strong emphasis on customer service, referrals, and data integrity.