Self-Reliance Specialist - WEL

IdahoPTV; Blackfoot (ID); On-site; USD 38,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Telecommuting (some positions)

Job summary

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Blackfoot is seeking a Self-Reliance Specialist for a full-time, daytime schedule. You will assist families with benefits, provide direct customer service, and apply policy criteria to determine eligibility.

This role requires accuracy and the ability to work under pressure in high-volume settings. The position does not allow telework and offers a robust compensation package with benefits; applicants should be prepared for a pre-employment drug test and

Qualifications

• Experience performing sensitive fact-finding interviews.
• Ability to de-escalate in stressful situations.
• Experience applying policies to determine eligibility for services.
• Experience managing a workload with conflicting priorities.
• Experience entering/retrieving data in computerized records systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct customer service face-to-face or by telephone/mail.
• Apply complex policies and legal requirements accurately.
• Collect, verify, interpret personal information for case actions.
• Develop and maintain systems to support workload and reporting.
• Meet federally mandated outcomes and data quality standards.

Skills

Sensitive interviews

De-escalation

Policy application

Workload management

Data entry

Tools

Computerized records system

Job description

USA:ID:Blackfoot | Customer Service | Full Time

21.42 - 21.42 USD per hour

Posted 5 days ago | Apply before September 29, 2026

Description

DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND INDEPENDENCE OF IDAHOANS

The Division of Welfare is currently recruiting for Self-Reliance Specialists in our Blackfoot office. These positions are full-time with a work schedule of Monday - Friday, 8:00am -5:00pm with holidays off. Successful candidates will work in high volume, high stress work environments to assist customers for various benefits and services, while meeting and sustaining accuracy and productivity standards. While these positions work with families to help them find self-reliance, these are not social work positions and do not include long-term case management.

The Self-Reliance Benefits program works with families who are applying for or are receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Health Care Assistance Programs, Idaho Child Care Program, and/or cash assistance programs. Direct customer service may be conducted face-to-face or on the telephone.

This position is not eligible for telework.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is a drug-free workplace.Any applicant offered employment in this position at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test.

BENEFITS:

The State of Idaho offers a robust total compensation and benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Paid sick and vacation that begins accruing on your first day of employment; can be used immediately after accruing (no waiting time)
• 2 voluntary supplemental retirement plans including both pre-tax and Roth options
• Deferred compensation plan
• Life insurance for self, spouse, and children
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Wide variety of training opportunities
• Some positions offer flexible hours and/or telecommuting
• Review and determine eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, cash assistance, and Health Care Assistance Programs; OR establish and enforce child support obligations for families.
• Apply complex policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
• Provide direct customer service either by face-to-face interactions or via telephone and/or mail.

Interpersonal

• Requires personal interaction (face-to-face and/or via telephone, mail, or email) with customers and related agencies/individuals when intimate household circumstances are being addressed.
• Requires skillful de-escalation when working with customers in high stress, upsetting situations.

Policy/Technical

• Gather, verify, interpret, and act on personal information from various sources to case actions.
• Develop, adapt and maintain management systems to support workload activities and meet federally mandated outcome/reporting requirements.
• Perform complicated analytical problem resolution and insure data quality in automated system processing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

You must possess all the minimum qualifications below to pass the exam for this position. Please make sure your resume or work history supports your meeting the minimum and specialty qualifications for this position. Failure to do this may disqualify you from being considered for this position.It is highly recommended to attach a one-page cover letter to your application to demonstrate how you meet the requirements below.

• Experience conducting and documenting sensitive fact-finding interviews. Typically gained by at least six months of experienceORcompletion of some college courses in a human services field. Types of qualifying experience could include a background in credit collection, law enforcement, financial institutions or social service programs/services where detailed interviews were used to elicit information from customers that was then used to determine the outcome or eligibility for services. This background may also have been obtained through upper division college-level courses in a human services field. Experience as a receptionist, basic sales associate/retail clerk, or any position at that level does not meet this qualification.
• Experience dealing with individuals who are in stressful situations from varying cultural/socioeconomic backgrounds and de-escalating emotionally charged situations. Typically gained by least six months of experience in a business setting where I handled upset or angry customers.
• Experience applying written policies and criteria and determining qualifications for services or benefits. Typically gained by at least six months of experience OR completion of some college courses in a human services field. Types of qualifying experience could include a background in finance, lending, law, or business. This background may also have been obtained through upper division college-level courses in a human services field. General data entry or reception work does not qualify.
• Experience managing a workload with conflicting priorities. Typically gained by at least six months of experience managing a workload with conflicting priorities.
• Experience entering and retrieving data using a computerized records system. Typically gained by at least six months of experience entering and retrieving data using a computerized record system.

If you have questions, please contact us at:

Email is the quickest way to get an answer to your questions.

(answered Monday through Friday during business hours MST)

EMAIL: [e-mail] PHONE: [phone]

EEO/ADA/Veteran:

The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact [phone] (TTY/TTD: 711), or email [e-mail].

Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.