Eligibility Worker

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Eligibility Worker
DEPARTMENT: Social Services
STATUS: Full Time 37.5 hrs/wk; Generally, Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

• Interviews clients to determine potential eligibility for available programs and expedited services, obtain necessary factual information and verify information received.
• Provide information to educate individuals or groups about types of available programs, services, and resources to the public via telephone, mail, walk-ins, and presentations.
• Provide guidance on how to apply for programs, the application process, and necessary documentation.
• Assist clients with completing applications including utilizing the Language Line for interpretive services.
• Screen applications to determine which programs clients may potentially be eligible for based on their current needs. Request or forward applications and cases to other agencies if necessary.
• Provide specific program rules and eligibility criteria.
• Be knowledgeable of community resources to make appropriate client referrals.
• Refer clients to other programs of assistance in agency and community.
• Evaluate applications and verify the information for program eligibility and needed documentation.
• Determine and approve eligibility for accurate benefits based on client information and verifications following state and federal guidelines; applications must be processed within program timelines.
• Accurately enter case information into computer programs.
• Re-determine eligibility for benefits per program guidelines or depending on client’s change in income or status; suspend or close cases as necessary based on program eligibility.
• Evaluate and determine cost-effective health insurance payments and make updates to the computer program.
• Conduct continuous tracking of cases relating to client household changes, pending applications, retroactive coverage, time exemptions for certain programs, and any other factors which would affect eligibility for programs.
• Determine overpayments for all programs if applicable and report possible fraud cases to Fraud Prevention Investigator.
• Complete ongoing training (online, unit meetings, conferences) and provide training to new EW staff.
• Perform peer case reviews to maintain the accuracy of cases.
• Assist law enforcement, fraud investigators, and the county attorney's office in the preliminary investigation, and preparing cases for prosecution.
• Prepare county cases for appeal hearings and participate in appeal hearings or provide testimony in court as needed.
• Provides input to assist Supervisors in developing procedures for program areas that are left to the discretion of the county agency.
• Provide orientation, training, and ongoing system and program support to both new and experienced workers for each specifically assigned caseload.
• Provide backup caseload coverage for absent staff.
• Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment.
• Reliable, predictable attendance and punctuality.
• Other duties, as assigned or apparent.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT HIRE :

Education and Experience:
High School Diploma or equivalent.

Two years of study at an accredited two-or four-year college or university or similar institution, with an 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 certificate program will substitute for one year of the required clerical experience working with the public; or

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

Two years of clerical experience in a Social Service/Human Services agency.

Licenses and Other Requirements:
Currently possess a valid Class D, Minnesota State Driver's License, or ability to obtain upon start of employment.

REQUIRED MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES AT HIRE:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, the public, co-workers, and agency administration.
• Ability to communicate effectively, in both written and verbal form, with a culturally diverse clientele.
• Data entry and keyboarding.
• Accurately and rapidly process detailed information.
• Establish and maintain accurate and systematic records.
• Ability to manage multiple interruptions and responsible for the time management of caseload.
• Trouble-shoot and determine system problems vs. human error in regard to the computer systems.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, make decisions and work independently under stress.

• Office procedures, practices, equipment, and software programs; interviewing techniques and skills in conducting interviews; Income Maintenance program rules, regulations, benefits, and methods of determining eligibility; Local, state, and federal policies; other sources of financial support including Social Security, unemployment 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 illness and human behavior; 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.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, public, co-workers, and agency administration; 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 be able to comprehend and follow complex written and verbal instructions; interpret legal documents, personal and self-employment tax documents, complex rules, and manual materials and bulletins as they apply to income maintenance programs; troubleshoot and determine system problems vs. human error in regard to the computer systems.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Public building. Office setting.

HOURS
Generally, Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
37.5 hours per week.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS CAN INVOLVE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Amount Lifted:
Amount Lifted Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Amount Lifted 11 to 101 lbs.: Not Present
Amount Pushed or Pulled:
Amount Pushed or Pulled Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Amount Pushed or Pulled 11 to 101 lbs.: Not Present
Vision:
Near Vision: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Far Vision: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Depth: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Field of Vision: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Color: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Contact With Others:
Works Alone: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Works with Others: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Works around Others: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Customer/Public Contact: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Clients with Behavior Challenges: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Communications:
Talking: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Hearing: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Reading: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Basic Body Positions:
Sitting: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Standing: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Walking/Moving About: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Climbing: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Balancing: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Crouching: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Kneeling: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Crawling: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Motor Skills:
Handling: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Grasping: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Using Fingers: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs.,18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Reaching: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Feeling: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174 days
Driving: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Exposures To:
Mechanical Equipment: Not Present
Electrical Equipment: Not Present
Pressurized Equipment: Not Present
Burning Material/Equip: Not Present
Explosive: Not Present
Radiant Energy: Not Present
Moving Equipment: Not Present
Heights: Not Present
Fumes/Odors: Not Present
Dirt/Dust: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Gases: Not Present

See also the Physical and Environmental Factors Form.

EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT USED
General Office Equipment: Telephones, Calculators, Printer, Copy, scan, fax machines, Computer, Dual monitors.
Access to systems that can support ITV or web-based training.
GPS when traveling for out-of-office training and meetings.
County vehicles.
Computer software and programs: Blue Zone (MAXIS, MMIS, PRISM), MNSure, METS, SIR, AS400, ISDS, Shared Master Index (SMI), Microsoft Word/Excel/Outlook Express, Adobe, and the Internet.

OTHER
All listed above are essential functions of the job.

Supervision Received: Supervised by Community Human Services Supervisor
Supervision Exercised: None
Labor Group: Union- ASFCME
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Grade: 7
EEO Job Category: Administrative Support Workers
Work Comp Code: 8810

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.
Revised: 2024