What are the responsibilities and job description for the Economic Support Specialist position at Racine County?

Salary : $21.32 - $26.40 Hourly

Location : WI 53403, WI

Job Type : FULL TIME

Job Number : 2025-015

Department : Human Services

Division : Economic Support Division

Opening Date : 02 / 04 / 2025

Closing Date : 2 / 17 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central

Max Number of Applicants : 100

Division : Economic Support Division

Hiring Salary : 21.32 / hr

Job Summary

Perform eligibility determination, redetermination, and budget income for applicants / recipients of economic public assistance programs including Food Share, Child Care, Medical Assistance, and Caretaker Supplement benefits services.

Key Responsibilities

Work in a call center environment. During call center times, workers are expected to take calls, answer customer questions, take applications, review cases, and assess eligibility for various types of programs of assistance.
Must have the ability to multitask, assist with call center, process documentation provided by customers, make independent decisions, and discern when further assistance may be needed. Most of these tasks are performed in a web base system, while on a Call Center.
Learn and provide information regarding various programs of assistance as well as learn about community resources in the Income Maintenance Consortium.
Provide excellent customer service to various socio-economic populations within the Income Maintenance Consortium (Racine and Kenosha). Have an understanding how to provide services while understanding cultural and economic diversity.
Learn through State and Consortium provided curriculum and classroom training, how to determine eligibility for Medical Assistance, Food Share, Child Care, Caretaker Supplement Program, and other benefits and services. Learn and utilize different State computer programs : Cares Worker Web, Host on Demand, Forward Health, and others.
Prepare notices for all programs as needed / required.
Following policy, determine referrals and exemptions for employment programs.
Refer to the Program and Integrity units those applicants and or recipients that are providing questionable information or suspected of fraudulent activity.
Stay current on federal regulations, State and County requirements for benefit economic services and employment programs.
Learn, understand, and maintain confidentiality of information learned while administering programs.
Assist in state and agency Quality Assurance reviews as requested / required.
Complete state-required training as outlined in state contracts.
Address customers' and employees' concerns courteously and promptly.
Opportunity to qualify for telework.

Supervision Received

Receives supervision from a Human Services Department, Division of Economic Support Supervisor.

Qualifications

Experience working in a call center environment preferred.

High school diploma or GED. Sixty credits post-secondary education, preferred.

Two (2) years post high school work experience in customer service or environment working with people. Post secondary degree may substitute for work experience.

Two (2) years working experience in use of personal computer that allows working in a fast pace environment.

Experience and or the ability to learn how to determe eligibility for services based upon federal and state regulations.

Experience with individuals of varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Valid Wisconsin driver's license preferred as some trainings may be offsite.

Prompt and regular attendance.

Or any equivalent combination, training, and experience, which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Bilingual or fluent in a second language is optional, but helpful.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

Knowledge or training using the Wisconsin CARES computer system or ability to obtain required knowledge within six (6) months of employment.

Ability to adhere to strict confidentiality, in all matters.

Ability to follow computer security guidelines.

Ability to learn and make independent decisions

This description has been prepared to assist in properly evaluating various classes of responsibilities, skills, working conditions etc. present in the classification. It is intended to indicate the kind of tasks and characteristic levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities; nor is it intended to limit or in anyway modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under his / her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind and level of difficulty.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

NON-EXEMPT HUMAN SERVICES EMPLOYEES

For a complete list of benefits, refer to the Human Resources Policy Manual)

Full Time, Regular Employees - (40 hours per week)

Health Insurance Coverage :

Racine County is self-insured. The Third-Party Administrator is UnitedHealthcare. Coverage is effective the first of the month following thirty days of employment.

Premium sharing : Racine County pays 85%, employee pays 15%.

IN NETWORK : Individual deductible $400, family deductible $800 per calendar year. After the deductible is met, the plan pays 80% of allowable charges. Out-of-pocket maximum per calendar year is $2000 for individual and $4000 for family.

OUT OF NETWORK : Individual deductible is $800, family deductible $1600 per calendar year. After the deductible is met, the plan pays 60% of allowable charges. Out-of-pocket maximum per calendar year is $3000 for individual and $6000 for family.

Prescription drug, vision, and mail order maintenance drug benefits.

Dental Insurance Coverage :

Coverage is effective the first of the month following thirty days of employment. Choose either basic coverage or premium coverage.

Basic coverage : Racine County is self-insured. The Third-Party Administrator for basic dental coverage is UnitedHealthcare.

Individual deductible $25, family deductible $75 per family per year.

No deductible for diagnostic or preventative services.

Co Insurance 80% of usual and customary charges of covered services paid. Maximum of $1200 / year per person.

Fully paid insurance premium by Racine County.

No orthodontic coverage.

Premium dental coverage (Anthem / Dentacare) :

No deductibles

100% coverage at participating dental center

Employee pays for lab work (prosthetics, i.e., caps, crowns, bridges, dentures)

Premium sharing Employee pays difference between basic coverage and Dentacare.

Orthodontic coverage - Employee pays 50% of the fee up to a maximum payment by the employee of $695.

Choose one dental clinic from a provided list for services.

Flexible Spending Accounts :

Optional - Regular full-time employees are eligible to contribute to two flexible spending accounts : Health Care Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. Newly hired employees may enroll by submitting an enrollment form to Human Resources within thirty (30) calendar days from their date of hire.

Life Insurance :

Coverage is effective the first of the month following thirty days of employment.

The County provides Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage in the amount equal to one times the employee's annual base salary rounded to the nearest $1000.

An employee can elect to pay for additional life and dependent life insurance on a payroll deduction. The premium is determined by age and increment of insurance.

Casual Days and Short-Term Disability

Casual Days :

Employees accrue five casual days per calendar year. Unused casual days will be paid out. Upon completion of introductory period, newly hired employees will receive pro-rated casual time at the rate of one half day for every full month remaining in the calendar year, not to exceed five (5) full days.

Short-Term Disability :

Eligible after completion of six (6) months of service in a benefit-eligible position and upon successful completion of the introductory period. After a twelve (12) day elimination period, eligible employees may receive short-term disability coverage for a period of up to thirteen (13) weeks. All short-term disability coverage will be at 60% pay.

Long Term Disability Program :

Coverage becomes effective after six (6) months of continuous employment in a benefit-eligible position and upon completion of the elimination period. The elimination period is 90 days of continuous employment subject to the conditions of short-term disability (90 days). Racine County pays the full premium amount for covered employees. In the event of a total disability due to injury or illness, the long-term disability plan pays 60% of covered salary to a maximum monthly payment of $6,000.00. Benefits payable to employees may be reduced by Worker's Compensation, Wisconsin Retirement Annuity or Disability payments, Social Security or other specified income.

Social Security :

Racine County contributes the statutorily required employer's share of social security contributions.

Wisconsin Retirement Fund :

Effective from date of hire. The County contributes the employer's share to the Wisconsin Retirement fund. The employee contributes the employee's share, through automatic payroll deduction, to the Wisconsin Retirement fund, as required by State statute.

Holidays :

The following holidays are observed by Racine County and shall be granted with pay to covered employees :

New Year's Day

Friday before Easter

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Friday following Thanksgiving Day

Day before Christmas Day

Christmas Day

Day before New Year's Day

Floating Holiday :

A newly hired employee is not eligible for a floating holiday until after successful completion of the introductory period. If the calendar year ends before an employee has completed the introductory period, the employee is not eligible for a floating holiday for that year.

Vacation :

Anniversary date of employment Weeks of Vacation

1st through 4th 2 weeks

5th through 7th 2 weeks, 3 days

8th through 12th 3 weeks, 3 days

13th through 17th 4 weeks

18th through 22nd 4 weeks, 3 days

23rd and beyond 5 weeks

Funeral Leave Pay :

Eligible after completion of the introductory period. Reimbursement of up to three (3) paid days for the purpose of arranging and attending the funeral of a member of the employee's immediate family.

Overtime Pay :

Time and one half regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of forty hours per week. Compensatory time, at the rate of one and one-half hours per overtime worked, may be taken in lieu of pay. Benefit time such as vacation, holiday, casual or short-term disability does not count as hours worked.

Deferred Compensation :

Optional - Automatic payroll deduction from salary prior to tax deductions into a tax deferred savings program. Employees may enroll at the time of hire or during the designated open enrollment periods.

Direct Deposit :

County employees are required to arrange for direct deposit of their pay to accounts in financial institutions.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) :

Racine County has an Employee Assistance Program. EAP is a resource for emotional, financial, and legal support. EAP is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Racine Employee Health & Wellness Center :

Racine County has partnered with the City of Racine and with Racine Unified to create a health center for :

Racine County full-time employees, who are covered under the county health plan;

Dependents of Racine County employees who are covered under the county health plan; and

Racine County retirees and their dependents that are covered under the county health plan.

Visits are by appointment only. Available services include primary care, chronic disease management, wellness consultations, immunizations, physicals (including school and sports physicals), diagnosis and treatment of urgent care needs (e.g., ear or sinus infections, strep throat), and lab work. There is no fee or co-pay for visits to the center, but there may be costs for services referred outside of the health center (radiology, some lab services, etc.). County health coverage may be applied to any of those costs. Some medications are dispensed for free at the Wellness Center.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

PART TIME AND LIMITED-TERM EMPLOYEES

NON-EXEMPT HUMAN SERVICES EMPLOYEES

Regular Part-time Employees :

The classification of "regular part-time employee" shall include all County employees who are scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week on a regular basis (see Racine County Code of Ordinances, Section 15-81).

Regular part-time employees who are scheduled to work twenty (20) hours or more per week, but less than forty (40) hours per week on a regular basis, are ineligible to participate in County group health, dental or life coverage. Other benefits such as vacation, disability leaves and holiday pay shall be pro-rated.

Employees who are scheduled to work less than twenty (20) hours per week shall receive no fringe benefits, except that employees who are eligible to participate in the Wisconsin Retirement system will be enrolled therein.

Limited Term Employees :

Employees appointed to limited term positions for an anticipated duration of less than six (6) months will receive no fringe benefits, except that employees who are eligible to participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System will be enrolled therein.

Salary : $800 - $3,000

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