Eligibility Worker

Watonwan County Human Services

HAS A FULL-TIME POSITION OPENING FOR AN

ELIGIBILITY WORKER
SALARY MIN $23.88 – MAX $32.23 / HR

SUMMARY: Under general supervision, performs a variety of tasks related to the determination of eligibility of clients for income maintenance programs & services; establish initial & on-going eligibility for multiple income maintenance programs; communicates program requirements & assists program participants in understanding how to maintain eligibility; supports program participants in achieving the highest degree of independence & in addressing barriers to self-sufficiency; provides education, enrollment & assistance to managed health care enrollees; makes appropriate referrals to other community resources; & performs related work as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Interviews clients to obtain necessary factual information, & verifies information received from clients.
• Determines eligibility & the amount of benefits for a variety of income maintenance programs, including cash, food, medical & child care assistance.
• Explains application procedures to individuals or groups & answers questions of individuals on how to complete the application forms.
• Communicates program time limits, expectations & other program requirements to the client, & serves as central point of communication for financial, child care & employment services.
• Informs applicants about managed health care, determines eligibility for enrollment in managed health care, determines the most cost effective insurance, & resolves problems & questions from health plans, health care providers, enrollees & other staff.
• Performs data entry into multiple county & state computer systems & retrieves information from those systems.
• Re-determines eligibility & benefit amounts required by changes in a client's status, by reviewing & verifying client information, preparing budgets & related documents, & calculating benefit amounts in accordance with established benefit standards.
• Maintains complete & accurate records on client's eligibility for all assigned programs.
• Provides requisite information on new & existing cases to child support, employment services & other staff.
• Advises clients of case status, including explaining eligibility requirements & benefit factors, assesses client needs, & refers clients to programs & other community resources to assist them in maintaining eligibility, or in the event that the client is no longer eligible for public assistance.
• Responds to complaints of clients & informs clients of the right & method of appeal & other legal rights.
• Prepares county case for appeal hearings, documenting the actions taken by the county & provides testimony at the appeal hearing.
• Assists law enforcement & the county attorney's office in preparing cases for prosecution & provides testimony in court.
• Makes referrals to social services, when appropriate, makes contacts with community resources as assigned.
• Composes correspondence & constructs reports as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

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 services/human services agency OR Two years of study at an accredited two or four year college or university or similar institution, with 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 diploma program (applications must be within six months of completion of the program), OR successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker certificate program will substitute for one year of the required clerical experience or experience working with the public. People with bilingual skills are highly encouraged to apply.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of office procedures, practices, equipment & software programs.
• Knowledge of multiple complex computer systems.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques & skills in conducting interviews.
• Knowledge of the income maintenance program rules, regulations, benefits & methods of determining eligibility.
• Knowledge of other sources of financial support, including Social Security, reemployment insurance, veterans benefits, worker's compensation, & disability insurance/pension programs.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of foster care, child & adult protection criteria, & a general understanding of mental & physical illnesses.
• Knowledge of community resources such as emergency housing, food, social services & diversionary assistance programs.
• Knowledge of real & personal property, estate & ownership laws, & their relationships to public assistance program eligibility.
• Knowledge of human behavior.
• Skill in communicating, in written & verbal form, with a culturally diverse clientele.
• Data entry & keyboarding skills.
• Ability to establish & maintain effective working relationships with clients, public, co-workers & agency administration.
• Ability to effectively explain income maintenance programs & procedures to recipients who are distraught.
• Ability to handle frequent procedural changes & client personal & financial crises.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, make decisions & work independently under stress.
• Ability to be objective/non-judgmental.
• Ability to accurately & rapidly process detailed information.
• Ability to establish & maintain accurate & systematic records.
• Ability to express ideas clearly & ability to comprehend & follow complex written & verbal instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally & in writing.
• Ability to interpret legal documents, complex rules, manual materials & bulletins as they apply to income maintenance programs.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS PACKAGE INCLUDING: 100% paid Single Medical Health Plan,

Supplemental Insurances, Health Savings Account (HSA) or Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association Plan

(VEBA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), 16 days first year vacation, 13 days per year sick leave, 10.5 days per year paid holidays, Public Employees Retirement Coordinated Plan (PERA) with a generous employer matching program. Eligible for annual pay and Cost of Living (COLA) increases.

EXAMINATION PROCESS:

In order to be considered for this job, you must take & pass an examination, which is offered online. The examination consists of seven (7) sub-sections measuring arithmetic, eligibility determination & reading comprehension. You will need a calculator & scratch paper in order to complete this exam.

Submit application on or before April 18, 2025.

The exam must be completed online by April 24, 2025 (by midnight).

Apply online at http://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mnmeritsystem

For more information, contact Jodi.Halvorson@watonwancountymn.gov

EOE/AA

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $23.88 - $32.23 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

• Saint James, MN 56081 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $24 - $32