ELIGIBILITY SPECIALIST I - 60033960

State of Florida

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Families in need and in crisis require time sensitive actions from strong, compassionate individuals who are dedicated to assisting the vulnerable and promoting strong self-sufficient families. This demanding and challenging career could be your opportunity to help those in need make a better life for themselves and their families. Every minute and every case processed count for those who are hungry, caring for others, in need of assistance to provide shelter for loved ones, or just need a helping hand, and your career choice could make a critical difference by making a tremendous impact on countless lives. If you are interested in making a difference, please join our TEAM! The primary function of an Eligibility Specialist involves determining the eligibility of applicants and recipients for government assistance programs. The work performed includes processing data from electronic sources and entering information into a computer-based eligibility system under state and federal requirements. Eligibility workers are expected to handle a high volume of work which is deadline driven. Workers must be able to prioritize, plan and project their work, while remaining flexible to frequent changes in the program policy and/or computer-based systems. The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency. The vision is a highly skilled workforce committed to empowering people with complex and varied needs to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families, delivering world class and continuously improving service focused on providing the people we serve with the level and quality that we would demand and expect for our own families. The values include integrity, loyalty to a code of ethics, courage, responsibility, solutions-focused learning, transparency, accountability, respect for diversity of opinion, open communication, high performance, and commitment to excellence in achieving quality outcomes for those served.

Requirements

Two years or more of customer service, interviewing, recruiting, investigating, accounting, processing insurance policies or determining eligibility OR Associate degree, or higher from an accredited college or university, OR 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours can substitute for the experience.
Ability to attend an 8 - 12-week mandatory training course.
Successful completion of a skills assessment to include Typing (TT), General Aptitude Mobile Evaluation (GAME), Computer Skills (CLIK), and Employee Personality Profile (EPP).
Ability to apply the laws, rules, and regulations governing eligibility and grant determination for multiple government assistance programs and the case administration of these programs.
Ability to review images such as pictures or handwritten notes to make eligibility determinations based on the information provided.
Ability to communicate with others to obtain and verify information concerning eligibility.
Ability to detect and evaluate potential fraudulent situations.
Ability to analyze and interpret written, numerical, and verbal data from various sources.
Ability to enter data accurately into a computerized system.
Ability to navigate through computer screens, complete, and review basic computer documents and other forms.
Ability to plan and organize caseload to ensure work is completed in accordance with regulations relating to eligibility and timeliness.
Ability to read, understand, apply complicated and detailed regulations, and policy directives.
Ability to perform a variety of mathematical computations accurately and rapidly.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the public and staff.
Ability to use computers and related software packages.
Ability to follow written and oral directions and instructions.
Must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully authorized alien worker.
Participation in the State of Florida Direct Deposit Program is required as a condition of employment.
Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, must be registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.
Successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S.
Candidates applying to positions in the Economic Self-Sufficiency Program may have a Benefit Recovery check completed to validate current or former government assistance case information and check for outstanding overpayments before completing the hiring process.

Responsibilities

Interviewing applicants to obtain and verify information needed to determine eligibility for Food Assistance, Medicaid, and Cash Assistance.
Learning numerous state and federal program regulations, through intensive training prior to full case assignment and then ongoing training thereafter.
Instructing clients in completion of various forms, and reviewing the applications and forms submitted for completeness and accuracy.
Determining program eligibility in accordance with current regulations using a computer-based eligibility system.
Researching information provided by an applicant until satisfactory explanations regarding eligibility status is confirmed.
Reporting cases where identity theft or fraud is suspected.
Advising clients of deadlines, time frames, and necessary actions to be taken.
Working with clients who may not take the necessary actions within the required time frame.
Establishing and maintaining multiple electronic files and conducting regular reviews and updates.
Documenting all communications and contacts with clients.
Managing an electronic caseload that varies based on the community needs, ensuring that accuracy levels are maintained, and cases are processed within the specified time frames set by federal and state regulations.
Computing and authorizing government assistance benefits based on financial and family status.
Reviewing and explaining the monthly benefit amount to the customer.
Staying current with changes in rules, laws, procedures, etc. that affect timeliness and accuracy.
Performing all job tasks in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements applicable to state and federal laws or procedures.