Eligibility Specialist II - TANF

State of Maine•Lewiston, ME

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Eligibility Specialist II determines initial and continued eligibility for public assistance programs. This vacancy is in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Unit, with a strong focus on TANF policy. The role may also include quality-control work reviewing eligibility decisions made by others. Work takes place in a fast-paced environment with high standards for customer service and program accuracy. The specialist gathers sensitive personal information to make timely and accurate eligibility determinations and interacts with people from varied backgrounds and emotional circumstances, requiring strong interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills. The position is with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Family Independence, which administers eligibility determinations for programs including MaineCare, TANF, Food Supplement, Fraud and Recovery, and Child Support. The position is located in Lewiston and allows partial telework with management approval. The role is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions. The State of Maine offers a total compensation package that includes paid holidays and leave, health and dental insurance, retirement contributions, gym membership reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, an employee assistance program, paid parental leave, and voluntary deferred compensation. Benefits may vary by collective bargaining agreement and are prorated for less than full-time employment.

Requirements

A four-year combination of education, training, and/or progressively responsible experience in a social services setting demonstrating interviewing and data-gathering skills relevant to eligibility determinations, claims resolutions, and/or customer service requests; or a bachelor's degree in Social Services, Business Administration, or another related field.
Strong interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to gather sensitive information and make timely, accurate eligibility determinations.
Ability to provide customer service and maintain program accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Interview clients and obtain and assess facts, data, supporting information, and documentation for public assistance applications or recertifications.
Evaluate information and apply allowable standards and criteria.
Explain eligibility requirements, rules, regulations, and individual rights and responsibilities to clients and their representatives.
Review and analyze information for accuracy, identify inconsistencies, request documentation, and verify and validate data.
Answer inquiries and refer clients to various programs.
Enter data into an automated system accurately and ensure accurate eligibility results.
Communicate verbally and in writing with clients, coworkers, and other agencies.
Perform intermediate mathematical calculations.
Maintain the confidentiality of applicant and recipient information.
May perform quality-control reviews of eligibility decisions made by others.

Benefits

13 paid holidays and at least three weeks of annual vacation leave, with accrual increasing with years of service; overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
12 days of sick leave per year.
State-paid employee-only health insurance premiums, with the amount depending on salary; a health insurance premium credit may reduce employee-only premiums by 5%.
State-paid employee-only dental insurance premiums.
State retirement contributions to MainePERS equivalent to 14.06% of employee pay.
Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
Employee assistance program (Living Resources Program).
Six weeks of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child, including non-birthing and adoptive parents.
Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.