Spanish)

Kings County•Hanford, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Kings County Human Services Agency is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Eligibility Worker I/II, requiring bilingual fluency in English and Spanish. This role involves helping individuals and families access public assistance, medical, housing, and workforce development programs. Eligibility Workers determine eligibility by reviewing applications, conducting interviews, verifying documentation, explaining program requirements, and making eligibility determinations. They also connect clients with community resources. The positions offer structured training, supportive supervision, and opportunities for career growth. An examination may be conducted to evaluate bilingual fluency.

Requirements

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
Eligibility Worker I: One (1) year of experience which involved public contact work that required providing information, gathering information, answering questions and inquiries, and explaining policies, rules, and regulations in person and/or by telephone; and utilizing a computer to retrieve and enter data. (Substitution: 60 semester or 90 quarter units may substitute the required experience.)
Eligibility Worker II: One (1) year experience performing duties at a level equivalent to an Eligibility Worker I with Kings County.
Possession of a valid California driver’s license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.
Qualify for security clearance through a background investigation and fingerprint check.
Certain positions in this classification may be designated as bilingual requiring fluency in a foreign language.
Positions in this classification are required to rotate assignments and are required to rotate between the agency’s central location in Hanford and outlying sites, as assigned.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish (an examination may be conducted to evaluate the candidate's bilingual fluency).

Responsibilities

Schedules appointments and conducts interactive, fact-gathering interviews with applicants and recipients to obtain demographic, financial, and asset information necessary to determine initial and/or ongoing eligibility for various public assistance, medical, housing, and/or workforce development programs; conducts interviews in the County welfare office, satellite offices, hospitals, participants homes, and other locations.
Interprets and explains program rules and regulations governing eligibility, grants, processing timeframes, methods of payment, and legal rights and responsibilities to applicants and recipients.
Requests, records, reviews, and evaluates demographic, financial, and asset verification obtained from applicants and recipients and outside sources at time of initial application, voluntary and mandated intermittent reporting, and annual renewal/recertification according to rules and regulations for multiple programs.
Enters and processes demographic, financial, and asset data into automated system(s) to determine initial/ongoing eligibility and grant entitlements within established timeframes; reviews and ensures the accuracy of the eligibility results, including eligible household members, budgets, and entitlements; identifies any errors in eligibility/grants and troubleshoots and modifies entries to ensure accurate eligibility determinations.
Within established parameters, authorizes eligibility determinations in automated system(s); reviews and sends client/recipient correspondence related to case action(s); answers questions related to eligibility determinations; and processes/issues benefits via electronic benefit transfer (EBT), paper warrant or voucher, and/or Medi-Cal insurance card.
Processes assigned tasks and case actions, and/or maintains a client caseload; ensures appropriate action is taken on reported information/changes in circumstances, voluntary and mandated intermittent and annual reporting, and requests for additional and/or modified programs/services according to program rules and regulations, and timeframes for processing.
Provides information, assistance, resources, and/or referrals to applicants, recipients, and the general public to appropriate county or community services; works with public and private agencies to develop community resources.
Receives and responds to a high volume of inquiries and/or requests for information/assistance in office, over the phone, and/or via email; provides courteous customer service, and accurate information related to department programs/services, eligibility, community resources, and other related requests.
Prepares, maintains, verifies, updates, revises, and/or sends out electronic and physical documents, records, reports, files, forms, assessment packets, and/or applications and renewal/recertification packets; resolves information discrepancies; enters information into, maintains, monitors, and/or updates documents, databases, online systems, and software.
Resolves discrepancies in information reported by clients by securing documentation, records, and confirmation/verification from other entities; evaluates potential for fraudulent situations and reports to supervisor as required.
Coordinates with internal and external agencies to communicate, receive, and verify information, including verification of income/assets, household demographics, time on aid, and inter-county transfers.
Maintains accurate and detailed records, files, and notes related to case actions and client interactions; updates information, researches discrepancies and performs data entry; maintains confidential client documentation.
Provides training to less experienced staff and volunteers as assigned.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
When assigned to housing programs: Performs outreach; seeks out housing opportunities by phone, internet, and in person to develop relationships with landlords and local agencies to grow and support housing resource options.
Serves as liaison between landlords and case managers and is primary contact for landlords; communicates with landlords to facilitate rental agreements, negotiate rental amounts and property expenses, and address issues such as missing payments, damage, and evictions; issues approved payments and incentives to landlords and vendors including unpaid rent.
Conducts property walkthroughs and facilitates improvements to ensure habitability; reviews and ensures accuracy of lease agreements and needs related to rent, rules, security deposit, and other items.
Supports the resolution of client barriers to housing including evictions, felonies, credit score, collections status, household size, and rental history.