Eligibility Worker

Douglas, County of • Mn 56308, MN

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Eligibility Worker, under general supervision, is responsible for performing a wide variety of tasks related to determining client eligibility for income maintenance programs and services. This includes establishing initial and ongoing eligibility, communicating complex program requirements, and assisting participants in understanding assistance criteria. The role requires adapting to continuous policy updates, system changes, and legislative shifts, while supporting participants in achieving independence and addressing barriers to self-sufficiency. Additionally, the position involves providing education, enrollment, and assistance to managed health care enrollees, making appropriate referrals to community resources, and performing related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of study at an accredited two-or four-year college or university or similar institution, with an emphasis in the behavioral sciences, business, or closely related subjects (at least 23-quarter credits or 16-semester credits).
• Successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker certificate program will substitute for one year of the required clerical experience working with the public.
• Three years of clerical experience or experience working with the public or some combination of the two, totaling three years.
• Two years of clerical experience in a Social Service/Human Services agency.
• Currently possess a valid Class D, Minnesota State Driver's License, or the ability to obtain upon start of employment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, the public, co-workers, and agency administration.
• Ability to communicate effectively, in both written and verbal form, with a culturally diverse clientele.
• Data entry and keyboarding.
• Accurately and rapidly process detailed information.
• Establish and maintain accurate and systematic records.
• Ability to manage multiple interruptions and be responsible for the time management of caseload.
• Troubleshoot and determine system problems vs. human error regarding the computer systems.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, make decisions, and work independently under stress.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of agency programs, operations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of available community resources.
• Knowledge of office procedures, practices, equipment, and software programs.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques and skills in conducting interviews.
• Knowledge of Income Maintenance program rules, regulations, benefits, and methods of determining eligibility.
• Knowledge of Local, state, and federal policies.
• Knowledge of other sources of financial support including Social Security, unemployment insurance, veteran's benefits, worker's compensation, and disability insurance/pension programs.
• Knowledge of basic principles of foster care, child and adult protection criteria, and a general understanding of mental and physical illness and human behavior.
• Knowledge of community resources such as emergency housing, food, Social Services, and diversionary assistance programs.
• Knowledge of real and personal property, estate and ownership laws, and their relationships to public assistance program eligibility.
• Ability to effectively explain income maintenance programs and procedures to recipients who are distraught.
• Ability to handle frequent procedural changes and client personal and financial crises.
• Ability to be objective/non-judgmental.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and be able to comprehend and follow complex written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to interpret legal documents, personal and self-employment tax documents, complex rules, and manual materials and bulletins as they apply to income maintenance programs.

Responsibilities

• Interviews clients to determine potential eligibility for available programs and expedited services, obtain necessary factual information and verify information received.
• Provide information to educate individuals or groups about types of available programs, services, and resources to the public via telephone, mail, walk-ins, and presentations.
• Provide guidance on how to apply for programs, the application process, and necessary documentation.
• Assist clients with completing applications including utilizing the Language Line for interpretive services.
• Screen applications to determine which programs clients may potentially be eligible for based on their current needs.
• Request or forward applications and cases to other agencies if necessary.
• Provide specific program rules and eligibility criteria.
• Be knowledgeable of community resources to make appropriate client referrals.
• Refer clients to other programs of assistance in agency and community.
• Evaluate applications and verify the information for program eligibility and needed documentation.
• Determine and approve eligibility for accurate benefits based on client information and verifications following state and federal guidelines; applications must be processed within program timelines.
• Accurately enter case information into computer programs.
• Re-determine eligibility for benefits per program guidelines or depending on client’s change in income or status; suspend or close cases as necessary based on program eligibility.
• Evaluate and determine cost-effective health insurance payments and make updates to the computer program.
• Conduct continuous tracking of cases relating to client household changes, pending applications, retroactive coverage, time exemptions for certain programs, and any other factors which would affect eligibility for programs.
• Determine overpayments for all programs if applicable and report possible fraud cases to Fraud Prevention Investigator.
• Complete ongoing training (online, unit meetings, conferences) and provide training to new EW staff.
• Perform peer case reviews to maintain the accuracy of cases.
• Assist law enforcement, fraud investigators, and the county attorney's office in the preliminary investigation, and preparing cases for prosecution.
• Prepare county cases for appeal hearings and participate in appeal hearings or provide testimony in court as needed.
• Provides input to assist Supervisors in developing procedures for program areas that are left to the discretion of the county agency.
• Provide orientation, training, and ongoing system and program support to both new and experienced workers for each specifically assigned caseload.
• Provide backup caseload coverage for absent staff.
• Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment.
• Reliable, predictable attendance and punctuality.
• Other duties, as assigned or apparent.
• Access to Not Public Data: Ensure private or confidential information about people served is only viewed or used when truly needed for work duties, kept secure, not accessed by unauthorized individuals, stopped once the task is done, and stored or disposed of properly according to Minnesota’s Data Practices Act (Chapter 13).
• If job duties change and access to different private data is needed, that access should also be limited to only what is needed to do the job.

Benefits

• Anniversary step increases
• Annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA)
• No-cost/low-cost health insurance plan options
• Contribution to a Health Savings Account
• PERA pension plan (vested in as little as 3 years)
• Life Insurance ($40,000 coverage at no expense, supplemental coverage available)
• Paid holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Personal Holiday)
• Sick Leave/Earned Safe and Sick Time (1 day per month, accumulative to 90 days)
• Vacation accrual (10-30 working days based on years of service)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED