Eligibility Specialist

Eligibility Specialist

Beltrami County is creating an eligibility list for a full-time, benefited Eligibility Specialist. The successful applicants will work in the income maintenance department determining eligibility for a variety of county, state and federal public assistance programs. Performs administrative work evaluating and explaining program benefits and eligibility requirements to applicants and clients, processing applications and recertification, according to county, state and federal policies, statutes and guidelines, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Economic Assistance Program Manager. Preferred hiring salary range is $27.65 to $30.20 per hour with a full range of $27.65 to $35.02 per hour. Placement depends on factors such as qualifications, internal equity, market conditions, and applicable policy guidelines.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience Minimum requirements are:

• Associate's degree in behavioral sciences, business, or a closely related field.

OR

• A substitution of education and work experience may qualify: Four years of related work experience in behavioral sciences, business, accounting, or a related field may be substituted for an Associate's degree.

AND

• One year or more of work experience in business, accounting, behavioral sciences working with at-risk populations, or a related field.
• Valid MN driver's license.

Essential Functions & Requirements

Qualification Requirements To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Interviews clients; explains program benefits and requirements to clients; obtains and verifies information necessary to process applications and recertification.
• Processes case specific information for applications, recertification and unscheduled reported changes into state and county databases.
• Determines eligibility for a variety of county, state and federal public assistance programs.
• Advises clients on viable life options; provides referrals for other resources; promotes self-sufficiency.
• Works in cooperation and coordination with other county staff, local, state and federal agencies, service providers or vendors to provide client services.
• Maintains case files and records.
• Responds to client concerns and complaints; informs clients of their appeal rights and the appeals process.
• Conducts research and assists with the preparation of case materials as required for presentation in court; provides testimony in court.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of county, state and federal policies and rules associated with each program the individual administers; thorough knowledge of the operation of state databases; thorough knowledge of state resources that may assist with correct interpretation of policies and correct eligibility determinations; thorough knowledge of cooperative community resources and programs; thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public social service organizations; general skill operating standard office equipment and related hardware and software; general skill composing standard and specialized business correspondence related to case management; general skill creating and maintaining applicable file, case and program records; ability to operate standard office equipment and related hardware and software; ability to operate specialized database systems; ability to analyze data and exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions; ability to follow complex oral and written instructions; ability to manage workload and meet frequent deadlines; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, coworkers, comparable agencies at other levels of government, business partners and the general public.
• Physical Requirements This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands and fingers in repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, climbing or balancing, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Supplemental Information

Special Requirements

• Ongoing job-specific training.
• Employment offer contingent upon successfully passing drug screening and background check.