Eligibility Worker I/II - Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Eligibility Worker I/II - Bilingual (English/Spanish)

The Kings County Human Services Agency is currently seeking qualified individuals for the position of: Eligibility Worker I/II - Bilingual (English/Spanish). Level I: $41,350.40 - $50,460.80 Annually Level II: $45,676.80 - $55,723.20 Annually

Are you interested in helping individuals and families access vital public assistance and community resources? Kings County is offering an exciting career opportunity for motivated and detail-oriented individuals to join our team.

Eligibility Workers determine eligibility for a variety of public assistance, medical, housing, and workforce development programs. Depending on the level, staff review applications, conduct interviews, verify documentation, explain program requirements, and make initial and ongoing eligibility determinations. They also connect individuals and families with County and community resources. These positions offer structured training, supportive supervision, and clear opportunities for career growth.

This recruitment is to fill positions that require bilingual fluency in English and Spanish (an examination may be conducted to evaluate the candidate's bilingual fluency). If you're ready to use your bilingual skills to make a meaningful impact in your community, we encourage you to apply!

Duties

• 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 inquires 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education and Experience

Education:

• Eligibility Worker I and II: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.

Experience:

• 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.

Licenses and Certifications

Licenses:

• Possession of a valid California driver's license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.

Special Requirements

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.

Selection Process

All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed. Depending upon the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, the examination process may include a screening committee (pass/fail) and/or a written examination (pass/fail) and/or an oral examination (100%) to determine placement on the eligible list. Note: Those applicants who are among the top 40 written test scores will be invited to participate in the oral examination process. Veteran's Preference Available Upon Request Veteran's Preference Application You must submit a certified DD-214 and a new request form for each application submission prior to the closing date. Tentative Recruitment Schedule: Closing Date: June 18, 2026 Written Testing: Week of July 9, 2026 Human Resources Interviews: Week of July 29 & 30, 2026 Department Interview: TBD