Economic Support Specialist

Salary: $22.80 Hourly
Location : Rusk County Government Center, WI
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 7011-10-2026
Department: Health & Human Services
Division: Economic Support
Opening Date: 10/22/2026
Closing Date: 11/7/2026 11:59 PM Central


Description


This position is responsible for providing information about and determining eligibility for Medicaid, Medicaid Savings Programs, Long-term Care, Community Waivers, Child Care, Caretaker Supplement, Badger Care, W-2 and Food Share to the local Rusk County residents as well as those within the Northern Consortium. The Northern Consortium is a group of twelve northern Wisconsin counties that assist each other with case load and a call center. This position interprets and applies complex and ever changing federal and state laws and regulations along with policy and procedures to individual case circumstances in order to meet the needs of our residents. This position interviews clients, gathers information, and communicates with attorneys, doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, social security office personnel, employers and other entities in order to collect and verify information on cases. This position is responsible for checking multiple secure data bases for client information and verification.

Examples of Duties

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Determines correct public assistance benefits through in-person interviews, phone or electronic applications in compliance with state and federal regulations and time deadlines.
• Answers calls in a call center environment, conducting interviews to obtain and evaluate financial and non-financial information to determine eligibility for public assistance.
• Provide case management duties such as: answers customer questions, status updates, processes changes, troubleshooting, responding to emergency needs, determining eligibility and processing verification.
• Provides excellent customer service with accurate, timely benefit determination and notification per policy deadlines.
• Field multi language calls through interpreter services.
• Exercises judgment and maintains strict confidentiality of case information.
• Evaluate health and safety of the customer based on food insecurity and/or emergent health care benefit need.
• Researches, interpret and applies federal, state and local policies governing eligibility, legal rights and responsibilities of applicants.
• Works in collaboration with various agencies and local support services to find the appropriate benefits and/or services available for the customer. Makes referrals as appropriate.
• Authorizes monetary benefits for programs that are offered following the state, federal and local guidelines.
• Attends and maintains ongoing training regarding changes in the regulations and technical advancements.
• Administers drug testing to customers according to policy.
• Researching Quest Food Share card eligibility and administers cards per policy.

This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility and is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.

Typical Qualifications

• High School Education or equivalent
• Previous experience in customer assistance preferred
• Must be able to successfully complete new worker training provided
• Effective oral and written skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to collect, analyze and interpret information in order to solve case questions
• Ability to deescalate calls

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements/Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is largely sedentary, in a call center environment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may frequently be required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee may regularly be required to sit; stoop; kneel, talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the office work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Occasionally position may travel to other offices in the county or stay overnight out of town to attend training.

Selection Guidelines
Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

This position is contingent on funding through The Northern Income Maintenance Consortium.

EOE / ADA Statement
Rusk County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rusk County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
To see a summary of benefits offered to Full-time employees, review our