Eligibility Specialist

Salary: $27.65 - $35.02 Hourly
Location : Community Service Center 616 America Ave NW, Bemidji, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 202600047
Department: Human Services
Division: Economic Assistance
Opening Date: 07/23/2026
Closing Date: 8/5/2026 4:30 PM Central


The Position


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.

There are a wide variety of benefits available to Beltrami county employees. Visit the Employee Benefits Summary under our website's for more information.
01


I understand that my answers with regard to experience must be supported by the information I have included in my online application. I affirm that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification may disqualify me for consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Beltrami County.

• Yes
• No

02


**Note the following when responding to questions: One year of full-time experience equals 2080 hours, or 40 hours per week. Part-time hours must be pro-rated, for example two years working 20 hours per week equals one year of full-time experience. Select "yes" below, if you have read and understand this.

• Yes
• No

03


On a daily basis, an Eligibility Specialist may have frequent face-to-face contact in a fast paced environment, managing a high volume of case files and may have regular assignments to respond to a high volume of phone calls in a day. Please carefully read the minimum qualifications on this job posting and the supplemental questions to be sure this job is a good fit for you. While there are multiple ways to meet these minimum qualifications, your experience must be in an office setting where you have experience in clerical, customer or client service. Select "Yes" below if you have read and understand the information above and the minimum qualifications for this job.

• Yes
• No

04


As a minimum qualification, do you have either: (1) Associate's degree in behavioral sciences, business, or a closely related field OR (2) Four years of related work experience in behavioral sciences, business, accounting, or a related field as a substitution for an Associate's degree?

• Yes
• No

05


How many post-secondary semester credits have you earned?

• At least 1 but less than 30 (1-44 quarter credits)
• At least 30 but less than 60 (45-89 quarter credits)
• At least 60 but less than 90 (90-134 quarter credits)
• At least 90 but less than 120 (135-179 quarter credits)
• More than 120 (180 quarter credits)

06


Select your highest level of education completed.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Completed course work but no degree
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree or higher
• None of the above

07


What is the area of study?

• Business Administration
• Behavioral Science
• Communications
• Accounting
• Other
• None

08


If you selected "other" above, please list your degree and area of study.
09


As a minimum qualification, do you have one year or more of work experience in business, accounting, behavioral sciences working with at-risk populations, or a related field? Convert any part-time experience to full-time equivalent (i.e. 20 hours per week for 2 years equals 1 year full-time).

• Yes
• No

10


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If no, type N/A.
11


Do you have a valid MN driver's license?

• Yes
• No

12


How many years of full time equivalent work related experience do you have working for a City, County, State or Federal agency in a position that determined client eligibility for State and/or Federal Public Assistance Programs? (Note: Assisting with or advising others how to complete program applications is not determining eligibility.)

• No experience
• Internship/less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

13


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
14


How many years of full time equivalent work related experience do you have interpreting policy to determine program eligibility? (Loans, insurance, claims, financial aid, housing assistance, billing, etc.)

• No experience
• Internship/less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

15


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
16


How many years of full-time equivalent work experience do you have working in an office setting providing direct customer service to the public?

• No experience
• Internship/less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more

17


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
18


If you have experience with providing customer service, how have you provided service? Select all that apply.

• No public contact or customer service experience
• By telephone
• In person by appointment only
• In person from drop in visits
• Frequent face-to-face contact with clients or customers
• Constant face-to-face contact with clients or customers where you de-escalate situations and work with difficult clients, residents, or customers

19


On average, which of the following best describes your experience working in an office setting providing assistance to the public?

• No public contact provided
• Public contact on average of less than 50% of your day
• Public contact on average of more than 50% of your day

20


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
21


Do you have work related experience handling confidential client information (i.e. financial, medical, legal)?

• No experience handling confidential client information
• Minimal experience handling confidential client information
• Worked with confidential client information as a regular part of my job

22


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
23


Do you have any work related experience scanning documents into an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS)?

• No experience scanning into an EDMS
• Minimal experience scanning into an EDMS
• Have worked with an EDMS as a regular part of my job

24


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
25


Indicate your highest level of proficiency using MAXIS (state computer system used to determine eligibility for public assistance and health care).

• None
• Inquiry/Clerical/IPAM
• Production

26


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
27


Indicate your highest level of proficiency using MMIS (Medicare Management Information System).

• None
• Inquiry/Clerical
• Production

28


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
29


Indicate your highest level of proficiency using CURAM's Health Insurance Exchange Program.

• None
• Inquiry/Clerical
• Production

30


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
31


Indicate your highest level of proficiency using MEC2 (Minnesota Electronic Child Care).

• None
• Inquiry/Clerical
• Production

32


In response to your answer above, with which employer(s) listed on your application did you earn this work experience? If none, type N/A.
33


This position requires you to work on a computer for at least 90% of the day. Is this something you would be willing and able to do as part of your job?

• Yes
• No

34


This position may require you to deny applications of clients who may not qualify for benefits or services. Is this something you would be willing and able to do as part of your job?

• Yes
• No

Required Question