Financial Worker

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Position Objective

Work from home opportunities available!!

Be part of an organization whose mission is to "Serve Well, Deliver Value, and Drive Results". Join our team for a rewarding work experience. Crow Wing County is currently recruiting for a Financial Worker to work in our Community Services Department. This position works with County residents to determine which income maintenance program services will assist them in meeting their economic and social service needs. Daily work includes benefit determinations, re-evaluating eligibility and communicating program requirements to clients which requires effective communication skills in person and over the phone. The goal of a Financial Worker is to support program participants in achieving the highest possible degree of independence from public assistance; to support participants in addressing those barriers that prevent them from achieving and maintaining self-sufficiency.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are representative of the type of work performed.

• Conduct interviews with individuals to assess their needs, gather information, and determine what governmental or community resources can meet those needs.
• Determine on-going eligibility of clients for multiple public assistance programs; conduct interviews, and review and verify information on clients' status with respect to program requirements.
• Determine initial eligibility for households applying for emergency assistance or active on public assistance and applying for additional programs; conduct interviews, and review and verify information on clients' status with respect to program requirements. Perform mathematical calculations and analysis, and interpret financial documents to determine earned and unearned income and assets.
• Effectively communicate program time limits, expectations and other program requirements to the client, and serve as a central point of communication for financial, childcare and employment services.
• Determine benefit amounts for clients, and re-determine benefit amounts required by changes in a client's status, by reviewing and verifying client information, preparing budgets and related documents, and calculating benefit amounts in accordance with established benefit standards.
• Perform data entry on, retrieve information from, and employ other keyboard skills with multiple county and state computer systems.
• Advise clients of case status, including explaining eligibility requirements and benefit factors, refer clients to programs to assist them in maintaining eligibility, and to programs and other community resources in the event the client is no longer eligible for public assistance.
• Maintain detailed knowledge of the current requirements of multiple income maintenance programs through meetings, training sessions to include developing and maintaining awareness and understanding of public assistance programs and resources.
• Assess clients' ability to become self-sufficient by identifying strengths and weaknesses and advise clients on options to promote self-sufficiency.
• Process asset assessments as required for nursing home and elderly waiver medical assistance programs.
• Make referrals for fraud investigations and perform related follow up functions, when necessary.
• Attend appeal hearings and documents the actions taken by the agency regarding eligibility or amount of public assistance issued.
• Coordinate services by collaborating with staff and external service providers.
• Provide caseload coverage for co-workers; on-the-job training for staff new to the agency or new to a particular program.
• Ability to work well both independently and as a team.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Three or more years experience of a similar nature and scope of responsibility or equivalent knowledge gained from a combination of education and/or experience.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of department programs and operations.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior.
• Ability to establish and prioritize goals.
• Ability to utilize effective interviewing techniques.
• Ability to organize and coordinate job activities and remain objective.
• Ability to help solve complex problems.
• Ability to accurately process detailed information according to established timelines.
• Ability to establish and maintain accurate and complete reports and case records.
• Ability to comprehend and follow complex written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment while meeting multiple deadlines.
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of investigative interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge of Minnesota Data Practices Act, records retention schedules and HIPPA policies