Self-Reliance Specialist - WEL

USA: | Customer Service | Full Time

21.42 - 21.42 USD per hour

Posted 2 days ago | Apply before September 14, 2026

DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND INDEPENDENCE OF IDAHOANS

* THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE OPEN UNTIL FILLED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED.*

The Division of Welfare is hiring for Self-Reliance Specialists in the Boise field office. This is a full-time position with a schedule of Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm with holidays off.

These service-oriented positions work taking inbound calls from customers throughout the state of Idaho who are seeking to apply or renew various benefits and services. While these positions work with families to help them find self-reliance, these are not social work positions and do not include long-term case management.

The Self-Reliance Benefits program works with families who are applying for or are receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Health Care Assistance Programs, Idaho Child Care Program, and/or cash assistance programs.

This position is not eligible for telework.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is a drug-free workplace.

Any applicant offered employment in this position at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test.

BENEFITS:

The State of Idaho offers a robust total compensation and benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Paid sick and vacation that begins accruing on your first day of employment; can be used immediately after accruing (no waiting time)
• 2 voluntary supplemental retirement plans including both pre-tax and Roth options
• Deferred compensation plan
• Life insurance for self, spouse, and children
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Wide variety of training opportunities
• Some positions offer flexible hours and/or telecommuting
• Review and determine eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Child Care, cash assistance, and Health Care Assistance Programs.
• Apply process, procedures and overarching policy to determine eligibility via fact finding conversations with customers.
• Provide direct customer service either via telephone and/or mail.

Interpersonal

• Requires personal interaction (via telephone, mail, or email) with customers and related agencies/individuals when household circumstances are being addressed.
• Requires communication skills such as effective listening, asking open ended questions, empathy and at times de-escalation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

You must possess all the minimum qualifications below to pass the exam for this position. Please make sure your resume or work history supports your meeting the minimum and specialty qualifications for this position. Failure to do this may disqualify you from being considered for this position.

It is highly recommended to attach a one-page cover letter to your application to demonstrate how you meet the requirements below.

• Experience conducting and documenting sensitive fact-finding interviews. Typically gained by at least six months of experienceORcompletion of some college courses in a human services field. Types of qualifying experience could include a background in credit collection, law enforcement, financial institutions or social service programs/services where detailed interviews were used to elicit information from customers that was then used to determine the outcome or eligibility for services.
  
  This background may also have been obtained through upper division college-level courses in a human services field. Experience as a receptionist, basic sales associate/retail clerk, or any position at that level does not meet this qualification.
• Experience dealing with individuals who are in stressful situations from varying cultural/socioeconomic backgrounds and de-escalating emotionally charged situations. Typically gained by least six months of experience in a business setting where I handled upset or angry customers.
• Experience applying written policies and criteria and determining qualifications for services or benefits. Typically gained by at least six months of experience OR completion of some college courses in a human services field. Types of qualifying experience could include a background in finance, lending, law, or business. This background may also have been obtained through upper division college-level courses in a human services field.
  
  General data entry or reception work does not qualify.
• Experience managing a workload with conflicting priorities. Typically gained by at least six months of experience managing a workload with conflicting priorities.
• Experience entering and retrieving data using a computerized records system. Typically gained by at least six months of experience entering and retrieving data using a computerized record system.

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