Eligibility Specialist Trainee​/I​/II; Bilingual

Eligibility Specialist Trainee is the classroom and on-the-job trainee level in the Eligibility Specialist series where emphasis is on learning the basic regulatory and statutory requirements of multiple public assistance programs. Incumbents may receive classroom instruction and/or on-the-job training prior to being assigned casework or tasks. Once incumbents are placed in audit, they will continue to participate in on-the-job training and may be assigned a variety of duties, including some casework/tasks which will assist them in learning to determine initial and continuing eligibility for one or more public assistance programs.

Incumbents work under close supervision to complete initial case functions as they continue to learn procedures and complex regulations and acquire the ability to apply the regulations during the training period. Trainees are given the opportunity to perform increasing levels of eligibility determination to prepare them for the entry-level Eligibility Specialist I classification. Use of the Eligibility Specialist Trainee classification is optional, at the discretion of each County.

Eligibility Specialist I classification. Incumbents may have prior experience determining eligibility for loans, financial assistance, unemployment or veterans' benefits, or publicly or privately funded health, counseling or social services programs; have completed initial classroom training provided as part of the Eligibility Specialist Trainee training program; or may have the required level of education. Incumbents will be placed in a work team and initially may receive classroom instruction prior to being assigned casework and/or tasks.

Incumbents will work under close supervision while learning to independently determine public assistance eligibility and apply knowledge and skills learned from their training in completing eligibility tasks and applying complex regulations. As incumbents gain experience and work toward the journey level in the series, they are expected to work with more independence and have the ability to complete more complex tasks and/or handle larger client caseloads.

Incumbents are expected to progress to the journey-level Eligibility Specialist I upon completion of one year of satisfactory performance in the entry-level Classification.

Eligibility Specialist II is the journey-level classification in the Eligibility Specialist series. Incumbents demonstrate working knowledge of eligibility regulations, procedures and eligibility software systems. Eligibility Specialist II incumbents handle more complex tasks and/or caseloads independently with consultation as needed by Eligibility Specialist IIIs or Eligibility Supervisors. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower level or if filled from the outside, require prior experience as an Eligibility Specialist, Eligibility Worker or comparable position.

The class of Eligibility Specialist II is distinguished from the Eligibility Specialist I as the latter requires a higher level of consultation and supervision and is working toward achieving a working knowledge of program rules and regulations. The Eligibility Specialist II class is distinguished from the Eligibility Specialist III in that the latter class is assigned lead specialist duties or special assignments with a greater degree of independent judgment.

• Performs interactive interviews to elicit eligibility information, obtain and/or verify financial, employment, tax and personal demographic information and determine eligibility for public assistance programs and services.
• Analyzes financial and eligibility information to determine initial or continuing eligibility for multiple aid programs.
• Explains regulations, rules and policies to clients and apprises them of their rights, responsibilities and eligibility for participation in various public assistance programs and services.
• Ensures accuracy and completion of application and declaration forms.
• Resolves discrepancies by securing documentation, medical records and confirmation from other agencies.
• Enters and retrieves numerical and narrative data and issues benefits from an automated computer system.
• Determines the level of benefits to which the client is entitled by making complex computations and/or computer entries and then analyzing the results.
• Reviews and interprets information provided on a variety of forms both by the client and third parties to assist with eligibility determination.
• Evaluates clients for and answers questions on Advanced Payment Tax Credits (APTC) related to health care reform.
• Explains a variety of plan options, costs and individual plan features through Covered California.
• Monitors on-going eligibility by obtaining periodic updated information of eligibility factors and takes appropriate actions on changes.
• Determines need for additional services and makes referrals as needed for employment and other services to outside agencies to assist clients…