Eligibility Specialist - Lead Worker

Job Summary

Performs a variety of tasks related to the determination of eligibility for public assistance programs. Provides training, staff monitoring, and systems support to Eligibility Specialists and Child Care Assistance Specialists and assists supervisors in the Income Maintenance Unit. Reviews financial cases to ensure completeness and accuracy of new employees. Work is performed in an office setting.

• Determines what training is needed for newly hired staff; enrolls the new Eligibility Specialists and Child Care Assistance Specialists into the required classes provided by the Department of Human Services and completes necessary paperwork.
• Coordinates the completion of prerequisite requirements by the Department of Human Services with the new Eligibility Specialists and Child Care Assistance Specialists.
• Provides one‑to‑one training with all newly hired Eligibility Specialists and Child Care Assistance Specialists for a duration lasting up to twelve months.
• Maintains current knowledge of multiple complex program policies for all income maintenance programs; mentors staff by providing direction and support on policy and procedural interpretations, resources, and assistance with case set up or case actions.
• Works with staff in setting workload priorities, organization of office and resources for efficiency, and assists them in assessing crisis situations.
• Assists all staff in the preparation of case materials and policy prior to a state appeal hearing. Participates in hearing as necessary.
• Works with staff to ensure appeal decisions are acted on and appropriate actions completed timely.
• Reconciles discrepancies in case records, including errors, problems resulting in miscommunication, changes in policies, and implementation of new procedures.
• Assists the supervisor and staff to identify issues and develops a plan to ensure cases are updated according to policy within mandated time frames.
• Develops, updates, and maintains a training manual to ensure correct, timely, and consistent information is given to all staff.
• Assists with caseload coverage for vacancies and staff absences. Provides input to the supervisor on how workloads can be covered when there are vacancies.
• Utilizes and navigates multiple state systems for program eligibility; maintains enhanced security and system access to obtain case information and issue a higher amount of benefits on behalf of staff.
• Acts as liaison between staff and supervisors; assists the supervisor in identifying training issues for experienced staff.
• Serves as liaison between county and state personnel.
• Manages a reduced caseload as determined by the supervisor; this may include complex cases or other cases as determined necessary or appropriate.
• Serves as acting supervisor in the supervisor's absence.
• Facilitates meetings when necessary and deals with client concerns and concerns from other units.
• Works with the supervisor to develop policies and procedures.
• Acts as the supervisor's backup in the Department of Human Services Security Liaison role. Resolves security issues for all state system users with the county; approves benefits at the same level as supervisors.
• Performs and/or assists the supervisors with public assistance case reviews.
• Prepares special reports as necessary.
• Acts as a back‑up to and assists the Managed Care Advocate.
• Works the hours and/or shifts assigned and begins and ends work on time.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

• High school diploma or GED and five years of experience as an Eligibility Specialist working with a caseload that administers a majority of public assistance programs (experience with all programs preferred), or high school diploma or GED plus one or more years of post‑secondary education and three years of related work experience.
• Preference given for completion of a state administered mentor training program, hands‑on training and mentoring experience, and experience with Managed Care advocacy.
• Related work experience must be in a position involving eligibility determination for public assistance programs at a County, Tribal, and/or State agency.
• Reliable form of…