Eligibility Worker

Big Stone County has a vacancy for a full time Eligibility Worker (37.5 hours a week).

• Interview clients to obtain necessary factual information, and verify information received from clients.
• Determine eligibility and the amount of benefits for a variety of income maintenance programs, including cash, food, medical and child care assistance.
• Explain application procedures to individuals or groups and answer questions of individuals on how to complete the application forms.
• Communicate program time limits, expectations and other program requirements to the client, and serve as central point of communication for financial, child care and employment services.
• Advise clients on viable life options and promote self sufficiency.
• Inform applicants about managed health care, determine eligibility for enrollment in managed health care, determine the most cost effective insurance, and resolve problems and questions from health plans, health care providers, enrollees and other staff.
• Perform data entry into multiple county and state computer systems and retrieve information from those systems.
• Re determine eligibility and benefit amounts required by changes in a client's status; review and verify client information, prepare budgets and related documents, and calculate benefit amounts in accordance with established benefit standards.
• Maintain complete and accurate records on client's eligibility for all assigned programs.
• Provide requisite information on new and existing cases to child support, employment services and other appropriate staff.
• Advise clients of case status, including explaining eligibility requirements and benefit factors, assess client needs, and refer clients to programs and other community resources to assist them in maintaining eligibility, or in the event that the client is no longer eligible for public assistance.
• Respond to complaints of clients and inform clients of the right and method of appeal and other legal rights.
• Prepare county case for appeal hearings, document the actions taken by the county and provide testimony at the appeal hearing.
• Assist law enforcement and the county attorney's office in preparing cases for prosecution and provide testimony in court.
• Make referrals to social services, when appropriate.
• Make contacts with community resources as assigned.
• Provide input in the development and evaluation of the income maintenance unit's policies and procedures.
• Compose correspondence and construct reports as needed.

• Three years of clerical experience or experience working with the public, or some combination of the two, totaling three years.
• Two years of clerical experience in a social services/human services agency.
• Two years of study at an accredited two or four year college or university or similar institution, with emphasis in the behavioral sciences, business, or closely related subjects (at least 23 quarter credits or 16 semester credits).
• Successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker diploma program (applicants must be within six months of completion of the program).
• Successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker certificate program will substitute for one year of the required clerical experience or experience working with the public.

An Equal Opportunity and Aff… Employer