Eligibility Determination Specialist

Job Information

Location:

Department of Human Services, Hickman County, Centerville, TN
Job Type: Full‑time
Open: 06/09/2026 12:00 AM Central Time – Close: 06/22/2026 11:59 PM Central Time
Salary: $38,748.00 – $48,492.00 annually ($3,229.00 – $4,041.00 monthly)

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Substitution of experience for education: qualifying full‑time professional eligibility determination experience, or a combination of para‑professional experience as an Eligibility Assistant or a State contractor serving in this capacity for the Department of Human Services, may be substituted on a year‑for‑year basis.
• OR two years of full‑time para‑professional experience as an Eligibility Assistant or a State contractor serving in this capacity for the Department of Human Services.
• Special qualifications: complete a criminal history disclosure form; agree to release all records involving criminal history; supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records clerk.

This classification performs eligibility determination work of average difficulty, works directly with customers to interview and determine eligibility for SNAP and TANF programs, and provides case management. Employees at this level work under direct supervision and are eligible for promotion to Eligibility Counselor 2 after a mandatory one‑year training period.

• Manage a workload of initial and ongoing eligibility determinations for SNAP and TANF based on demographic and economic criteria, conducting interviews by phone or in person.
• Provide case management for initial SNAP and TANF eligibility, ongoing eligibility, and customer changes, assessing impact on continued eligibility via direct engagement.
• Calculate monthly income and expenses to ensure accurate budgeting; document verifications, benefits, services, and other case‑related activity in a computerized record or paper file.
• Ensure accurate receipt of entitled benefits by reviewing and verifying data from customers and electronic systems while maintaining confidentiality.
• Assist customers with the application process and schedule appointments.
• Review and interpret program policy, explaining eligibility and ongoing responsibilities to customers.
• Assess customer strengths and goals, identify benefits and services within the Department or from external sources, and make referrals as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with vendors and outside organizations to obtain information, promote programs, and identify services and benefits to support customer self‑sufficiency.

• Tech Savvy
• Decision Quality
• Optimizes Work Processes
• Communicates Effectively
• Instills Trust

• Customer and Personal Language
• English Language

• Mathematics
• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Time Management

• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Written Comprehension

• General Office Equipment
• Computer/Laptop/Tablet
• Multifunctional Printer (Print/Scan/Fax/Copy)
• Calculator