Eligibility Worker; Public Benefits Specialist

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Opportunity awaits! Are you an equity-minded professional with heart? Do you enjoy people, problem solving, and working with others to create a positive, productive and inclusive workplace? If so, keep reading - we may have your ideal job!

As a Eligibility Worker
, you will:

The Oregon Eligibility Partnership (OEP) is the dedicated program for ensuring coordinated responsibility occurs in determining timely eligibility benefits for Oregonians seeking supports related to health, food security, employment, and cash benefits.

This primary focus of this program is making eligibility determinations for medical programs, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Employment Related Day Care (ERDC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS) while following the principles of Oregonian focused, Customer Service, Equity and Inclusion, Standardization, and Efficiency.

• Conduct in person interviews for Oregonians, collecting household details, current income, current resources, and other applicant information necessary to determine their social, habilitative, rehabilitative, therapeutic, food, medical, and safety needs.

• Utilize all applicable forms, computer systems, tools, and resources to make eligibility determinations at intake, when an Oregon renews benefits, and or when a recipient reports changes to household.

• Ensure appropriate documentation and forms are completed and sent, information is captured correctly, and actions taken are notated.

• Complete redetermination, periodic reviews, and change updates within federal time frames and within appropriate intervals.

• In supporting Oregonians, provide person-centered services with a trauma-informed approach to identify needs.

• Maintain working knowledge of programs and community resources and provide information and referrals to applicable parties.

• Ensure that service delivery is provided in a culturally competent way; provide communication to Oregonians in their preferred language/format by utilizing printed materials available in different languages/formats and use of language services available.

• One year of experience working at the Human Services Specialist 1 level for the State of Oregon;

OR

• Two years of experience working with the public, providing assistance and interpreting and applying policies, rules, or guidelines;

OR

• An associate degree in a Behavioral Science, Social Science or a closely related field AND six months of experience working with the public, providing assistance and interpreting and applying policies, rules, or guidelines;

OR

• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience relative to the class concept.

We are looking for candidates with:

• Experience with intermediate-level computer skills using systems and software applications to enter, retrieve, and manage information.

• Experience planning, prioritizing, and completing work efficiently while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.

• Experience in conveying complex information clearly and professionally, both verbally and in written form to diverse audiences.

• Experience adapting with ease to changing environments and priorities.

• Your work schedule will be 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday Pacific Standard Time (PST). Occasional overtime may be available.

• Employees in these positions may be required to work a flexible work schedule as a condition of employment. This is understood to mean that the hours of work may vary and could include evenings and weekends under certain circumstances.

• This position is assigned to the Store Front Office incumbent who will…