Job Description

Description

The County of Siskiyou is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

We welcome applicants of any race, religion or ancestry.

For exact salary information please refer to the current salary schedule, .

In-person testing required, testing is scheduled for: Aug. 18, 2023

Interviews are scheduled for: Aug. 25, 2023

Vacancy exists in the HHSA, Social Services Division, Eligibility & Temporary Assistance Services branch.

Salary:

Eligibility Worker I - $18.486 - $23.032 Hourly

Eligibility Worker II - $19.819 - $24.693 Hourly

Eligibility Worker I Under direct supervision, to learn to determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; to learn to initiate and process casework through an automated system; to learn to identify needs and make appropriate referrals for health, social, and/or employment services; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the entry/trainee level in the Eligibility Worker class series. Incumbents in this classification are expected to perform work under close supervision and receive extensive in-service training to gain in-depth knowledge of public assistance programs, Department processes, and caseload administration. An incumbent is expected to advance to the Eligibility Worker II level after successful completion of the Eligibility Worker I probationary period. Eligibility Worker II incumbents are expected to independently manage a full caseload, referring non-procedural questions to appropriate supervisory staff.

The Eligibility Worker series uses SAWS (Statewide Automated Welfare System) for determining eligibility and processing casework. Use of this automated system necessitates the ability to navigate through a multitude of screens; the ability to recognize when system output is incorrect; the ability to elicit information from clients through an interactive interview with limited structure; and knowledge of multiple aid programs.

REPORTS TO
Eligibility Supervisor.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED
This is not a supervisory class.

Eligibility Worker II Under general supervision, to determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; maintain current knowledge of program regulations and procedures necessary for multi-program caseload administration; to initiate and process casework through an automated system; to identify needs and make appropriate referrals for health, social, and/or employment services; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the journey level in the Eligibility Worker class series. Incumbents in this classification are expected to have knowledge of public assistance programs, Department processes, and caseload administration. They are also expected to independently manage a full caseload, referring non-procedural questions to appropriate supervisory staff. This class is distinguished from Eligibility Worker I by the performance of a broader range of assignments on a more independent basis. It is distinguished from Eligibility Worker III in that Eligibility Worker III\'s perform lead responsibilities and more complex, specialized assignments.

The Eligibility Worker series uses SAWS (Statewide Automated Welfare System) for determining eligibility and processing casework. Use of this automated system necessitates the ability to navigate through a multitude of screens; the ability to recognize when system output is incorrect; the ability to elicit information from clients through an interactive interview with limited structure; and knowledge of multiple aid programs.

REPORTS TO
Eligibility Supervisor.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED
This is not a supervisory class.

Examples of Duties

Eligibility Worker I Learns to perform interactive interviews to elicit eligibility information and identify a need for public assistance programs and services; learns to analyze financial and eligibility information to determine initial or continuing eligibility for aid programs; learns to explain regulations, rules and policies to applicants, informing them of their rights, responsibilities and eligibility for services and assistance; ensures the proper completion and accuracy of applications and declaration forms; learns to resolve discrepancies by securing appropriate documentation, including medical records and confirmations from other agencies; learns to initiate total-household assistance cases; enters and retrieves numerical and narrative data from computerized records; issues benefits; prepares correspondence and reports; learns to organize caseloads so that necessary case records and documents are processed within specific time limits established by regulations.
Knowledge of:

• General goals and purposes of public human services programs.
• Techniques of interviewing and information gathering.
• Computer terminology and computer keyboard arrangement.
• Modern office methods, practices, and procedures.
• Maintenance of filing and information retrieval systems.
• Basic mathematics.

Desired Skills:

• Learn and apply the policies, procedures, and programs of the County Human Services Department.
• Learn and apply the laws, rules, and regulations governing eligibility and grant determination for public assistance programs and case administration of these programs.
• Learn to obtain and verify information concerning eligibility for human services and public assistance.
• Learn and perform fact-finding and interactive interviewing.
• Determine appropriate courses of action in emergency situations.
• Make referrals to appropriate agencies and human service programs.
• Detect and identify potentially fraudulent situations.
• Analyze and interpret written, numerical, and verbal data.
• Enter data accurately into a computerized system, navigate through screens, review output of documents, make corrections as required.
• Process cases manually as required.
• Organize and complete work in accordance with stringent time requirements.
• Read, understand, apply, and explain complicated and detailed correspondence, reports, regulations, and policy directives.
• Make mathematical computations quickly and accurately.
• Prepare clear, concise, and accurate records and reports.
• Communicate with people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Explain complex rules and programs in an easily understandable manner.
• Effectively represent the Human Services Department in answering questions and providing information to the public, community organizations, other County staff, and other agencies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Eligibility Worker II

Performs interactive interviews to elicit eligibility information and identify a need for public assistance programs and services; analyzes financial and eligibility information to determine initial or continuing eligibility for aid programs; explains regulations, rules, and policies to applicants, informing them of their rights, responsibilities and eligibility for services and assistance; ensures the proper completion and accuracy of applications and declaration forms; resolves discrepancies by securing appropriate documentation, including medical records and confirmations from other agencies; initiates total-household assistance cases; enters and retrieves numerical and narrative data from computerized records; issues benefits; prepares correspondence and reports; organizes caseloads so that necessary case records and documents are processed within specific time limits established by regulations.

Knowledge of:

• General goals and purposes of public human services programs.
• In-depth and inter-active interviewing and information gathering techniques.
• Computer software and methods used in maintaining information and determining eligibility for public social services and assistance.
• Modern office methods, practices, and procedures.
• Basic record keeping practices and procedures.
• Basic mathematics.

Desired Skills:

• Apply the policies and procedures, and regulations of the State and the County Human Services Department in establishing eligibility for human services and public assistance.
• Read, interpret, and apply the laws, rules, and regulations governing eligibility and grant determination for public assistance programs and case administration of these programs.
• Obtain and verify information concerning eligibility for human services and public assistance.
• Perform fact-finding and interactive interviewing.
• Determine appropriate courses of action in emergency situations.
• Make referrals to appropriate agencies and human service programs.
• Detect and identify potentially fraudulent situations.
• Analyze and interpret written, numerical, and verbal data.
• Enter data accurately into a computerized system, navigate through screens, complete and review basic computer documents and other forms, make corrections as required.
• Process cases manually as required.
• Organize and complete work in accordance with stringent time requirements.
• Read, understand, apply and explain complicated and detailed correspondence and reports, regulations and policy directives.
• Make mathematical computations quickly and accurately.
• Prepare clear, concise, and accurate records and reports.
• Communicate with people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Explain complex rules and programs in a an easily understandable manner.
• Effectively represent the Human Services Department in answering questions and providing information to the public, community organizations, other County staff, and other agencies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Typical Qualifications

Eligibility Worker I Any combination of training or experience that would provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying. A typical way, but not required, to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be:

Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college.

OR Two (2) years of experience performing clerical duties which include substantial public contact experience with clients and basic interviewing responsibilities for the purpose of gathering information and explaining policies or clarifying information needed.

OR One (1) year of experience with responsibility for one or more of the following: determining eligibility for loans, financial assistance, unemployment, veterans benefits, or publicly or privately financed health counseling and/or social services programs.

Eligibility Worker II

Any combination of training or experience that would provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying. A typical way, but not required, to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be:

One year of experience performing duties comparable to the Eligibility Worker I classification.

Special Requirements:

None

Supplemental Information

Eligibility Worker I /II TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, FAX, and other related peripheral equipment such as printers and scanners.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office environment; work may involve stressful situations and include dealing with erratic and sometimes threatening behavior; continuous contact with other staff and the public.

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