Eligibility Worker - Cass County - Minnesota Merit System : Job Details

Salary: $27.85 - $35.61 Hourly Location : Walker, MN Job Type: Full Time Permanent Job Number: 951-OL-11 County: Cass County Health, Human and Veterans Services Opening Date: 09/12/2024 Closing Date: 9/27/2024 4:30 PM Central Classification Summary County Health, Human and Veterans Services has a full time (40 hours per week) Eligibility Worker open for application. Cass County Job Responsibilities: To assist citizens needing public help to preserve their families, ensure their dignity and safety, and promote their right to self-determination and self-sufficiency through quality service and program integrity. Provide quality service to all clients who are applicants and/or recipients and others who have a legitimate interest in applicant's or recipient's case. The general public is to be served in the same manner. Conduct a comparable share of interviews to determine initial and/or ongoing eligibility for applicants new to the agency or ongoing recipients who are applying or recertifying for any type of public assistance which may include: burials or out of home placements in accordance with state and federal regulations. A comparable share would be equal to that of other Eligibility Workers within the unit and the interviews assigned by rotation, or as specified by a supervisor. Acquire, retain and apply knowledge of all financial programs and agency policies so that eligibility decisions are completed in an accurate and prompt manner. Develop and maintain professional relationships with clients, unit staff, agency staff, and any other individuals involved in the performance of the Eligibility Worker's responsibilities. Performs other duties as assigned. Knowledge of Federal and State regulations, county policies, related Agency functions and community resources, as well as the procedures to implement and utilize these. Skills in communication, proper interaction with others, understanding of general office procedures, & mathematics. Abilities to work independently yet accept supervision and to organize work for effective results. **ONLINE EXAMINATION PROCESS** see below for instructions on how to take the examination. Examples of Duties •Interviews clients to obtain necessary factual information, and verifies information received from clients. •Determines eligibility and the amount of benefits for a variety of income maintenance programs, including cash, food, medical and child care assistance. •Explains application procedures to individuals or groups and answers questions of individuals on how to complete the application forms. •Communicates program time limits, expectations and other program requirements to the client, and serves as central point of communication for financial, child care and employment services. •Advises clients on viable life options and promotes self-sufficiency. •Informs applicants about managed health care, determines eligibility for enrollment in managed health care, determines the most cost effective insurance, and resolves problems and questions from health plans, health care providers, enrollees and other staff. •Performs data entry into multiple county and state computer systems and retrieves information from those systems. •Re-determines eligibility and benefit amounts required by changes in a client's status, by reviewing and verifying client information, preparing budgets and related documents, and calculating benefit amounts in accordance with established benefit standards. •Maintains complete and accurate records on client's eligibility for all assigned programs. •Provides requisite information on new and existing cases to child support, employment services and other appropriate staff. •Advises clients of case status, including explaining eligibility requirements and benefit factors, assesses client needs, and refers 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. •Responds to complaints of clients and informs clients of the right and method of appeal and other legal rights. •Prepares county case for appeal hearings, documenting the actions taken by the county and provides testimony at the appeal hearing. •Assists law enforcement and the county attorney's office in preparing cases for prosecution and provides testimony in court. •Makes referrals to social services, when appropriate. •Makes contacts with community resources as assigned. •Provides input into the development and evaluation of the income maintenance unit's policies and procedures. •Composes correspondence and constructs reports as needed. Minimum Qualifications •Three (3) years of clerical experience and/or experience working with the public, or some combination of the two, totaling three years. or •Two (2) years of clerical experience in a social services/human services agency. or •Two (2) 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). or •Successful completion of the technical college diploma program (applicants must be within six months of completion of the program). or •Successful completion of the technical college certificate program will substitute for one year of the required clerical experience or experience working with the public. Cass County Preferred Qualifications Must possess a valid driver's license. Examination ProcessIMPORTANT INFORMATION: In order to be considered for this job, you must take and pass an examination, which is offered online. The examination consists of seven (7) sub-sections measuring arithmetic, eligibility determination and reading comprehension. You will need a calculator and/or scratch paper in order to complete this exam. After your Merit System application has been submitted, you will be sent an invite e mail with a unique link to access the examination sections. You will need scratch paper and/or a calculator to complete the exam. Set aside enough time to take this examination in it's entirety (in one sitting). It is a TIMED exam and will allow one hour and thirty minutes to take the exam; a timer will appear in the upper right hand corner of your screen showing you how much time remains as you go through the exam. If you get out of a section before completing it - it will score the unanswered questions as 0s zeros and you will not be given credit. Please take the exam in it's entirety in one sitting as required. If a passing score is obtained, your score will remain on the eligible list up to one year (or until you are hired into a permanent position). You will not need to re-take this online examination if you have obtained a passing score of at least 70. If you have any changes to your application, such as updating your availability, please notify the Merit System directly. Note: This is a two step process and BOTH applications are required. 1. Apply to posting 951-Online (5) - Eligibility Worker Online Exam (5) by the September 27, 2024 deadline. AND 2. In addition to applying through the Minnesota Merit System, please complete a Cass County Applicationby 4:30 p.m. on September 27, 2024. Please note that you applying for a specific county vacancy and the exam must be completed by the October 2, 2024 deadline (midnight). An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer The following benefits may be available and vary by County, please check with the County directly to see what types of benefits they offer:

• Pension/Retirement Benefits
• Insurance Benefits, including health and dental
• Pre-Tax flexible spending accounts
• Health savings account
• Employer paid life insurance
• PTO - Vacation/Sick Leave
• Paid holidays
• Flexible work schedule
• Monday - Friday work week, weekends off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

01 Recruitment Effectiveness: Where did you learn about this opportunity?

• Merit System Website
• County website
• College website (Please Specify below)
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• U of MN Goldpass (www.goldpass.umn.edu)
• Landit.org
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Local Newspaper (Please Specify below)
• Non-profit agency (Please Specify below)
• Community website (Please Specify below)
• MN Council of Non-Profits Website (www.mncn.org)
• Professional Conference (Please Specify below)

02 Please Specify as indicated above: Required Question