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

Salary: $27.30 - $36.15 HourlyLocation : Winona, MNJob Type: Full Time PermanentJob Number: 951-OL-85County: Winona County Community ServicesOpening Date: 01/06/2025Closing Date: 1/21/2025 4:00 PM CentralClassification SummaryCounty Community Services currently has a full time (40 hours per week) Eligibility Worker - Financial Worker (Account Specialist) position open. This position starts at $27.30 hour (DOQ) with advancement up to $36.15 hour.Characteristics of Class:Under general supervision, performs a variety of tasks related to the determination of eligibility of clients for income maintenance programs including food support, health care, cash assistance, and grant determination; may assist child support officers in carrying out routine assignments associated with support or collections work; and performs related work as assigned. Work is performed in an office setting. Online examination required - see below. Examples of Duties Winona County Examples of Duties:Any one position may not include all the duties listed, nor do the examples, listed in their relative order of importance, include all duties which may be found in positions in this class.* Determines eligibility of clients for income maintenance programs, which includes the initial and on-going determination of eligibility.* Interviews clients to obtain necessary factual information, and verifies information received from clients.* Interviews clients receiving public assistance benefits to determine their continued eligibility.* 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.* Maintains complete and accurate records on clients' eligibility.* Provides requisite information on new and existing cases to child support, employment services and other appropriate staff.* Explains social service, income maintenance, and other community programs to individuals or groups.* Explains and interprets policy and rules to clients, staff, and other individuals.* Responds to complaints of clients and informs them of their rights and method of appeal and other legal rights.* Performs data entry into multiple county and state computer systems and retrieves information from those systems.* Prepares county case for appeal hearings, documenting the actions taken by the county and provides testimony at the appeal hearing.* Provides input into the development and evaluation of agency policies, programs and procedures.* Composes correspondence and constructs report as needed.* Any other duties as assigned. Minimum QualificationsMN Merit System 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) (must attach transcript);or•Successful completion of the technical college diploma program (applicants must be within six months of completion of the program) (must attach transcript).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.Winona County Preferred Qualifications* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, public, co-workers and agency administration.* Knowledge of office procedures, practices, equipment and software programs.* Ability to effectively utilize multiple complex computer systems.* Data entry and keyboarding skills.* Ability to organize and coordinate job activities.* Ability to establish and maintain accurate and systematic records.* Ability to remain objective and make decisions.* Ability to express ideas clearly and ability to comprehend and follow complex written and verbal instructions.* Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.* Must pass a personal background investigation.Examination Process **MN MERIT SYSTEM APPLICATION AND LETTER OF INTEREST WITH RESUME REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. DO NOT CLICK ON APPLY NOW WITHIN THIS POSTING. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY.**APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: To be considered for this position, you must submit an application through MN Merit AND submit a letter of interest and resume to Winona County by 4:00 p.m. on January 21 2025. You must be eligible for appointment by the MN Merit System. Examination process: In order to be considered for this job, you must take and pass the online examination that measures math skills used in determining eligibility for programs and reading comprehension. After your Merit System application has been submitted, you will be sent a link to access the examination sectionsif you meet the minimum qualifications for this job classification.IMPORTANT INFORMATION: You must complete the exam within (3) three days of the closing date, or by no later than midnight, January 24 2025. Additionally, interested individuals shall also submit a letter of interest and resume to the attention of Maureen Holte, County Administrator, Winona County Office Building, 202 W. Third Street, Winona, MN 55987 (507) ###-#### or fax: (507) ###-#### or email [email protected] by 4:00 p.m. January 21, 2025.IMPORTANT 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 scratch paper in order to complete this exam.After your Merit System application has been submitted, you will be sent a link to access the examination sections. Set aside enough time to take this examination in it's entirety (in one sitting). It is a TIMED exam that allows one hour and thirty minutes to take 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 allow at least one (1) hour in order to take the exam in it's entirety in one sitting as required.To apply: Note: There are two steps to this application process.1. Apply at this link here: 951-Online (5)- Eligibility Worker - Online Exam (5).You will have a limited number of days from the date you submitted your application to complete the exam.AND2. You must complete the exam within (3) three days of the closing date, or by no later than midnight, January 23, 2025. Additionally, interested individuals shall also submit a letter of interest and resume to the attention of Maureen Holte, County Administrator, Winona County Office Building, 202 W. Third Street, Winona, MN 55987 (507) ###-#### or fax: (507) ###-#### or email by 4:00 p.m. January 21, 2025.Please note, you are applying for a specific county vacancy and the online exam must be completed online by Friday, January 24, 2025(midnight). **MN MERIT SYSTEM APPLICATION AND LETTER OF INTEREST WITH RESUME REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION**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)
• Career Fair (Please Specify below)
• Alumni Newsletter (Please Specify below)
• Job Listserve (Please Specify below)
• 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