Senior Eligibility Worker

Under general supervision, serves as lead worker in determining eligibility of individuals/families for assistance through various benefit programs administered by the Social Services Department, such as financial assistance, medical assistance, food stamps, or other programs. Work involves providing direction to other eligibility workers, assisting with supervisory duties, processing benefit applications, interviewing applicants, explaining benefit programs, assisting applicants in completing necessary forms, determining eligibility for assistance, and maintaining records.

Employee is also responsible for verifying completeness and accuracy of information received from applicants and detecting and reporting cases of fraud.
• Provides direction, training, and support to other eligibility workers; answers staff questions regarding specific benefit programs and trains new workers in specific benefit programs; coordinates daily work activities; monitors status of work, inspects completed work, and troubleshoots problem situations.

• Evaluates agency procedures for intake, caseload distribution, case file organization, or other operational issues; develops new procedures to improve client service and timely/accurate processing of applications.

• Performs the duties of Supervisor in absence of same or as assigned.

• Processes applications for financial assistance, medical assistance, and food stamps; evaluates applications for completeness, appropriateness of programs, and need for special processing.

• Interviews applicants and explains scope of various benefit programs available through the department; explains rights and responsibilities to applicants.

• Secures and verifies financial, social and employment data from applicants; assists applicants in completing required forms as necessary; evaluates information received from applicants for consistency, accuracy, and completeness.

• Maintains contact with clients regarding case information, status, or related activities; receives inquiries and provides information based on knowledge of benefit programs, or refers to appropriate personnel.

• Plans, organizes, and manages assigned caseload; establishes prioritizes and schedules appointments.

• Distributes notices and other information to advise clients of results of eligibility determination.

• Enters information into various computer systems to issue benefits.

• Prepares forms and documentation needed to evaluate and process cases; documents information received during interviews, during telephone conversations, or from outside sources such as medical providers, employers, or other agencies; reviews client information, conducts research, or analyzes records for periodic review of clients' eligibility status and/or re-evaluation of applications.

• Identifies needs of clients; completes mathematical computations to determine eligibility; determines amount and type of assistance clients may be eligible/ineligible to receive; explores other possible sources of income for applicants; refers clients to other programs or ancillary agencies as appropriate.

• Performs follow-up on telephone calls, inquiries, or complaints from clients or other sources; follows up on case alerts to complete changes necessary to determine ongoing eligibility.

• Applies general policy, rules, and regulations pertaining to respective benefit programs to specific case situations; researches policy as needed.

• Recognizes discrepancies, conflicts or inconsistencies in client information/history; identifies potential cases of fraud; makes appropriate referrals/contacts to report potential fraud; testifies in court regarding fraud cases.

• Compiles appeal cases with information necessary to determine whether assistance was denied or terminated in error.

• Maintains current information from various sources; performs research for completion of periodic reports; compiles and organizes data for analysis.

• Tracks benefits received in Virginia or in other states.

• Schedules appointments to complete renewals on a timely basis; interviews transfer-in cases to determine ongoing eligibility.

• Prepares or completes various forms, reports,…