Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs

Also called: Authorization Specialist, Business Employment Specialist, Case Coordinator, Case Manager, Case Technician

Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs

Varies

estimated salary

Eligibility interviewers for government programs determine the eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.

  • Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights.
  • Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
  • Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
  • Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.
  • Answer applicants' questions about benefits and claim procedures.
  • Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications.
  • Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.
  • Check with employers or other references to verify answers and obtain further information.
  • Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
  • Schedule benefits claimants for adjudication interviews to address questions of eligibility.
  • Refer applicants to job openings or to interviews with other staff, in accordance with administrative guidelines or office procedures.
  • Investigate claimants for the possibility of fraud or abuse.
  • Monitor the payments of benefits throughout the duration of a claim.
  • Prepare applications and forms for applicants for such purposes as school enrollment, employment, and medical services.
  • Provide applicants with assistance in completing application forms, such as those for job referrals or unemployment compensation claims.
  • Conduct annual, interim, and special housing reviews and home visits to ensure conformance to regulations.
  • Provide social workers with pertinent information gathered during applicant interviews.
Work Context
  • Telephone — 85% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 84% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 78% responded "Every day".
  • Spend Time Sitting — 66% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • Electronic Mail — 86% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 64% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 80% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Refer customers to appropriate personnel.
  • Compile data or documentation.
  • Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
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Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical
  • Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
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Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation
  • Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Microsoft Dynamics Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Data entry software Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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