Economic Support Specialist

Determines eligibility and provides ongoing case management for Polk County/Great Rivers Income Maintenance Consortium in a timely and accurate manner for the following public assistance programs: Medical Assistance, BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare/SNAP (Food Stamps), Caretaker Supplement (CTS), and the Wisconsin Shares Child Care subsidies. These duties represent the typical duties and responsibilities assigned to this position but may not be inclusive of all tasks performed. Written and Verbal Communication Skills Conducts intensive investigative interviews to obtain and evaluate financial and non-financial information in order to determine eligibility for assistance Researches, interprets and applies federal, state, and local policies governing eligibility, legal rights, and responsibilities of applicants Determines correct public assistance benefits through direct client contact via office interview, home visits, and telephone in compliance with required state and federal time frames Superior Customer Service and Community Relation Answers phones in a Call Center setting; provides case management duties; answers questions, provides case status updates, processes changes; troubleshoots problems, responds to emergency needs, re-determines eligibility and processes verifications Manually determines eligibility for specific programs that are not automated or when system is unavailable Creates manual notices of determination Records, maintains, reviews and regularly corrects benefit levels and other documentation regarding applicants, using CARES and CARES Worker Web systems Leveraging Technology Obtains and verifies third-party information needed to determine eligibility Interpersonal Relations Works in collaboration with various agencies and support services; verifies appropriate levels of benefits and/or services Accountability Authorizes monetary benefits in childcare authorizations, FoodShare, fees for service and capitation rates for medical assistance and BadgerCare Plus, and authorizes payment for caretaker supplement on social security income. Identifies risk factors such as AODA, domestic abuse, disabilities, or suspected child/elder abuse and reports to appropriate services Data Gathering and Analysis Responds to financial and non-financial cross matches and alerts Prepares Fraud and Program Integrity referrals Recalculates benefits Provides testimony at administrative hearings and in court Assesses individual and family needs Arranges for additional benefits or services within the department; makes referrals to other agencies and community support services Integrity/Honesty Attends ongoing trainings regarding changes in the federal and state regulations and technical advancements Supervisory Responsibilities: None Education/Experience/Knowledge Associate’s Degree in a Human Services-related field, Public/Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, or Communication Two (2) years of experience dealing with the general public in a position requiring the utilization of investigative interviewing techniques or provision of employment and training-related services OR Two (2) years of experience determining eligibility for public assistance programs to include income maintenance and/or childcare assistance within the last 5 years may be s ubstituted for the required education Minimum Skills Assessment Requirements Skills and abilities may be evaluated through various standardized pre-employment assessment tools. Satisfactorily completes New Worker Training provided by DHS Certificates/Licenses/Registrations Valid driver’s license or access to transportation. Occasionally required to travel for educational opportunities or to work with staff at various satellite offices or other campus locations. EEO Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. ADA Statement (Reasonable Accommodations): We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process, please contact Human Resources at hrinfo@polkcountywi.gov