Eligibility Worker

Isanti County – Cambridge, MN – Full-time, on-site

About the role

Performs work interviewing applicants to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for federal and state public assistance programs for county residents. Assists clients with inquiries, explains application procedures, maintains and updates accounts and computer systems, completes reports, and related work under the supervision of the Financial Assistance Supervisor.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (40 hours per week). Regular in-person attendance required.

Pay

Expected 2026 hiring range: $27.02 - $28.81 per hour ($56,201.60 - $59,924.80 annually), depending on qualifications, relevant experience, and internal equity. Full range: $27.02 – $34.91 per hour ($56,201.60 – $72,612.80 annually), with potential for additional longevity-based pay.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts for health and dependent care
• Life insurance (basic coverage plus optional voluntary coverage)
• Long-term disability insurance
• Paid Time Off, including vacation, sick, and personal leave
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation plans
• Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) contributions from both employer and employee
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Wellness Program

Responsibilities

• Assist the general public by phone, email, and in person; answer questions, provide information, and direct inquiries to appropriate resources.
• Explain application procedures to individuals or groups; interview and determine eligibility for income maintenance programs, emergency assistance, SNAP, cash programs, medical assistance, child care assistance, long-term care, IV-E and adoption assistance, group residential housing, and County burials.
• Obtain verifications and review various computer information systems; maintain and update ongoing eligibility and correct benefit amounts in client accounts.
• Complete and submit fraud referrals to the Welfare Fraud Investigator; determine overpayments; maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal and state regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED.
• Moderate experience assisting the general public with application and eligibility processes for assistance programs, explaining programs and forms, providing administrative support, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills

• Basic mathematics and office procedures.
• Federal and State policies and procedures relating to social services activities.
• Interviewing techniques and implementation of agency programs, operations, policies, and community resources (e.g., MAXIS, MMIS, MEC2, PRISM, ISDS, SIR, SMI).
• Federal and state regulations using the Combined Manual.
• Laws and rules pertaining to data privacy.
• Cash, SNAP, Medical Assistance, Child Care Assistance, Housing Support, Emergency Assistance, IV-E and Adoption Assistance programs, and related documents.
• Computer proficiency.
• Prioritize, organize, and coordinate job activities with deadlines.
• Work independently and accept supervision.
• Comprehend and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Adapt to continuous changes in policy and procedures.
• Manage, calculate, and distribute Emergency Assistance Funds.
• Adapt to continuous, stressful, and massive changes in federal and state programs.
• Prepare and gather proper information and documents for fraud referrals and appeal hearings.
• De-escalate aggressive and potentially aggressive clientele.
• Ensure safety of clients and co-workers while working with volatile clients.
• Make objective decisions.
• Navigate through MAXIS, MMIS, PRISM, METS, and MEC2 while processing detailed information accurately and rapidly.
• Establish and maintain accurate and systematic records; prepare reports from such records.
• Enforce policy.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, clients, community organizations, and the public.
• Maintain regular and timely work attendance.

Working Conditions

• Occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force.
• Regularly requires sitting, speaking, hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, and repetitive motions.
• Occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching with hands and arms, and pushing or pulling.
• Standard vision requirements; vocal communication required for exchanging ideas and conveying instructions.
• Hearing required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and receive detailed information through oral communications.
• Requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, light traffic).
• No exposure to environmental hazards.