INCOME MAINTENANCE CASEWORKER III - 40008456

Durham County Government is home to over 2,000 dedicated professionals working together to deliver essential services that strengthen and support our vibrant, diverse community. As the heart of a fast-growing region, we offer meaningful careers across a wide range of fields—giving you the opportunity to make a real impact where you live, work, grow, and play.

About the role

Employees in this class are responsible for serving in maintenance roles in the County Department of Social Services. The income maintenance programs involved include Food Stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Medicaid, and County Special Assistance. Employees serve in one of the following roles:

• As lead worker over II level income maintenance caseworkers or as lead worker over a unit of a single program area which performs all functions (i.e., intake, processing, and review). Work may also include performing the same eligibility determination functions as the Income Maintenance Caseworker I and/or II. Employees are required to spend at least 25 percent of their time in a lead worker capacity.
• Performing a wide range of tasks in the eligibility determination/redetermination process which require an in-depth knowledge of all income maintenance programs and functional processes. Work also involves resolving client appeals of actions taken by income maintenance caseworkers, analyzing program-wide problem areas including recommendations for corrective action, and training new and transitional employees for specialized programs (i.e., LIEAP).
• Functioning with a great deal of independence in a hospital or medical setting with responsibility for performing a variety of complex tasks and functions in the Medicaid programs, including performing two or more functions in the long-term care programs. Employees assume responsibility for resolving complex problems where the consequence of their action can have a considerable effect on the client, the medical institution, and/or the agency. Employees are viewed by the medical institution's administrative staff as the primary contact for problem resolution.

This position will investigate referrals of possible over issuances in the public assistance programs administered by Durham County Department of Social Services. The investigator will research the department’s records, gather evidence, and apply appropriate policy to determine if an over issuance occurred, what program(s) were involved, the amount over issued, and who is responsible. If the suspected over issuance was the result of an Intentional Program Violation, the investigator will prepare and present evidence to a local hearing officer, represent the county DSS, and testify during a hearing.

Responsibilities

The functions listed below represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

• As lead worker over II level income maintenance caseworkers, employees must be thoroughly familiar with all functional aspects required to properly process applications of clients applying for benefits. Employees must advise and counsel lower-level staff on policies and regulations of the income maintenance program(s) affecting more complex cases, provide training on new program policy directives, and complete second-party reviews in the assigned work unit.
• As a troubleshooter in a large agency, employees must demonstrate a high level of program and procedural knowledge to work effectively in any line staff position, including all income maintenance programs and functions. Employees act as a hearing officer in resolving client appeals, analyze program-wide problem areas, and provide recommendations for corrective action. Work also includes training new and transitional employees.
• As a hospital/medical setting worker, employees determine and/or redetermine client eligibility for Medicaid programs, with particular expertise in Medicaid long-term care programs. Work includes processing client applications for all other income maintenance programs and providing technical expertise to hospital administrators and professional staff on issues impacting client eligibility for medical assistance.

Requirements

• Two years of experience as an Income Maintenance Caseworker; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Experience as an Income Maintenance Caseworker or Social Worker within a means-tested public assistance program such as Medicaid, Work First, Child Care Subsidy, Emergency Assistance, or Food and Nutrition Services.
• Considerable knowledge of NC FAST and Social Service programs.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Ability to research, analyze, and interpret automated system problems.
• Ability to communicate with clients/applicants, the public, and public officials to obtain data and explain rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Ability to perform caseworker functions within structured time frames.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks.
• Considerable knowledge of all agency and community programs and services that could affect the client/applicant.
• General knowledge of all income maintenance programs.
• Ability to make decisions based on evidence and applicable policy.
• Good mathematical reasoning and computational skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret a variety of regulations, policies, and procedures of varying complexity.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize work.
• Ability to instruct and evaluate the work of lower-level employees.
• Ability to train employees in new and existing rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of experience as an Income Maintenance Caseworker.
• Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Bilingual skills.
• Associate’s degree in accounting, business administration, human services, secretarial science, or a closely related field, and at least two years of paraprofessional, clerical, or other public contact experience which includes negotiating, interviewing, obtaining, analyzing, and/or evaluating data.
• High school diploma and at least five years of paraprofessional, clerical, or other public contact experience which includes negotiating, interviewing, obtaining, analyzing, and/or evaluating data.

Pay

Hiring range: $49,262.00 - $66,474.00. This position is eligible for a tiered $4,000.00 critical position bonus.

This position may be subject to a background check, which could include criminal history (employment-related and/or SBI fingerprint-based), credit history, motor vehicle records, educational verification, and checks of the sexual offender registry, depending on the specific requirements of the role. A conviction record does not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment consideration unless otherwise required by applicable state law.