SNAP Eligibility Interviewer

About the role

The Department of Social Services (DSS) comprises the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA fights poverty and income inequality by providing essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS works to prevent and address homelessness, helping families and individuals exit shelter and achieve self‑sufficiency. The Family Independence Administration (FIA) operates HRA’s Job and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Centers, administering Cash Assistance, SNAP benefits, and medical assistance for those receiving Cash Assistance. FIA helps clients reach maximum self‑sufficiency and overcome barriers to employment. As an Eligibility Specialist Level II (SNAP Eligibility Interviewer) you will work at one of the Fulton (2400 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY), Long Island City (32‑20 Northern Boulevard, LIC, NY), or Halsey (2500 Halsey Street, Bronx, NY) locations to determine eligibility, advise applicants, compute benefits, review documentation, recommend changes, and prepare eligibility forms. This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55‑a Program; interested applicants should indicate this on their resume and cover letter. As a prospective City employee, you may be eligible for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness and state repayment assistance programs.

Responsibilities

• Determine and verify initial and ongoing applicant/client eligibility for SNAP benefits through interviews.
• Instruct and advise applicants/participants on proper procedures and appropriate forms to utilize.
• Compute and determine the amount of financial assistance for SNAP benefits by reviewing, obtaining, and verifying pertinent data for proper disbursement.
• Receive and review documents submitted by applicants/participants to ensure compliance with agency guidelines and procedures to determine eligibility.
• Recommend statistical/financial changes by reviewing and comparing actual payment files with information provided by clients to ensure agency eligibility requirements are met.
• Prepare eligibility forms through received data, verification of accuracy, and review of authorization to initiate appropriate service.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Applicants must be permanent in the Eligibility Specialist title or be permanent in a comparable title eligible for a 6.1.9 title change. If hired provisionally in this title, you must take and pass the civil service exam when it becomes available to be eligible for continued employment. New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment; after two continuous years of City service, residency may be permitted in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County.

Qualifications

• Completion of 30 semester credits at an accredited college or university; OR
• A four‑year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and one year of full‑time satisfactory experience in one or more of the following areas: interviewing, gathering information, preparing documentation for eligibility recommendations (public assistance, unemployment, health benefits, social