Career summary

Details for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs


Description

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

Tasks

  • Answer applicants' questions about benefits and claim procedures.
  • Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
  • Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights.
  • Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.
  • Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.
  • Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications.
  • Check with employers or other references to verify answers and obtain further information.
  • Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
  • Schedule benefits claimants for adjudication interviews to address questions of eligibility.
  • Prepare applications and forms for applicants for such purposes as school enrollment, employment, and medical services.
  • Refer applicants to job openings or to interviews with other staff, in accordance with administrative guidelines or office procedures.
  • Provide social workers with pertinent information gathered during applicant interviews.
  • Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
  • Monitor the payments of benefits throughout the duration of a claim.
  • Provide applicants with assistance in completing application forms, such as those for job referrals or unemployment compensation claims.
  • Investigate claimants for the possibility of fraud or abuse.
  • Conduct annual, interim, and special housing reviews and home visits to ensure conformance to regulations.

Interests

  • Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Knowledge

  • Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Education and Training -Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Psychology -Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Computers and Electronics -Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • 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.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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