County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under supervision, to determine eligibility and compute budgets for County employees and former County employees receiving or applying for public assistance; to review and compute budgets in compliance with fair hearings or in conformance with court decisions; to handle cases from the transfer desk which have not been assigned and process applications which cannot be assigned; to act as liaison between the Agency and the job market for G.A. clients; to work full-time in positions outstationed in another Agency, a noncounty facility, or a branch office located with no on-site supervision; and to perform related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Eligibility Technician III’s are specialist positions which require knowledge of eligibility requirements for all aid categories in both intake and district or specialized employee caseloads. Positions are located in the Employment Programs, in the Program Support Services Section, in an "outstationed" facility, and are assigned to the Employee Caseload of the department. Eligibility Technician III’s report to and receive direction from Supervising Eligibility Technicians, Supervising Appeals’ Officers, Section Supervisors or Program Specialists. Unlike Eligibility Technician II's, there is no caseload standard for the work performed by these Eligibility Technicians. Breakage Workers are required to produce at least one and one half times the volume of an Eligibility Technician II and be proficient in all aid categories. Breakage Workers are assigned to each Income Maintenance division. Outstationed positions with no on-site supervisor include Children's Hospital, Highland Hospital and the Livermore and Fremont Social Services offices.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

When assigned to the Employee caseloads:

1. Determines eligibility of County employees and former County employees for public assistance; completes application forms; takes sworn statements from persons on the accuracy of their applications for public assistance; explains the applicant's responsibilities; computes initial budgets and makes recommendations on granting assistance.

2. Initiates case records showing basis for public assistance eligibility; includes documents to verify eligibility factors and a summary of the findings from investigations made; maintains case records; prepares correspondence as required.

When assigned to the Program Support Section:

1. Reviews fair hearing decisions; reviews State/Federal correspondence relative to the disposition of relevant Court actions and assists in the interpretation of some; interviews clients; takes sworn statements from persons on the accuracy of their applications for public assistance; obtains documents to verify eligibility factors; contacts financial institutions, insurance companies, medical service providers, other agencies and allied parties to verify eligibility factors.

2. Computes complex budgets; completes financial documents; summarizes findings of investigations; prepares correspondence as required.

3. Completes state compliance or other statistical reports.

4. Corrects errors found by State Department of Benefit Payments in public assistance cases; corrects errors found as a result of case review in conjunction with Court directives; and notifies the assigned Eligibility Technician of future changes.

5. Provides information to Meds terminal operators regarding updates to State regulatory material.

When assigned to a Breakage Worker position:

1. Takes and processes applications for all aid categories; initiates case records; prepares correspondence; verifies eligibility factors; computes initial budgets and makes recommendations for granting or denying public assistance.

2. Explains the applicant's responsibilities.

3. Processes redetermination of eligibility; takes sworn statements.

4. Screens applicants for assistance to determine appropriate aid category.

5. May perform special assignments such as initial and ongoing eligibility determination for Adoption Assistance Program.

When assigned full time to an Outstationed position:

1. Takes and processes Medi-Cal applications (and companion Food Stamps when appropriate) for hospital clientele; verifies current medical coverage for applicants/recipients; works closely with insurance verifiers and billing and patient accounts staff; contacts patient's current Medi-Cal/Medicaid workers (in Alameda or other counties or states) to secure proof of Eligibility labels and/or other eligibility information; takes courtesy applications for out-of-county residents; screens persons for eligibility for other aid programs and refers persons to other sources of assistance.

2. Conducts one-on-one interviews with applicants and screens for all major aid categories of the Agency; reviews material for completeness; answers program questions for clientele/public; completes application forms; maintains accurate statistical reports; refers applicants to other sources of assistance as appropriate.

3. Provides daily Medi-Cal verification to hospital staff; provides liaison services between Health Care and Social Services Agencies.

When assigned to the Employment Program:

1. Conducts orientation to program requirements for groups of or individual applicant or recipient clients; on a group or individual basis, assigns or refers clients to program activities and schedules appointments as necessary; monitors client participational appointment or in program activities, including but not limited to reviewing attendance forms and job search forms and calling employers to validate client job search activities.

2. Reviews medical evaluations and discusses medical and other barriers to employability with clients; defers clients from participation when appropriate.

3. Performs good cause and/or willfulness determinations; identifies, gathers and evaluates related information from the case folder, the case-carrying E.T., the activity site and other sources as appropriate.

4. Authorizes transportation for issuance to clients, conducts interviews as needed, testifies at appeals when necessary, maintains documentation and statistics.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of one-year full-time experience in the class of Eligibility Technician II in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II

The equivalent of two years’ full-time experience in a position that required determining eligibility and computing budgets or public assistance at a level comparable to that of Eligibility Technician II in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

License: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license is required for most positions.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Eligibility requirements for all aid categories.
• Functions of public assistance agencies and the principles of income maintenance and public social services.
• Provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, the Social Security Act, and other pertinent legislation in the field of public welfare.

Abilities:

• Establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with the general public, other departments, and other groups and organizations.
• Analyzing and evaluating situations, reaching sound conclusions, and making appropriate recommendations.
• Working effectively with minimal supervision.
• Written communication.
• Oral communication.
• Entering and maintaining case records effectively.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

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BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.