ELIGIBILITY WORKER III

THE JOB: Under general supervision, determines initial eligibility and authorizes grant amount for CalWORKs, CalFresh, MediCal, General Assistance and/or Foster Care programs. Positions in this class are assigned on a continuing basis either to intake units, or to intake and ongoing functions for two or more assistance programs. Eligibility Worker III's assist applicants or recipients to complete the necessary applications, declarations, liens and other forms; interview applicants or recipients or their representatives to explain rights and obligations, explain public assistance programs, elicit pertinent social, personal and financial data necessary to determine eligibility and extent or amount of grant and benefits; conduct such interviews by phone, in County offices, private homes, hospitals, nursing homes and other locations; obtain eligibility and other case data from applicants' or recipients' guardians, representatives, social workers, probation officers, and others as appropriate; may process in person, online or mail-in applications; may provide vacation and other temporary relief for supervisors; and perform other duties as required. Incumbents may work in a Call Center environment.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: 

        One year of experience at a level equivalent to Eligibility Worker II in a California County system.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/CONDITIONS: License Requirements: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License or the employee must be able to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority. Background Investigation: Fingerprint check. Special Working Conditions: Exposure to: poison oak and insects in yards of clients while doing home visits; odors such as unwashed clients that smell of old alcohol and unwashed clothes; and potentially hostile clients. Other Special Requirements: Some positions require the use of a personal vehicle to travel from work site to work site or to make home visits; some positions require working evenings and/or weekends.

Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations applicable to public assistance programs; common community resources; and human motivation and behavior. Working knowledge of interactive interviewing techniques for obtaining factual information; basic functions and services provided by a public social service agency; principle sources of information necessary to establish eligibility under assigned programs; methods of organizing work; record keeping practices; employment and training programs serving low-income clients; and basic eligibility requirements for other assistance programs.

Ability to: Read, understand, explain and apply complex regulations and policies governing eligibility for public assistance programs; elicit information from clients through an interactive interview process; gather, record and evaluate information necessary for the determination of initial and continuing eligibility for public assistance programs; perform difficult clerical work involving application of mathematical skills and requiring accuracy and speed; apply coding and input procedures connected with the department's computerized record keeping system; effectively organize and process large volumes of transactions to meet frequent deadlines; budget time realistically and in accordance with the monthly work cycle; maintain systematic and accurate records; recognize problems requiring referral to social services staff; establish rapport with persons of differing ethnic and work independently and use initiative in investigating community resources and advocacy services; interpret and explain program regulations, obligations, procedures and other pertinent information on an individual basis, in person, or by telephone or in group settings to applicants, clients and the general public; make referrals to appropriate agencies and human service programs; represent the agency in a professional manner; speak and write clearly; and work cooperatively with other agency staff and as a team providing participant services.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE – 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years. Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT – Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County pays a portion of retirement contribution and participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
SDI – Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
EMPLOYEE CREDIT UNION – Offers systematic savings and low interest loans.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months, and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.  

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways: 1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.    

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.  

               NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.  

                                                         An Equal Opportunity Employer