Economic Support Specialist

The Economic Support Specialist serves individuals and families seeking public program assistance throughout the Great Rivers Consortium (involving 10 counties working together to assist clients with information and services).  Assesses client needs and determines eligibility for public assistance programs including FoodShare, Medicaid, Caretaker Supplement, Child Care Assistance, Elderly Blind Disabled Medicaid, Medicaid Purchase Plan, Long Term Care, Family Care/Waiver.  Answers calls in a Call Center setting.  Interviews customers and enters information into CARES computer system. Makes appropriate referrals for services to other agencies as deemed necessary. Responsibilities include case management and eligibility determination / maintenance in accordance with county, state and federal regulations. Starting salary dependent upon job-related education and experience. Position eligible for full-time telework after first twelve (12) months of employment. 

Essential Duties

The following duties are normal for this classification. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned:  

• Conducts intensive investigative interviews to obtain and evaluate financial and non-financial information in order to determine eligibility for assistance.
• Researches, interprets and applies federal, state, and local policies governing eligibility, legal rights, and responsibilities of applicants.
• Determines correct public assistance benefits through direct client contact via office interview, home visits, and telephone in compliance with required state and federal time frames.
• Answers phones in a Call Center setting; provides case management duties; answers questions, provides case status updates, processes changes; troubleshoots problems, responds to emergency needs; re-determines eligibility and processes verifications.
• Records, maintains, reviews, and regularly corrects benefit levels and other documentation regarding applicants, using Care Worker Web and CARES systems.
• Manually determines eligibility for specific programs that are not automated or when system is unavailable.
• Creates manual notices of determination.
• Obtains and verifies third-party information needed to determine eligibility.
• Review system database and cross match information for payments either paid out or received.  These payments may include but are not limited to: Child Support payments, Social Security income, wage match information and Unemployment Compensation benefits.
• Prepares Fraud and Program Integrity referrals.
• Recalculates benefits.
• Provides testimony at administrative hearings and in court.
• Assesses individual and family needs.
• Arranges for additional benefits or services within the department; makes referrals to other agencies and community support service.
• Authorizes monetary benefits in child care authorizations, FoodShare, fees for service and capitation rates for medical assistance and BadgerCare Plus; authorizes payment for caretaker supplement on social security income.
• Makes appropriate referrals for necessary services such as ADRC, Social Security, SSI, Child Support, Veterans Services, Judicare, Social Workers, and Job Service.
• Participates in ongoing training to keep informed of changes in State and Federal regulations and technical advancement.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level or as assigned.  
  
  *Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Minimum Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, with two years’ experience in an office setting; prefer two or more years of college or vocational/technical training in a financial or Human Services field or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skill and abilities. County will provide required state mandated Economic Support Specialist training upon hire.