Income Maintenance Caseworker I

Purpose of the position:

The purpose of this position is to ensure all eligible individuals receive timely public assistance benefits by determining eligibility of Buncombe County residents applying for public assistance within a single Income Maintenance program.

Minimum Education Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Associates degree in Human Services Technology Social Services Paralegal Technology Business Administration Secretarial Science or a closely related curriculum and one (1) year of paraprofessional clerical or other public contact experience which included negotiating interviewing explaining information gathering and compiling of data analysis of data and/or performance of mathematical or legal tasks; or graduation from high school and two (2) years of paraprofessional clerical or other public contact experience which included negotiating interviewing explaining information gathering and compiling of data analysis of data and/or performance of mathematical or legal tasks; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Additional Training and Experience: English/Spanish bi-lingual speakers preferred.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Determine client eligibility for benefits accurately and within Federal and State mandated time frames.
• Gather and interpret client data and perform case file reviews.
• Provide information to clients/applicants regarding programs services and eligibility requirements and outcomes.
• Review client applications verifying the information obtained and determining eligibility.
• Document findings and maintain up to date records of all cases.
• Complete scheduled client re-certification for eligibility.
• Explain public assistance program requirements and options to client/applicant.
• Refer client/applicant to other program services as appropriate.
• Acquire and maintain knowledge of Health and Human Services in order to serve customers within an integrated model.
• Adhere to all program mandates and stay current with program policy.
• Identify cases for investigation of potential fraud and submit appropriate fraud referral documentation.
• Assist in local and state hearings process as necessary.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Proficiency in working with a variety of computer systems and software.
• Considerable knowledge of agency and community programs and services which could affect the client/applicant.
• Ability to maintain a satisfactory working relationship with applicants and others contacted within the course of performing the work.
• Ability to willingly accept work direction from multiple parties and work as part of a team.
• Ability to analyze comprehend and apply rules and regulations and often changing policies and guidelines pertaining to eligibility programs.
• Ability to conduct interviews and interpret agency policies and procedures to people of varied social economic and educational backgrounds to obtain data for documentation and verification of information needed in determining eligibility detect need for other agency services and make appropriate referrals to the service staff.
• Ability to work with facts and figures and perform tasks involving a high degree of accuracy learn the intricacies of numerous forms and procedures of the public assistance programs.
• Ability to set priorities and organize.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture one that fully engages all of our employees honoring and building on each employees unique experiences opinions and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race natural hair or hairstyles ethnicity creed color sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin or ancestry marital or familial status pregnancy veteran status religious belief or non-belief age or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment hiring assignment promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected addition the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.