Economic Support Specialist

Determines eligibility and provides ongoing case management for Polk County/Great Rivers Income Maintenance Consortium in a timely and accurate manner for the following public assistance programs: Medical Assistance BadgerCare Plus FoodShare/SNAP (Food Stamps) Caretaker Supplement (CTS) and the Wisconsin Shares Child Care subsidies.

Essential Duties: These duties represent the typical duties and responsibilities assigned to this position but may not be inclusive of all tasks performed.

Written and Verbal Communication Skills

• 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
• Manually determines eligibility for specific programs that are not automated or when system is unavailable
• Creates manual notices of determination
• Records maintains reviews and regularly corrects benefit levels and other documentation regarding applicants using CARES and CARES Worker Web systems

• Obtains and verifies third-party information needed to determine eligibility

• Works in collaboration with various agencies and support services; verifies appropriate levels of benefits and/or services

• Authorizes monetary benefits in child care authorizations FoodShare fees for service and capitation rates for medical assistance and BadgerCarePlus and authorizes payment for caretaker supplement on social security income.
• Identifies risk factors such as AODA domestic abuse disabilities or suspected child/elder abuse and reports to appropriate services

• Responds to financial and non-financial cross matches and alerts
• 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 services

• Attends ongoing trainings regarding changes in the federal and state regulations and technical advancements

Education/Experience/Knowledge:

• Associates Degree in a Human Services-related field Public/Business Administration Economics Accounting or Communication
• Two (2) years of experience dealing with the general public in a position requiring the utilization of investigative interviewing techniques or provision of employment and training-related services OR Two (2) years of experience determining eligibility for public assistance programs to include income maintenance and/or childcare assistance within the last 5 years may be substituted for the required education

• Skills and abilities may be evaluated through various standardized pre-employment assessment tools.
• Satisfactorily complete New Worker Training provided by DHS

Certificates/Licenses/Registrations
Valid drivers license or access to transportation. Occasionally required to travel for educational opportunities or to work with staff at various satellite offices or other campus locations.

EEO Statement:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation age marital status veteran status or disability status.

ADA Statement (Reasonable Accommodations):

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process please contact Human Resources at