Career Overview
Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
Also Known As
- Eligibility Specialist
- Eligibility Worker
- Social Welfare Examiner (SWEX)
- Workforce Services Representative (WSR)
Alternate Job Titles
- Authorization Specialist
- Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician)
- Business and Employment Specialist
- Business Employment Specialist
- Case Coordinator
- Case Manager
- Case Technician (Case Tech)
- Cash Application Clerk
- Client Services Rep (Client Services Representative)
- Contact Agent
- Contact Officer
- Contact Rep (Contact Representative)
- Credentialing Specialist
- Disability Coordinator
- Disability Specialist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
- Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
- Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.
- Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications.
- Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
- Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights.
- Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Personnel and Human Resources
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Self-Control
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Zoom
Tools & Equipment
- Computer data input scanners
- Copy machines
- Electric typewriters
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multiline telephone systems
- Passenger vehicles
- Personal computers
- Portable calculators
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $37,690 |
| Median | $51,500 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $72,280 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 156,260
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $49,440
Human Resources Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $72,910
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $43,830
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $77,020
Social and Community Service Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $78,240
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.