State of Connecticut Executive Branch

Eligibility Services Specialist (7168SH)

$31.97-$39.91 Hourly / $2,556.82-$3,192.65 BiWeekly /
$66,733.00-$83,328.00 Yearly

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Children and Families and Social Services this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor and policy specialist in the provision of eligibility services to clients of the department's various assistance programs and may provide a broad range of client services and economic support aimed at maintaining or achieving a client's full potential for self-direction, self reliance and independent living.

GUIDELINES FOR JOB CLASS USE

This is an advanced working level class. Incumbents may serve as a working supervisor of lower level staff providing eligibility services to agency clients, and/or may provide specialized client services designed to foster client independence within designated client programs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives general direction from an Eligibility Services Supervisor or other employee of higher grade.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Leads Eligibility Services Workers and other staff as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; 
  • Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; 
  • Establishes and maintains unit procedures; 
  • Provides staff training and assistance including monitoring and assessing current and projected needs; 
  • Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; 
  • Acts as liaison with operating units, agencies and outside officials such as third party providers, social services agencies and attorneys regarding unit policies and procedures; 
  • Provides technical and procedural support to staff;
  • Acts as liaison with Eligibility Services Supervisor concerning unit training needs, practical program implementation problems and effectiveness of unit workflow procedures; 
  • Acts as unit policy specialist in difficult, unusual and/or complex case resolution; 
  • Facilitates the resolution of systems and data problems; 
  • Provides eligibility services and/or vocational services to clients assigned to individual caseload; 
  • Conducts in-depth interviews with applicants experiencing difficulty in meeting program eligibility requirements; 
  • Evaluates clients' financial needs and stabilizes economic situation by providing necessary assistance and services; 
  • Periodically reviews eligibility to ensure correct benefits level; 
  • Conducts comprehensive social services assessment to identify potential barriers to employability; 
  • Provides necessary eligibility, employment and supportive services to reduce barriers and promote self sufficiency;
  • Monitors client progress with employability plan and takes appropriate actions including conciliation and/or sanctioning;
  • May make recommendations on policies or standards; 
  • May prepare reports and correspondence;  
  • May provide client orientation to agency programs and support services;
  • May be responsible for agency components of client Independence Plans;  
  • May make presentations within agency and/or community; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of 
    • and ability to interpret and apply relevant agency policies and procedures; 
    • and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
    • available community support and social services resources; 
    • common individual and/or family financial practices and investments; 
    • Eligibility Management System; 
  • Knowledge of 
    • counseling and interviewing techniques; 
    • employment problems of economically disadvantaged and issues which are barriers to employment; 
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
    • interviewing skills; 
    • problem solving skills; 
  • Ability to maintain client records and prepare reports; 
  • Training ability
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience in the determination of client eligibility for public assistance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the level of an Eligibility Services Worker.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in a closely related area may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

JOB CLASS DESIGNATION

Classified/Competitive

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP

(33)-Social Services

BARGAINING UNIT

(12)-SOCIAL SERV (P-2)

EEO

(2)-Professional

SALARY INFORMATION

SH 20

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Eligibility Services Specialist in Salary Group SH 20 approved effective July 31, 2009. (Revised to add Acknowledgement section and modify content) Final No. 23-008

EFFECTIVE DATE

01/09/2023
CLASS: 7168SH; EST: 1/12/1979; REV: 2/1/2023;