Determine eligibility for all or multiple categories of Public Assistance programs, (i.e., interviews applicants, accepts and/or requests documentation, data enters information, inquiries into all program systems and data exchange systems, makes appropriate referrals, notifies re: rights & responsibilities, reviews budgets, authorizes or denies benefits, provides appropriate notices regarding eligibility, etc.), maintains and processes all aspects of the public assistance eligibility.  Maintains case record.  Maintains confidentiality.  Accepts telephone calls and answers routine inquiries (e.g., answers questions regarding assistance programs).  Makes appropriate referrals to specialized units and/or other agencies.  Cooperates and collaborates with all other internal units to better serve customers.  Communicates with all community resource agencies within the guidelines of Public Assistance confidentiality.  Prepares responses to Quality Assurance findings and appeals summaries and other required forms.  Represents agency at county conferences and state hearings.  Gathers information concerning over/underpayments and adjusts cases records, eligibility, etc., as needed and, if needed, makes referrals for suspected program fraud.  Testifies in county conferences and state hearings regarding public assistance cases.

Note:  the intake function (i.e., new applicant or applicant not currently receiving assistance, which excludes all ongoing assistance, reapplications, redeterminations), must be performed at least 20% or more of the time in this classification.

Attends training sessions, meetings, and conferences.  All other duties as assigned by Supervisor and/or Director.

Knowledge of: budgeting, human relations, agency policies & procedures, interviewing, Public Assistance rules & regulations, human resource relations, human relations, office practices & procedures, agency policies & procedures, program rules/regulations, government structure & process, law (re: confidentiality & public records, Public Assistance Programs (e.g.: SNAP, CASH, TANF, MEDICAID, etc.,), counseling, interviewing Skills in: typing, proficient use of personal computer programs (e.g.:  WORD, Excel, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Yahoo, Google, etc.), proficiency in State network programs (e.g.: CRIS-E, Novell, GroupWise, OB, etc), office equipment use (e.g.: phone, calculate, copier, fax, etc.);  Ability to: recognize unusual or threatening conditions & take appropriate action, carry out instructions in written, oral or picture form, deal with problems involving several variables in familiar context, apply principles to solve practical, everyday problems,  define problems, collect data, establish facts & draw valid conclusions, calculate fractions, decimals & percentages,  complete routine forms, maintain accurate records, originate routine business letters reflecting standard procedures, understands manuals & verbal instructions, technical in nature, use proper research methods in gathering data, gather, collate & classify information about data, people, or things, cooperate with coworkers on group projects,  handle sensitive inquiries from & contacts with officials & general public, develop good rapport with customers, handle as well as adapt to change, (i.e., constant change in program, systems, situations, etc.), define problems, collect data, establish facts & draw valid conclusions, recognize unusual or threatening conditions & take appropriate action, carry out written or oral instructions, deal with problems involving several variables in unfamiliar context, define problems, collect data, establish facts & draw valid conclusions, complete routine forms, maintain accurate records,  use research methods in gathering data, answer complex tel