Job Description

Salary: $27.71 Hourly
Location : Social Services Department, 809 Elm Street, Alexandria, MN 56308, MN
Job Type: Full Time - Regular - 37.5 hrs/wk
Job Number: 10607:9/17/2026
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 09/17/2026
Closing Date: 10/19/2026 4:30 PM Central


Job Description
The first review of applications will be on October 2, 2026.

The first round of interviews will be held the week of October 5, 2026.
JOB TITLE: Eligibility Worker DEPARTMENT: Social Services STATUS: Full Time; 37.5 hrs/wk; Generally, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
STARTING SALARY: The starting salary is $54,035 annually ($27.71/hr) based on the current pay grid.
**Receive anniversary step increases. In addition, receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
JOB OBJECTIVES:
The Eligibility Worker under general supervision is responsible for performing a wide variety of tasks related to the determination of eligibility of clients for income maintenance programs and services, establishing initial and ongoing eligibility for multiple income maintenance programs; effectively communicating complex program requirements, and assisting program participants in understanding the criteria of each type of assistance; adapt to continuous policy updates, new system errors, legislative changes, and limited system functionality, support program participants in achieving the highest degree of independence and addressing barriers to self-sufficiency; provide education, enrollment, and assistance to managed health care enrollees, make appropriate referrals to other community resources; and perform related work as assigned.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of those specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

• Interviews clients to determine potential eligibility for available programs and expedited services, obtain necessary factual information and verify information received.
• Provide information to educate individuals or groups about types of available programs, services, and resources to the public via telephone, mail, walk-ins, and presentations.
• Provide guidance on how to apply for programs, the application process, and necessary documentation.
• Assist clients with completing applications including utilizing the Language Line for interpretive services.
• Screen applications to determine which programs clients may potentially be eligible for based on their current needs. Request or forward applications and cases to other agencies if necessary.
• Provide specific program rules and eligibility criteria.
• Be knowledgeable of community resources to make appropriate client referrals.
• Refer clients to other programs of assistance in agency and community.
• Evaluate applications and verify the information for program eligibility and needed documentation.
• Determine and approve eligibility for accurate benefits based on client information and verifications following state and federal guidelines; applications must be processed within program timelines.
• Accurately enter case information into computer programs.
• Re-determine eligibility for benefits per program guidelines or depending on client's change in income or status; suspend or close cases as necessary based on program eligibility.
• Evaluate and determine cost-effective health insurance payments and make updates to the computer program.
• Conduct continuous tracking of cases relating to client household changes, pending applications, retroactive coverage, time exemptions for certain programs, and any other factors which would affect eligibility for programs.
• Determine overpayments for all programs if applicable and report possible fraud cases to Fraud Prevention Investigator.
• Complete ongoing training (online, unit meetings, conferences) and provide training to new EW staff.
• Perform peer case reviews to maintain the accuracy of cases.
• Assist law enforcement, fraud investigators, and the county attorney's office in the preliminary investigation, and preparing cases for prosecution.
• Prepare county cases for appeal hearings and participate in appeal hearings or provide testimony in court as needed.
• Provides input to assist Supervisors in developing procedures for program areas that are left to the discretion of the county agency.
• Provide orientation, training, and ongoing system and program support to both new and experienced workers for each specifically assigned caseload.
• Provide backup caseload coverage for absent staff.
• Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment.
• Reliable, predictable attendance and punctuality.
• Other duties, as assigned or apparent.

Access to Not Public Data

In this job, you may come across private or confidential information about people we serve. This data is protected by law and should only be viewed or used when it's truly needed for your work. You are expected to only look at private data when your job duties require it. Keep it secure and make sure others who don't need to see it don't have access, stop accessing the data once your task is done, and store or dispose of it properly, following the rules in Minnesota's Data Practices Act (Chapter 13). If your job duties change and you need access to different private data, that access should also be limited to only what you need to do your job.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT HIRE :

Education and Experience:

High School Diploma or equivalent. Two years of study at an accredited two-or four-year college or university or similar institution, with an emphasis in the behavioral sciences, business, or closely related subjects (at least 23-quarter credits or 16-semester credits); or


Successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker certificate program will substitute for one year of the required clerical experience working with the public; or


Three years of clerical experience or experience working with the public or some combination of the two, totaling three years; or


Two years of clerical experience in a Social Service/Human Services agency.
Licenses and Other Requirements:

Currently possess a valid Class D, Minnesota State Driver's License, or the ability to obtain upon start of employment.

REQUIRED MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES AT HIRE :

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, the public, co-workers, and agency administration.
• Ability to communicate effectively, in both written and verbal form, with a culturally diverse clientele.
• Data entry and keyboarding.
• Accurately and rapidly process detailed information.
• Establish and maintain accurate and systematic records.
• Ability to manage multiple interruptions and be responsible for the time management of caseload.
• Troubleshoot and determine system problems vs. human error regarding the computer systems.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, make decisions, and work independently under stress.

PREFERRED / DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education
See minimum qualifications.

Experience
Knowledge of agency programs, operations, policies, and procedures. Knowledge of available community resources.

PREFERRED / DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES :
Knowledge of:

• Office procedures, practices, equipment, and software programs; interviewing techniques and skills in conducting interviews; Income Maintenance program rules, regulations, benefits, and methods of determining eligibility; Local, state, and federal policies; other sources of financial support including Social Security, unemployment insurance, veteran's benefits, worker's compensation, and disability insurance/pension programs; basic principles of foster care, child and adult protection criteria, and a general understanding of mental and physical illness and human behavior; community resources such as emergency housing, food, Social Services, and diversionary assistance programs; real and personal property, estate and ownership laws, and their relationships to public assistance program eligibility.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, public, co-workers, and agency administration; effectively explain income maintenance programs and procedures to recipients who are distraught; handle frequent procedural changes and client personal and financial crises; organize work, set priorities, make decisions, and work independently under stress; be objective/non-judgmental; accurately and rapidly process detailed information; establish and maintain accurate and systematic records; express ideas clearly and be able to comprehend and follow complex written and verbal instructions; interpret legal documents, personal and self-employment tax documents, complex rules, and manual materials and bulletins as they apply to income maintenance programs; troubleshoot and determine system problems vs. human error in regard to the computer systems.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Public building. Office setting.

HOURS
Generally, Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
37.5 hours per week.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS CAN INVOLVE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Amount Lifted:
Amount Lifted Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Amount Lifted 11 to 101+ lbs.: Not Present
Amount Pushed or Pulled:
Amount Pushed or Pulled Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Amount Pushed or Pulled 11 to 101+ lbs.: Not Present
Vision:
Near Vision: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Far Vision: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Depth: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Field of Vision: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Color: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Contact With Others:
Works Alone: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Works with Others: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Works around Others: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Customer/Public Contact: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days
Clients with Behavior Challenges: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Communications:
Talking: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Hearing: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Reading: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Basic Body Positions:
Sitting: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Standing: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Walking/Moving About: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days
Climbing: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Balancing: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Crouching: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Kneeling: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Crawling: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Motor Skills:
Handling: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Grasping: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Using Fingers: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs.,18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Reaching: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Feeling: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days
Driving: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Exposures To:
Mechanical Equipment: Not Present
Electrical Equipment: Not Present
Pressurized Equipment: Not Present
Burning Material/Equip: Not Present
Explosive: Not Present
Radiant Energy: Not Present
Moving Equipment: Not Present
Heights: Not Present
Fumes/Odors: Not Present
Dirt/Dust: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days
Gases: Not Present


See also the Physical and Environmental Factors Form.
EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT USED
General Office Equipment: Telephones, Calculators, Printer, Copy, scan, fax machines, Computer, Dual monitors. Access to systems that can support ITV or web-based training. GPS when traveling for out-of-office training and meetings. County vehicles. Computer software and programs: Blue Zone (MAXIS, MMIS, PRISM), MNSure, METS, SIR, AS400, ISDS, Shared Master Index (SMI), Microsoft Word/Excel/Outlook Express, Adobe, and the Internet.


OTHER
The starting salary for this position is $54,035 annually ($27.71/hr).
*Receive anniversary step increases for earning potential of $69,186. ($35.48/hr). In addition, receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Benefit s: We also offer no-cost/low-cost health insurance plan options. Douglas County contributes to a Health Savings Account and a (PERA) pension plan. Become vested in as little as 3 years of employment for lifetime benefits upon retirement! Douglas County is also a qualified Employer for the Public Sector Loan Forgiveness Program.

Life Insurance - as a County employee, you will be covered by $40,000 of life insurance at no expense. Supplemental coverage is available for you, your spouse, and your dependents.

The official holidays for this Douglas County position are: *New Year's Day *Martin Luther King Jr Day *Presidents' Day *Memorial Day *Juneteenth *Fourth of July *Labor Day *Veterans' Day *Thanksgiving Day *Day after Thanksgiving (in place of Columbus Day) *Christmas Eve *Christmas Day *Personal Holiday.

Sick Leave/Earned Safe and Sick Time: An employee shall be credited with 1 day of sick leave for each month of service, accumulative to 90 days. The first 48 hours (or up to 80 hours if any eligible time was carried over) will be counted as ESST.
Vacations:
Employees will accrue vacation according to the following schedule:
0-4 years; 10 working days
5-9 years; 15 working days
10-14 years; 20 working days
15-19 years; 25 working days
Over 20 years; 30 working days
Supervision Received: Supervised by Financial Assistance Supervisor.
Supervision Exercised: None
Labor Group: Union- ASFCME
FLSA Status : Non-Exempt
Grade: 7
EEO Job Category: Administrative Support Workers
Work Comp Code : 8810

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.
Revised: updated 2025;2026;7/2026;9/2026
Douglas County offers an exceptional benefits package to full-time employees including vacation, sick, funeral leave, and holiday pay. Also included in this benefit package are health, dental, and life insurance; medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts (Section 125 Plan) and supplemental insurance; deferred compensation plan and Public Employees Retirement (PERA). For a more detailed overview of our benefits package,


Benefits may offered on a pro-rata basis or not offered for less than full-time employment.
01


INSTRUCTIONS:The responses you provide to these Supplemental Questions will be used in combination with your application to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements and/or your final score.1) DO NOT submit a resume in place of completing the Supplemental Questions. 2) DO NOT type "See Resume" as a response for any of the supplemental questions or on the employment application. 3) Thoroughly complete the Education and Work Experience sections of the application. 4) Give detailed descriptions of each position that you feel qualifies you for the job you are applying for. 5) Be sure to accurately report dates and hours worked per week.6) Concisely, briefly, and accurately complete the Supplemental Questions. 7) Be sure to cross reference where in your Education and Work Experience you learned your skills.8) Any information you submit may be verified. 9) Failure to provide detailed and complete information may result in your application being rejected or receiving a lower score.10) You must have a valid e-mail address to apply for jobs with the Douglas County. All communication regarding your application and status will be done by e-mail. If you do not have an e-mail address listed in your profile, you must include one before you submit and confirm your application.

• I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree with the above statements.

02


NOTE: There are several supplemental questions for this announcement. Be sure to save your answers to the supplemental questions about every 15 minutes, you will need to click on the 'Save Work In Progress' button. If it has been 30 minutes since you last saved, it will automatically log you off and you will lose all your answers for this section!

• Click here to proceed.

03


Which of the following best describes your highest level of education?

• High School Diploma/GED.
• Completed 1 year of post secondary education.
• Completed 2 years of post secondary education.
• Associates Degree.
• Bachelors Degree.
• Masters or higher.
• None of the above.

04


How do you meet the minimum qualifications of this position? Check all that you possess:

• Three (3) years of clerical experience and/or experience working with the public or some combination of the two, totaling three years.
• Two (2) years of clerical experience in a social services/human services agency.
• Two (2) years of study at an accredited two or four year college or university or similar institution, with an emphasis in the behavioral sciences business, or closely related subjects (at least 23 quarter credits or 16 semester credits).
• Successful completion of the technical college Human Services Eligibility Worker program (applicants must be within six months of completion of the program).
• None of the above.

05


Describe how your combination of education and experience relates to the duties of this job and the listed necessary skills and knowledge in the above question:
06


Do you currently possess a valid Class D Minnesota State Driver's license, or the ability to obtain upon start of employment?

• Yes
• No

07


How much FULL-TIME clerical experience and/or working with the public experience do you have where you served customers face-to-face or on the telephone?If you mark that you do have experience you must document this experience in the "Work Experience" section of your application. When calculating length of experience, convert part time work to full time work, and report only the full time equivalent. Example: 2 years working 20 hours/week would equivalent to working 1 year 40 hours/week.

• None.
• Less than 1 year.
• 1 year to less than 2 years.
• 2 years to less than 3 years.
• 3 years to less than 5 years.
• More than 5 years.

08


What best describes your proficiency with Microsoft Office?

• Beginner.
• Intermediate.
• Advanced.

09


Indicate below your paid work experience with computers, various software, and managing databases.If you mark that you do have experience you must document this experience in the "Work Experience" section of your application. When the calculating length of experience, convert part-time work to full-time work and report only the full-time equivalent. Example: 2 years working 20 hours/week would be equivalent to working 1 year of 40 hours/week.

• None.
• Less than 1 year.
• 1 year to less than 2 years.
• 2 years to less than 3 years.
• 3 years to less than 5 years.
• More than 5 years.

10


Describe below the details of your work experience as indicated in previous questions 7-9. If none, please type "None".
11


Indicate below your experience in conducting client interviews and assessments.If you mark that you do have the experience you must document this experience in the "Work Experience" section of your application. When calculating the length of experience, convert part-time work to full-time work, and report only the full-time equivalent. Example: 2 years working 20 hours/week would be equivalent to working 1 year working 40 hours/week.

• None.
• Less than 1 year.
• 1 year to less than 2 years.
• 2 years to less than 3 years.
• 3 years to less than 5 years.
• More than 5 years.

12


Describe below the details of your experience as indicated in the previous question. If, none, please type "None".
13


Do you have work experience working with the disabled and/or vulnerable population?

• Yes
• No

14


Do you have work experience with limited English proficiency individuals?

• Yes
• No

15


Do you have work experience working with difficult or uncooperative individuals/clients?

• Yes
• No

16


Do you have work experience interpreting and implementing policies?

• Yes
• No

17


Have you worked in the same or similar position with another agency, If you mark yes, you must document this experience in the Work Experience section of your application.

• Yes
• No

18


Please describe and/or provide examples of your experience with EDMS (Electronic Document Management System) for filing and managing casework.
19


OTHER QUALIFICATIONS: Describe any other special training you've completed or skills and experience you currently possess that you feel would make you the best qualified person for this position.
20


Why are you interested in the Eligibility Worker position with Douglas County Social Services?
21


Which of the following Veteran's Preference do you wish to claim (in order to receive Veteran's Preference credit, you must submit a copy of your DD214 to the Administrator's Office by the application deadline)?

• No Veteran's Preference.
• Veteran Preference.
• Veteran Preference with disability.
• Spouse of disabled or deceased Veteran.

Required Question

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Full time, Part time, Work experience placement, Self employment, Work at office, Local area, Monday to Friday

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