Job Description

Posting number: 2026-00228

Department: Social Services

Job classification: Eligibility Specialist I-Merit Systems

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community and Social Services

Summary

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Click here to learn more about the Social Services Department.

Click here to learn more about Tehama County!

At the Department of Social Services we strive to partner with our community to assist, empower and protect those we serve. We foster an agency culture that supports family life and encourages fun filled activities and agency committees. This is more than an invitation, it’s a commitment to offer opportunities for personal and professional growth to everyone! We ask people to grow with us and make the agency even better.

SALARY (A-E Steps)

Eligibility Specialist I: $19.51 - $23.72 Hourly/$1,560.80- $1,897.60 Bi-Weekly

Eligibility Specialist II: $21.54 - $26.18 Hourly/$1,723.20- $2,094.40 Bi-Weekly

Bilingual Incentive! - Candidates who are certified Spanish bilingual are eligible for a 7.5% bilingual stipend.

The Perfect Match: Will have a strong emphasis on continuous quality improvement; strong work ethic and ability to prioritize assigned work tasks and follow through in a timely manner; excellent listening and strong written and verbal communication skills; excellent customer service skills and initiative; solution based problem solving skills; experience in maintaining cooperative relations and communications with customers, management, and staff; ability to maintain a high standard of professionalism; proficiency in MS Office suite as well as basic knowledge of software and database programs.

The Eligibility Specialist classifications determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; maintain current knowledge of program regulations and procedures necessary for multi-program caseload administration; initiate and process casework through automated systems; identify needs and make appropriate referrals for health, social, and/or employment services; and perform related work as required.

What Will You Do: Determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; maintain current knowledge of program regulations and procedures necessary for multi-program caseload administration; initiate and process casework through automated systems; identify needs and make appropriate referrals for health, social, and/or employment services; and perform related work as required. An Eligibility Specialist is not responsible for working with clients to attempt to resolve their personal or social problems, they are responsible to verify and grant eligibility for public assistance. It is important to understand that the actions you take as an Eligibility Specialist affect the lives of clients and their families.

Examples of duties

As An Eligibility Specialist I/II, You Will Have the Opportunity To:

• Perform interactive interviews to elicit eligibility information, obtain and/or verify financial, employment, tax and personal demographic information and determine eligibility for public assistance programs and services.
• Analyze financial and eligibility information to determine initial or continuing eligibility for multiple aid programs.
• Explain regulations, rules and policies to clients and apprise them of their rights, responsibilities and eligibility for participation in various public assistance programs and service; ensure accuracy and completion of application and declaration forms.
• Resolve discrepancies by securing documentation, medical records and confirmation from other agencies.
• Enter and retrieve numerical and narrative data and issue benefits from an automated computer system; determine the level of benefits to which the client is entitled by making complex computations and/or computer entries and then analyzing the results.
• Identify suspected fraud and make referrals for investigation; prepares correspondence and reports.

Controversial Issues: Eligibility Specialist’s may be required to take actions that conflict with your own values. An Eligibility Specialist must be able to accept customers' differences and interact with them in a non-judgmental manner.

• Bilingual Candidates: Translates, interprets and otherwise communicates with members of the Spanish speaking community.

Click the job title for full job description: Eligibility Specialist I | Eligibility Specialist II

Qualifications

Eligibility Specialist I:

Pattern 1: One year full-time experience in an Eligibility Specialist Trainee classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county;

OR

Pattern 2: One (1) year of full-time experience determining eligibility for health programs, loans, financial assistance, unemployment, or other benefits and two (2) years of clerical work involving public contact;

OR

Pattern 3: Two (2) years of full-time experience determining eligibility for health programs, loans, financial assistance, unemployment, or other benefits;

OR

Pattern 4: Four (4) years of full-time clerical work involving public contact, interviewing, math computations, completion of forms or eliciting information from the public;

OR

Pattern 5: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.

Eligibility Specialist II:

Pattern 1: One (1) year full time experience in an Eligibility Specialist I classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) County;

OR

Pattern 2: Two (2) years of full time experience determining eligibility for public assistance programs in a public human services agency.

*Qualifying experience or education may be combined in order to meet the above requirements. When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and a half (22.5) quarter units equals six months of experience.

License & Special Requirements:

• A valid Class C California driver’s license or alternative form of transportation may be required for some positions at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

BILINGUAL CANDIDATES:

• Must pass a written and/or oral bilingual proficiency test to qualify.

Supplemental information

The department is currently recruiting for multiple vacancies.

In addition, Tehama County is establishing an eligibility list to fill future vacancies for an Eligibility Specialist I/II or an Eligibility Specialist I/II - Bilingual, as well as subsequent vacancies, which occur during the life of the eligibility list.

New employees should anticipate being hired at the beginning step of the salary range. Candidates who exceed entry level qualifications may be considered, with approval from the Board of Supervisors, for placement at other than A step.

Please submit ALL required documents when applying such as, copies of all required degrees and/or certifications as outlined in the job description. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Interviews are tentatively scheduled for November 20, 2026.

*Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview.

To learn more about Tehama County's Recruitment & Selection process, please click here.

For questions about this recruitment contact:

Kara Stout | 530-528-4095 | kstout@tcdss.org

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of background, fingerprinting, drug test and physical examination provided by the County.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER / AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANT / VETERANS' PREFERENCE POLICY / DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE