INCOME MAINTENANCE WORKER

Code: 04924 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under supervision of an Income Maintenance Supervisor or other supervisor in a welfare board or agency, does the more complex, difficult field and office work involved in the collection, recording, analysis, and evaluation of facts for the purpose of determining applicant eligibility for public assistance; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Analyzes information provided for internal consistency among numerous applicant statements on an eligibility questionnaire.
• Interviews applicants to determine eligibility for public assistance in those cases where applicant statements appear to conflict with available supporting documents, where applicants are not cooperative, or where documentation is not available.
• Interprets and explains rules/regulations governing eligibility and grants, methods of payment, and legal rights of applicants or recipients.
• Records and evaluates personal/financial data obtained from applicant/recipient to determine initial or continuing eligibility according to department directives.
• Investigates complaints regarding eligibility for public assistance by focusing on the specific issue raised by the complainant and using special interviewing skills to elicit necessary information.
• Establishes the basis for and initiates procedures to grant, modify, or deny eligibility for public assistance.
• Authorizes amount of grants to applicants based on a determination of eligibility in those cases involving the exercise of independent judgment and interpretation of established guidelines, regulations, policies, and precedents where such criteria do not clearly apply.
• Discusses with and assists the supervisor in resolving complex eligibility problems based on a thorough analysis of factors involved and the application of prior experience with similar situations.
• Prepares summaries of cases involved in fair hearings, attends such hearings, answers questions, and gives relevant testimony as to particular case activity and the basis for determination of eligibility or ineligibility for public assistance.
• Prepares narrative reports and makes recommendations to supervisor based on such reports.
• Instructs income maintenance technicians in methods for handling routine caseload activities.
• Identifies possible financial resources for clients and provides such clients with information to seek benefits if otherwise eligible from other agencies such as Social Security Office, Veterans= Administration, and State agencies such as the Employment Service.
• In the supervisor's absence, may authorize, deny, or change eligibility determinations submitted by the income maintenance technicians and may handle inquiries and/or problems requiring immediate decision and resolution.
• Uses extensive or unusual documentation methods to complete complex or difficult cases or to obtain needed information.
• Handles the more complex cases of applications for public assistance involving but not limited to such matters as previous history of fraud, earned and unearned income, recent work history, error prone cases, ongoing eligibility determinations and adjustments to public assistance grants, location of multiple employers, establishment of disability, out-of-county placements, and where no family or legal representative is available to help with the application or review process.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience involving either: (1) securing/verifying information and making determinations or recommendations pertaining to such matters as eligibility or qualifications of applicants for loans, insurance, credit, or entitlement to cash awards or financial benefits or adjustment and settlement of insurance claims; (2) investigations which involve collection of facts and obtaining information by observing conditions, examining records, interviewing individuals, and preparing investigative reports of findings; or (3) investigating, establishing, and/or enforcing support obligations in a welfare board or agency, court system, or related agency.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of sources/methods of obtaining information regarding finances, property ownership, and financial resources.
• Knowledge of problems of economically and culturally disadvantaged persons.
• Knowledge of agencies that provide financial assistance to disadvantaged persons.
• Knowledge of eligibility requirements, regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures after a period of training.
• Knowledge of methods for reviewing/evaluating information in relation to eligibility criteria.
• Knowledge of sources of information that can be utilized in arriving at a determination of eligibility for public assistance.
• Knowledge of regulations, policies, and guidelines concerning the disposal or retention of assets by applicants/recipients.
• Knowledge of board/agency policy regarding keeping clients informed on matters affecting them after a period of training.
• Ability to work harmoniously with associates, clients, and others.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative, courteous relationships with clients, business persons, employers, and others.
• Ability to advise clients on financial matters pertaining to eligibility functions of the board/agency.
• Ability to gather, collect, analyze, and evaluate information relative to determining eligibility for public assistance.
• Ability to interpret board/agency policies and philosophy to client.
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently.
• Ability to prepare brief, concise, complete, and accurate reports.
• Ability to maintain files and records.
• Ability to work cooperatively with agency staff.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations.
• Ability to interview applicant and determine eligibility for public assistance based on information provided.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Semester hour credits from an accredited college or university may be substituted for indicated experience on a year- for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience.