Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs

43-4061.00 Zone 3 — Medium Preparation Needed

Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.

Also known as: Authorization Specialist, Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician), Business and Employment Specialist, Business Employment Specialist, Case Coordinator, Case Manager, Case Technician (Case Tech), Cash Application Clerk, ...

Annual Salary

$51,500

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$43,850 25th – 75th percentile $61,680
10th percentile $37,690
90th percentile $72,280
U.S. Employment: 156,260

Job Outlook

+1%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Slower than average)

Annual Job Openings 14,000 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

What You'd Do

  • Answer applicants' questions about benefits and claim procedures.
  • Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
  • Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights.
  • Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.
  • Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.
  • Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications.
  • Check with employers or other references to verify answers and obtain further information.
  • Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
  • Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
  • Schedule benefits claimants for adjudication interviews to address questions of eligibility.

Top Skills

Speaking 4.3
Active Listening 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Writing 3.8
Social Perceptiveness 3.8
Service Orientation 3.6
Critical Thinking 3.5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.9
English Language 4.4
Administration and Management 3.8
Administrative 3.8
Personnel and Human Resources 3.5
Education and Training 3.4
Computers and Electronics 3.4
Mathematics 3.3

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

High School
25.6%
Bachelor's
24.2%
Associate's
23.6%
Some College
19.4%
Master's
7.2%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Zoom

Other Tools

Adobe Acrobat Reader Client assessment software Corel WinZip Email software GE Healthcare Centricity EMR Google Meet Medicaid management information system MMIS Microsoft Dynamics Resource and patient management system RPMS patient registration software Resource and patient management system RPMS scheduling software Web browser software

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.6
Attention to Detail
2.6
Dependability
2.5
Integrity
1.9
Self-Control
1.8
Cooperation
1.8
Cautiousness
1.7
Empathy

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Expression 4.3
Oral Comprehension 4.0
Written Comprehension 3.9
Written Expression 3.9
Speech Clarity 3.9
Speech Recognition 3.8
Deductive Reasoning 3.6
Inductive Reasoning 3.6

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Working with Computers 4.7
Getting Information 4.6
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public 4.6
Processing Information 4.5
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards 4.4
Documenting/Recording Information 4.4
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 4.3
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 4.2

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

E-Mail
5.0
Telephone Conversations
4.8
Spend Time Sitting
4.7
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.6
Contact With Others
4.4
Frequency of Decision Making
4.4
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
4.4
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
4.3
Time Pressure
4.3
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.3
Written Letters and Memos
4.1
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.0

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.