06/01/1989 44720

INCOME MAINTENANCE CASEWORKER

DEFINITION: This is professional work assessing clients' social services and employment needs, determining client eligibility for Income Maintenance Program services and making appropriate referrals for services.

An employee in this class performs a variety of professional duties in the determination of eligibility for financial assistance and related income maintenance program services. Eligibility determination work involves interviewing clients in the office and in the field and investigating resources to secure, evaluate and interpret data essential to making a decision on eligibility. Employees assess clients' social service and employment needs, and provide clients or their families with information on community resources for social and employment services. Work is distinguished from that of the next lower level by the level of supervision. Supervision involves selective review of cases assigned to the worker. Responsibility for determination or redetermination action rests with the worker. Both individual and group conferences are scheduled as needed in order to explain policy and/or procedures changes to Income Maintenance Caseworkers. Work may require contact with various community agencies and facilities. Employees assist clients in preparing for and locating employment. Employees may also become involved with representing selected clients in applying for and receiving federally funded benefits under the SSI program. Work is performed in accordance with established policies and procedures under the general supervision of an Income Maintenance Casework Supervisor or other administrative supervisor.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Interviews applicants to determine eligibility for financial assistance and related income maintenance programs, such as, but not limited to, Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance, Food Stamps, Nursing Home Care, and Employment Referrals.

Determines eligibility for various categories of assistance based on such factors as income, personal property, real property, legally responsible relatives and employment status.

Evaluates special needs of clients; authorizes grants which conform to agency requirements, or makes referrals to other community resources.

Redetermines eligibility through periodic review of client situations.

Obtains medical, employment, educational, vocational and financial resource data, from other agencies as necessary to determine eligibility; records relevant case information on case records.

Conducts home visits to clients who are unable to travel to the County.

Determines occurrence and circumstances of overpayments and refers information to the Office of Fraud and Abuse Investigation and Restitution for resolution.

Provides clients or members of their family with information regarding services available from other social agencies, hospitals, clinics, courts and community resources, as needed.

Assists clients in utilizing these resources by making referrals to an appropriate agency; does follow-up as needed.

Assists clients in locating employment through the Pennsylvania Employables Programs; develop job listing of prospective employers; and monitors clients in Community Work Experience Program; and imposes sanctions as necessary.

Represents one or more clients in the process of obtaining SSI benefits.

Attends staff meetings and participates in in-service training.

Uses office machines such as video display terminals as appropriate.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of individual and group behavior.

Ability to learn the policies, rules and regulations pertaining to income maintenance programs.

Ability to learn the operation of an income maintenance County Assistance Office.

Ability to learn the principles and practices of conducting interviews to ascertain and verify information.

Ability to learn the methods and procedures for identifying and assisting clients with their social and economic problems.

Ability to learn community resources available to provide information or to refer clients or their families for needed services or to locate gainful employment.

Ability to exercise sound judgment in differing circumstances and to act in a responsible and professional manner in stressful or unpleasant situations.

Ability to determine eligibility for income maintenance programs.

Ability to select, interpret and apply manual policy, procedures and regulations.

Ability to perform arithmetic calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Ability to operate office equipment, i.e,, video display terminal.

Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to interpret system data and follow through with appropriate action.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Four years of experience in interviewing or work requiring the analysis and interpretation of data;

                                                                                                                                                                         or

A bachelor's degree;

                                                                                                                                                                         or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.