Social Welfare Examiner

HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants must submit an original Civil Service “Application for Employment and/or Examination” to Schuyler County Civil Service office. Faxed or emailed applications will be accepted.

VACANCY:
At the present time, there is one full time contingent provisional (35 hours/week) vacancy with the Schuyler County Department of Social Services TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE Unit. The person hired will need to take a Civil Service test at a later date and be reachable on the list to gain permanency in the position.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT:
Candidates must be legal residents of Schuyler or a contiguous (Chemung, Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins and Yates) county for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The work involves responsibility for determining eligibility for the various programs administered by the local Social Services Department and/or recommending amounts of assistance in accordance with established policies and procedures. Incumbents perform a combination of assignments in connection with determining financial eligibility, categorical classification, continued eligibility, and income maintenance by the review and evaluation of applications and direct interviews with applicants. A Social Welfare Examiner uses a computer terminal in the performance of the duties. This use is usually limited to the input or retrieval of information, but may involve some word processing. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a higher ranking Social Welfare Examiner with leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment in planning and carrying out the details of the work according to prescribed rules and procedures. Supervision over the work of others is not a function of this position. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Interviews clients and takes applications for assistance.
• Reviews and evaluates certification forms, examining and verifying supporting documents.
• Evaluates and confirms income and resources to determine categorical and financial eligibility.
• Codes and enters client information into a database.
• Prepares and computes client needs statements, or budgets according to State and Federal guidelines.
• Job Opening Social Welfare Examiner Department of Social Services Schuyler County…An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Advises clients of eligibility determinations.
• Recommends emergency grants as needed.
• Explains program aspects of responsibility and eligibility to clients.
• Acts as client liaison with other agencies, landlords, utility and fuel companies and interagency units.
• Identifies problems presented by clients and acts as information and referral resource.
• Makes referral to other department units or other social service agencies.
• Provides services around basic needs, such as food, shelter, fuel, clothing and furnishings when necessary for the immediate well being or safety of the client or dependent children.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either

• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and two years of work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in examining, investigating or evaluating claims for assistance such as veterans and unemployment benefits, or determining qualifications for insurance or other similar programs operating under established criteria for eligibility. OR
• Minimum of one year of work as a Social Welfare Examiner for another County in NY. NOTE : Satisfactory completion of semester credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees may be substituted for work experience as follows: Thirty (30) credit hours is equivalent to one (1) year of experience; sixty (60) credit hours is equivalent to two (2) years of experience.