The Work Environment of a Social Services Eligibility Worker

A Social Services office is a buzzing beehive of productivity and a tapestry of your local community. You might be surprised at just how diverse the faces of your community can be. From adults who are looking for some support between jobs, to seniors needing care in their golden years, to families needing help making ends meet, the Social Services worker is given the opportunity every day to use their skills, intelligence and giving nature to help their community.

What are the benefits of being a Social Worker?

• Solid pay
• Great Benefits
• Generous retirement packages
• A strong team environment
• A chance to give back to the community
• The incredible satisfaction that comes from helping people in need

In the field of Social Services one can be certain there will always be a fast paced environment with new challenges around every turn. Whether it’s helping a low-income family find affordable housing or assisting the elderly in finding in home care the social services worker is always given new opportunities to help people in the community. For those of us who have worked in Human Services, we know that the rewards of this work are amazing. It’s not just solid pay and great benefits, it’s also the deep satisfaction of giving back to the community and the smile of a child who knows they are going to the grocery store thanks to your work.

As a Social worker your primary duty will be to determine eligibility for Federal programs such as:

• Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP formerly known as Food Stamps)
• Medicaid (MAA and other programs)
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF formerly known as Welfare)
• Children’s Health Program (CHiP)

In addition to these Federal programs, a Social worker will be determining eligibility for local programs on a state by state basis. You will be using an array of computer tools to help you determine aspects of eligibility such as income and citizenship. Determining eligibility is a complex process that will make use of your mathematical, social and problem solving skills. The key to an eligibility decision is having sufficient accurate information to make a decision. This requires having a strong rapport with clients, and making sure you have all the relevant proofs from the client. In addition to proof of income, you will need proof of citizenship, proof of rent and utility expenses and proof of child custody in cases where that applies.

Social work is also a wonderful place to connect with your fellow workers. The strong environment of teamwork is facilitated by workers who know they can ask for help from fellow workers. Such a diversity of community can create unique situations where the worker will need help from their co-workers to solve some of the complex problems that can occur. It’s in those moments when you really appreciate being part of a team where you can help others and they can be there for you when a new challenge presents itself. If you look fast paced environments, giving back to the community, solid pay, great benefits and helping people in need then a career in Social Work might be a perfect fit!