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Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
Other titles employers use
Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician) · Business and Employment Specialist · Case Manager · Eligibility Examiner · Eligibility Specialist · Eligibility Worker · Program Eligibility Specialist · Social Welfare Examiner (SWEX)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
- Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.
- 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.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, helping and persuading work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Personnel and Human Resources
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.6 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.0 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.0 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 26%
- A four-year degree 24%
- A two-year degree 24%
- A certificate or some college 19%
- A master's degree 7%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Electronic mail software
- Video conferencing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 28,800
- Job openings each year
- 2,530
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 3.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 28,800 | 2,530 | 3.6% |
| New York | 15,590 | 270 | 20.7% |
| Texas | 10,490 | 950 | 7.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 8,750 | 770 | 3.4% |
| North Carolina | 7,720 | 710 | 12.0% |
| Florida | 5,950 | 530 | 5.1% |
| Michigan | 5,520 | 480 | — |
| Missouri | 4,930 | 430 | 1.2% |
| Virginia | 4,670 | 420 | 5.2% |
| Georgia | 4,530 | 390 | 1.6% |
| Tennessee | 4,200 | 380 | 9.4% |
| Ohio | 4,050 | 350 | 1.8% |
| Minnesota | 3,950 | 350 | 5.3% |
| Washington | 3,920 | 400 | 10.1% |
| Colorado | 3,650 | 340 | 13.0% |
| Maryland | 3,000 | 270 | 4.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 2,980 | 270 | 7.6% |
| Arizona | 2,820 | 250 | 5.6% |
| Oregon | 2,750 | 250 | 8.7% |
| Alabama | 2,740 | 240 | 1.9% |
| Utah | 2,520 | 230 | 13.0% |
| Indiana | 2,430 | 210 | 1.7% |
| Wisconsin | 1,940 | 170 | 3.2% |
| Illinois | 1,800 | 160 | — |
| Kentucky | 1,160 | 100 | — |
| Iowa | 1,140 | 100 | 3.6% |
| Connecticut | 1,110 | 100 | 7.8% |
| Mississippi | 1,090 | 90 | — |
| South Carolina | 940 | 90 | 9.3% |
| Kansas | 880 | 80 | 1.1% |
| New Mexico | 880 | 80 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 790 | 70 | 1.3% |
| Massachusetts | 760 | 70 | 5.6% |
| Arkansas | 730 | 60 | 2.8% |
| District of Columbia | 700 | 60 | 11.1% |
| Rhode Island | 680 | 60 | 6.3% |
| Alaska | 670 | 60 | 1.5% |
| Maine | 660 | 60 | −1.5% |
| South Dakota | 630 | 50 | 1.6% |
| Oklahoma | 600 | 50 | 3.4% |
| New Hampshire | 590 | 50 | 3.5% |
| Louisiana | 540 | 50 | 3.8% |
| Montana | 540 | 50 | 8.0% |
| Nevada | 470 | 40 | 6.8% |
| Idaho | 400 | 40 | 2.6% |
| Nebraska | 390 | 40 | 5.4% |
| Vermont | 380 | 30 | 8.6% |
| West Virginia | 340 | 30 | — |
| North Dakota | 320 | 30 | 6.7% |
| Wyoming | 270 | 30 | — |
| Delaware | 190 | 20 | 5.6% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Central Michigan University
- Degrees each year
- 107
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Northwestern University
- Degrees each year
- 80
- Admit rate
- 7%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 42
- Admit rate
- 64%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
University of California-Santa Cruz
- Degrees each year
- 31
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Portland State University
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
University of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 14
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 11
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Indiana University-Indianapolis
- Degrees each year
- 7
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Compare every college offering community organization and advocacy