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Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs: Job Description
Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
The Daily Work of Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Do?
Typical responsibilities of eligibility interviewers, government programs span:
- 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.
- Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.
- Check with employers or other references to verify answers and obtain further information.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful eligibility interviewers, government programs rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Authorization Specialist
- Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician)
- Business Employment Specialist
- Business and Employment Specialist
- Case Coordinator
- Case Manager
- Case Technician (Case Tech)
- Cash Application Clerk
Employment and Demand
There are about 653,202 eligibility interviewers, government programs working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $34,061 |
| Hourly median | $16.38 |
| 10th percentile | $24,021 |
| 25th percentile | $29,041 |
| 75th percentile | $39,081 |
| 90th percentile | $44,101 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $75,050 |
| Michigan | $64,020 |
| Connecticut | $64,010 |
| Washington | $62,900 |
| Rhode Island | $62,680 |
| California | $61,680 |
| Minnesota | $60,330 |
| Iowa | $60,300 |
| Montana | $59,780 |
| Alaska | $58,570 |
| Massachusetts | $58,550 |
| Illinois | $57,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,600 |
| New Hampshire | $56,180 |
| Maryland | $55,910 |
| Colorado | $54,320 |
| Nevada | $53,560 |
| Vermont | $52,620 |
| Hawaii | $52,360 |
| New Jersey | $52,010 |
| New York | $51,810 |
| Alabama | $51,720 |
| Wyoming | $51,540 |
| Idaho | $50,980 |
| New Mexico | $50,960 |
| Virginia | $50,930 |
| Oregon | $50,780 |
| South Dakota | $50,650 |
| Wisconsin | $50,420 |
| North Dakota | $49,730 |
| Oklahoma | $49,610 |
| Utah | $49,000 |
| Kentucky | $49,000 |
| Ohio | $48,100 |
| West Virginia | $47,530 |
| Delaware | $47,000 |
| Maine | $46,590 |
| North Carolina | $46,330 |
| Kansas | $46,300 |
| Tennessee | $46,160 |
| Nebraska | $44,530 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,120 |
| Arkansas | $44,120 |
| Texas | $43,660 |
| Louisiana | $43,480 |
| Missouri | $42,310 |
| Georgia | $42,110 |
| Arizona | $41,690 |
| Guam | $40,440 |
| Indiana | $39,030 |
| Mississippi | $37,980 |
| South Carolina | $37,550 |
| Florida | $36,170 |
Where Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Earn the Most
Compensation for eligibility interviewers, government programs differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $60,970 | 23.6% | 1.53 |
| New England | $58,747 | 3.5% | 0.86 |
| Middle Atlantic | $54,889 | 15.8% | 1.30 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,814 | 4.1% | 1.12 |
| Great Lakes | $51,953 | 10.1% | 0.86 |
| Plains States | $50,005 | 6.3% | 1.14 |
| Southeast | $44,197 | 22.6% | 1.07 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $44,079 | 2.3% | 3.76 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $95,060 | 1,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $80,260 | 2,770 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $75,540 | 220 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $72,810 | 340 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $71,420 | 170 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $71,360 | 110 |
| Battle Creek, MI | MI | $67,290 | 50 |
| Bay City, MI | MI | $67,290 | 50 |
Top Industries Employing Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
Most eligibility interviewers, government programs are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 6,990 | $46,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3,140 | $49,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 740 | $53,250 |
| Educational Services | 530 | $50,670 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 420 | $47,810 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 390 | $43,970 |
| Finance and Insurance | 350 | $48,370 |
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of eligibility interviewers, government programs tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
How to Become Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
Entry-level eligibility interviewers, government programs positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Compensation and Benefits Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (Primary-Long)
- Compliance Officers (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Credit Counselors (Supplemental)
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs).
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