PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST I/II - E&E - Full-time

About the Department
Tentative Recruitment Timeline:- Application Deadline: Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Online written exam: Week of February 3, 2026
- Hiring Interviews: Week of March 3, 2026
- First day for all new hires: April 6, 2026
*The above timeline is tentative and subject to change. For planning purposes, please refer to the timeline. You will be updated should dates change.


The Public Assistance Specialist classifications determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; maintain current knowledge of program regulations and procedures necessary for multi-program caseload administration; initiate and process casework through automated systems; identify needs and make appropriate referrals for health, social, and/or employment services; and perform related work as required.
 
The Public Assistance Specialist  I is the entry-level classification in the Public Assistance Specialist  series.  Incumbents may have prior experience determining eligibility for loans, financial assistance, unemployment or veterans benefits, or publicly or privately funded health, counseling or social services programs; have completed initial classroom training provided as part of the Eligibility Specialist Trainee training program; or may have the required level of education. Incumbents will be placed in a work team and initially may receive classroom instruction prior to being assigned casework and/or tasks. Incumbents will work under close supervision while learning to independently determine public assistance eligibility, and apply knowledge and skills learned from their training in completing eligibility tasks and applying complex regulations. As incumbents gain experience and work toward the journey level in the series, they are expected to work with more independence and have the ability to complete more complex tasks and/or handle larger client caseloads. Incumbents are expected to progress to the journey-level Public Assistance Specialist II upon completion of one year of satisfactory performance in the entry-level Public Assistance Specialist I classification.
 
Incumbents in the Public Assistance Specialist I and II classifications typically receive supervision from a Public Assistance Specialist Supervisor and may receive lead direction from a Public Assistance Specialist III.

To learn more about each of these positions view the following job descriptions:

$20.69 - $28.67 Hourly, $43,035.20 - $59,633.60 Annually 


 $23.13 - $31.77 Hourly, $48,110.40 - $66,081.60 Annually

NOTICE: All correspondences, notices and invitations to test and/or interview will be via e-mail through Governmentjobs.com/NEOGOV.  Please be sure to set-up your inbox to receive them or check your junk-mail to make sure you are receiving Sutter County's recruitment communications.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill any future opening(s), including Part-Time and Extra Help, in this class for up to six months. 

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Position Duties

1. Performs interactive interviews to elicit eligibility information, obtain and/or verify financial, employment, tax and personal demographic information and determine eligibility for public assistance programs and services
2. Analyzes financial and eligibility information to determine initial or continuing eligibility for multiple aid programs
3. Explains regulations, rules and policies to clients and apprises them of their rights, responsibilities and eligibility for participation in various public assistance programs and services
4. Ensures accuracy and completion of application and declaration forms
5. Resolves discrepancies by securing documentation, medical records and confirmation from other agencies
6. Enters and retrieves numerical and narrative data and issues benefits from an automated computer system
7. Determines the level of benefits to which the client is entitled by making complex computations and/or computer entries and then analyzing the results
8. Reviews and interprets information provided on a variety of forms both by the client and third parties to assist with eligibility determination
9. Evaluates clients for and answers questions on Advanced Payment Tax Credits (APTC) related to health care reform
10. Explains a variety of plan options, costs and individual plan features through Covered California
11. Monitors on-going eligibility by obtaining periodic updated information of eligibility factors and takes appropriate actions on changes
12. Determines need for additional services and makes referrals as needed for employment and other services to outside agencies to assist clients toward self-sufficiency and directs clients accordingly
13. Organizes and prioritizes caseload so that necessary case records and documents are processed and updated within specific time limits established by regulation and local policy
14. Enters and maintains case records, including written narratives, forms and computer documents in a clear and readable format
15. Troubleshoots task and/or case issues to determine appropriate resolution of problems, involving Help Desk as needed
16. Communicates both orally and in writing with clients and others related to the initial and ongoing eligibility determination while maintaining confidentiality
17. Responds to questions and complaints of clients in person, by telephone, mail and/or email communication 
18. Provides pertinent forms and pamphlets to clients as required
19. Identifies suspected fraud and makes referrals for investigation
20. Makes referrals to social service workers as needed
21. Participates in special projects, studies, work assignments and committees
22. Prepares correspondence and reports
23. Performs related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

1. General goals and purpose of public social services programs
2. Laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing eligibility for diverse public assistance programs and related case administrative techniques
3. Methods and techniques of conducting an investigative interview and information gathering
4. Computer terminology and computer keyboard arrangement
5. Modern office practices, methods and procedures
6. Record keeping practices and procedures
7. Principles of mathematical calculations
8. Intricacies of health insurance plans, medical health plan options and associated terminology
9. Regulations and rules regarding household filing status related to the Affordable Care Act
10. Cultural and human behavior, including knowledge of self, to interact effectively with clients and staff
11. Principles and practices of effective customer service
12. Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar
13. Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project and task coordination
14. Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software applications) to conduct research, assess information and/or prepare documentation

Ability to:

1. Apply the policies, procedures and programs of the County Social Services Department
2. Apply the laws, rules and regulations governing eligibility and grant determination for multiple public assistance programs and the case administration of these programs
3. Identify available resources and communicate with others to obtain and verify information concerning eligibility
4. Use fact finding techniques and perform in-depth and interactive interviewing
5. Determine appropriate course of action in emergency situations
6. Make referrals to appropriate agencies and social service programs
7. Detect and evaluate potential fraudulent situations
8. Analyze and interpret written, numerical and verbal data from various sources
9. Utilize multiple electronic information, social services systems and analyze and interpret such information
10. Enter and maintain data accurately and timely into a computerized system
11. Navigate through computer screens and effectively use computer systems, software applications and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks
12. Identify when computer output is incorrect and make corrections
13. Process cases manually as required
14. Plan and organize caseload to ensure work is completed in accordance with regulations relating to eligibility and timeliness
15. Function effectively in a system with strict deadlines and constant changes
16. Read, understand, apply and explain complicated and detailed correspondence, reports, regulations and policy directives
17. Perform a variety of mathematical computations accurately and rapidly
18. Prepare clear, concise and accurate records and reports
19. Explain complex rules and programs so they can be understood by people of diverse socio-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds
20. Gather, record and correctly evaluate tax filing data, income and additional necessary information required for the determination of eligibility for one or more programs
21. Explain health insurance plan options and plan details available to clients through theAffordable Care Act
22. Review a variety of tax documents to obtain needed household filing information
23. Explain health care reform tax credit implications to clients
24. Refer clients to other community services as needed
25. Assess and manage difficult and hostile persons or situations; or call for intervention when appropriate
26. Interact with people in a courteous manner in person, on the telephone, by mail or email
27. Work in a fast-paced, professional office environment and prioritize a wide range of duties with varying time requirements to ensure timely completion
28. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax
29. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the public and staff
30. Follow written and oral directions and instructions

Education and Experience
Pattern 1: One year full-time experience in an Eligibility Specialist Trainee classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county;
OR
Pattern 2: One (1) year of full-time experience determining eligibility for health programs, loans, financial assistance, unemployment, or other benefits and two (2) years of clerical work involving public contact;
OR
Pattern 3: Two (2) years of full-time experience determining eligibility for health programs, loans, financial assistance, unemployment, or other benefits;
OR
Pattern 4: Four (4) years of full-time clerical work involving public contact, interviewing, math computations, completion of forms or eliciting information from the public;
OR
Pattern 5: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Qualifying experience or education may be combined in order to meet the above requirements.  When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and a half (22.5) quarter units equals six months of experience.Other Qualifications

Applicant Information Regarding the Work Performed
 
Introduction
Submitting an application is the first step toward a valuable and rewarding career as an Public Assistance Specialist. We offer this additional information in an effort to provide you with a clear understanding of the nature of the job and its requirements. Please take the time to review this information prior to submitting an application.
 
Nature of Work
The primary function of an Public Assistance Specialist involves determining the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs. Eligibility work is performed in an office environment, not in the field, and includes processing of a broad range of paperwork and entering information into a computer-based eligibility system with very time sensitive agency and legal deadlines. Individuals with bank teller experience are often well suited to Public Assistance Specialist positions, as are those who have determined eligibility for loans, etc. Typical duties of an Public Assistance Specialistinclude:

1. Acting as the first contact for individuals seeking public assistance
2. Interviewing applicants and recipients (clients) to obtain and verify information needed to determine initial and/or ongoing eligibility for public assistance. This often requires obtaining information in difficult and/or emotional situations on issues such as earnings and financial obligations and/or parental status and living arrangements and maintaining control of the interview if the client becomes hostile or angry over the interview questions.
3. Learning numerous state and federal program regulations and specific county practices through intensive training prior to full case assign