An eligibility interviewer for government programs is hired by the government to determine if candidates seeking government assistance are eligible for it, based on different criteria. The types of assistance that can be evaluated by an eligibility interviewer vary greatly, but are most commonly related to unemployment benefits and welfare, as well as services like public housing. An eligibility interviewer first assesses each individual case, determining if there are any factors which may attribute to the candidate’s chances of approval or degrading them, and then proceeding to ask the candidate for any required information. The interviewer then makes the decision on whether or not to allow the specific benefits to be issued to the candidate.
Most of the skills required for performing the job are attained in the course of employment, and thus the educational requirements for becoming an eligibility interviewer are traditionally low. A high school degree is the basic requirement in any case, and a higher degree of education may be required in some sectors, though isn’t a default requirement.
Eligibility interviewers are paid lower than most other government-related positions, with a salary of between $25,000 – $36,000 being common per year. The job can be somewhat demanding at times, especially in the busy seasons, though employees are traditionally compensated additionally for their efforts in those cases. Apart from that, bonuses and extra benefits are scarce in the profession, and that’s one of the main factors which contribute to its lack of popularity among potential employees.