Program Eligibility Specialist I

Job Description

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY SPECIALIST I | State of Arkansas

The Tone:
This is a full-time, on-site role within various Arkansas Workforce Centers. The State of Arkansas provides critical unemployment insurance and other partner services to individuals across the state. This role is essential for assisting claimants, ensuring the efficient processing of documents, and upholding the integrity of the unemployment insurance trust fund by accurately determining program eligibility.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Location: In-person, within an Arkansas Workforce Center
• Pay: $47,397–$70,148 yearly
• Team: Reports to the Commerce Program Supervisor/Expert for this unit
• Mission: Determine eligibility for state-administered programs and provide essential support to claimants accessing unemployment insurance and other partner services.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Office Suite, imaging programs, basic computer applications, case management systems

What You’ll Actually Do
• Claimant Support: Assist individuals using self-service computers for UI purposes and provide printouts for proof of income.
• Eligibility Determination: Review and process applications for state assistance programs, verifying applicant information and maintaining accurate case records.
• Document Management: Accept and attach government-issued photo IDs to UI claims, and accept and process other UI documents for imaging.
• Service Coordination: Initiate the triage form to identify other partner services needed and route individuals to the correct partners.
• Unit Collaboration: Respond to inquiries and process requests from various ADWS UI units regarding individual claims or issues.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Entry-Level. Knowledge of state and federal regulations in eligibility determinations.
• Experience: At least one year of experience in customer service, administrative support, case processing, or a related field. At least one year of experience working with computer programs, especially Microsoft Office Suite.
• Skills: Strong attention to detail, proficiency in computer keyboarding, strong verbal and written communication, customer service abilities, critical thinking, research skills.
• Bonus: Some experience with conducting business via telephone and/or email.