What Do Government Programs Interviewers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Government Programs Interviewers determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing. They also interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants’ legal rights.

Other tasks include:

• Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
• 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.
• Answer applicants’ questions about benefits and claim procedures.
• Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications.
• Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.

We asked Government Programs Interviewers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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68% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 73% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Government Programs Interviewers refer applicants to job openings or to interviews with other staff, in accordance with administrative guidelines or office procedures. They keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports.

A typical day for a Government Programs Eligibility Interviewer will also include:

• Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps.
• Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status.
• Answer applicants’ questions about benefits and claim procedures.
• Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits.
• Monitor the payments of benefits throughout the duration of a claim.

We asked some Government Programs Interviewers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	34% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	74% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	55% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	42% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	76% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Government Programs Interviewers also provide social workers with pertinent information gathered during applicant interviews. They may also prepare applications and forms for applicants for such purposes as school enrollment, employment, and medical services.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Government Programs Interviewers Investigate claimants for the possibility of fraud or abuse. They might also Monitor the payments of benefits throughout the duration of a claim.

In addition, they Check with employers or other references to verify answers and obtain further information.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide applicants with assistance in completing application forms, such as those for job referrals or unemployment compensation claims.

To some Government Programs Interviewers, it is also their responsibility to Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Government Programs Eligibility Interviewer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/information-clerks.htm

http://www.iaap-hq.org/