DHS - Lead Eligibility Specialist

DHS - Lead Eligibility Specialist

Salary

$25.71 - $38.56 Hourly

Location

Pueblo, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

03055

Department

Department of Human Services

Opening Date

11/03/2026

Closing Date

11/10/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

AFSCME

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

POSITION SUMMARY

Performs lead work duties over eligibility specialists who apply rules, regulations and procedures to determine eligibility for public assistance programs for families and/or adults in Medicaid, and/or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP also known as food assistance), program areas of the Department of Human Services to Families and/or Adults.

Unit: Assistance Payments - Quality Assurance

Supervisor: Tanya Dreiling

• This Vacancy Announcement may be used to fill multiple positions.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Act as the primary resource or expert in the program area, providing technical guidance and support to less experienced staff. Reviews cases for appropriate interpretation and application of rules. Responds to and assists in resolving inquiries, complaints, and requests for information regarding eligibility; researches various platforms for additional information; refers customers and the public to related services and programs for financial, social, educational, residence, or other assistance.
• Enters and updates case/customer information within the automated computer system. Maintains inquiry-level access in multiple State and County computer systems for basic case information as necessary. Complex data entry through multiple County and State computer systems requiring detailed, specific, and multiple program knowledge with complete independence. Interprets and evaluates computer-generated data to determine accuracy and application to individual case processing; manually tracks and manages cases when the computer system would not accept information.
• Gathers, assembles, and reviews information from applicants and recipients regarding financial and non-financial. Establishes and maintains case files; prepares necessary documentation to initiate, continue, and modify public assistance; plans and organizes workload to ensure that necessary work is completed in accordance with regulations relating to eligibility and timeliness.
• Verifies information by direct contact, collateral contacts, phone contacts, and system interfaces. Interviews customers to obtain detailed case information and request supporting documentation from customers as necessary.
• Inform applicants/recipients of the relevant requirements and benefits of the program for which they have eligibility; assists applicants with completing forms; secures documents; notifies applicants of appeal rights and procedures in response to notices generated by the computer with complete independence. Approves/denies applicants based upon review of case information, in accordance with program rules and regulations.
• Maintains a caseload of highly confidential cases.
• Participates in various committees and boards related to program activities and responsibilities. Coordinates and attends community outreach events for all program areas. Develop outreach plans and incentive programs.
• Provides administrative support for assigned programs including, but not limited to, maintaining records, and verifying accuracy of records.
• Prepares case information required for testimony and serves as a representative at County and state evidentiary hearings or appeals; testifies as necessary.
• May be required to work mandatory overtime.
• May be required to work alternate schedules and in other Pueblo County locations.
• May required to fill in for manager in their absence.

WHAT YOU HAVE

EDUCATION:

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalency required.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of two (2) years or more administrative support experience or related clerical work required.
• Minimum of four (4) years or more experience performing as an Eligibility Specialist required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Supervisory experience preferred or the completion of Supervisory Curriculum within 6 months of hire preferred.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES:

• Valid driver's license at the time of application and a valid Colorado driver's license at time of hire required.

WHAT PUEBLO COUNTY OFFERS

• Comprehensive Benefits package (medical, dental, vision, etc.) for full-time employees
• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave Accrual
• Remote & Hybrid working opportunities
• County Retirement Program
• Autonomy to grow and find your career path with supportive leadership
• Truly inclusive and diverse environment
• Fitness Center (Historic Pueblo Courthouse Building)
• 4-week Paid Parental Leave Benefit

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SUMMARY

REMAINDER OF 2026 PAID HOLIDAYS

• Veterans Day - November 11th
• • Day before Thanksgiving - November 25th (Early Release at 12:00pm)
• • Thanksgiving Day - November 26th
• • Day after Thanksgiving - November 27th
• • Christmas Eve Day - December 24th
• • Christmas Day - December 25th
• Day before New Years Day - December 31st (Early Release at 12:00pm)
• One Personal Day (County employees will have one paid personal day off in 2026. This paid day off is to be chosen by the employee and approved by their Elected Official or Department Director.)
• = Regular Part-Time Employees who are scheduled to work on a 2026 Holiday will receive Holiday Pay for two (2) of the Holidays of their choice (marked with the single asterisk * above) as approved by their Elected Official or Department Director
• When a holiday falls on a Saturday, Friday will be celebrated as the County holiday
• When a holiday falls on a Sunday, Monday will be celebrated as the County holiday
• Early releases are at the discretion of the Elected Official or Department Director and may vary based on the operational needs of their offices/departments.
• All time off work taken by County employees for the days designated as Early Release shall be considered holiday time off for purposes "worked time" in determining Overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• If an employee is absent the day preceding or following the holiday without prior approval, the employee will not be paid for the holiday
• The following time off types will not contribute to the daily or weekly overtime calculation: Unpaid Days Off, Unpaid Personal Days, and Unpaid Early Release Days.
• Any employee that is required to work by their supervisor on a designated Unpaid Day Off,

a designated Unpaid Personal Day or during a designated Unpaid Early Release period shall be paid for work required and performed during such days and periods.

• No employee may work during an Unpaid Day Off, an Unpaid Personal Day, or during an Unpaid Early Release period without the express authorization of their supervisor. This Resolution contemplates and authorizes supervisors to direct work during Unpaid Days Off, Unpaid Personal Days, or Unpaid Early Release Periods for community safety and County government essential activities such as snow removal, social worker visits for child welfare and other family emergencies, response to emergency calls by facilities and fleet employees, and required court appearances by County employees.
• For weeks in which an Unpaid Day Off or an Unpaid Early Release takes place, County Exempt employees are designated as Non-Exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Those employees so designated will be required to clock in and out of work via email to their Director for all days worked during weeks that include an Unpaid Day Off.
• No employees shall be permitted to work over 40 hours during a week that includes an Unpaid Day Off or an Unpaid Early Release without the express written authorization of their Director or Elected Official.
• The above 2026 Holiday Schedule Resolution was originally approved by the Board of County Commissioners on December 15th, 2025 and then revised on February 12th, 2026 & March 12th, 2026*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPCOMING 2027 PAID HOLIDAYS

• New Years Day - January 1st
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 18th
• Presidents Day - February 15th
• Memorial Day - May 31st
• Juneteenth Day (observed) - June 18th
• Independence Day (observed) - July 5th
• Labor Day - September 6th
• Francis Xavier Cabrini Day - October 5th
• Veterans Day - November 11th
• Employee Appreciation Day - November 24th
• Thanksgiving Day - November 25th
• Day after Thanksgiving - November 26th
• Christmas Eve Day - December 24th
• Christmas Day (observed) - December 25th
• New Years Eve- December 31st
• Personal Leave - 16 hours - All full-time County employees will receive 16 hours of Personal Leave in 2027, regardless of position, schedule, department, or office. Use of Personal Leave is selected by the employee and subject to approval by their Chief Officer, Department Director, or Elected Official.
• When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the County observes it the Friday before; when it falls on a Sunday, the County observes it the Monday after; unless the annual resolution states otherwise.
• Regular part-time employees scheduled to work on a holiday will receive holiday pay for two (2) holidays of their choice, as approved by their Chief Officer, Department Director, or Elected Official.
• All County employees will receive the equivalent of 2 average workdays (16 hours) as Personal Leave in 2027. While we understand some offices/departments work varying schedules, this is the BOCCs way of keeping the personal leave fair and consistent. Personal Leave time is to be chosen by the employee and approved by their Chief Officer, Department Director, or Elected Official. Personal Hours are added to the employees' Personal Leave Balance in Workday on January 1. Personal hours are given at the beginning of each calendar year based on BOCC approval and do not roll over from year to year. Consider them a use or lose benefit.
• If an employee is absent the day preceding or following the holiday without prior approval, the employee will not be paid for the holiday.
• If an employee needs to work on a County recognized holiday and has received the authorization to do so by their Supervisor, Chief Officer, Department Director, or Elected Official, the hours worked on said holiday will be paid as normal work hours. However, the employee can request to bank the number of hours worked as the equivalent of banked holiday hours which will be added to the Personal Leave balance in Workday. Employees will have until the end of the calendar year to use those hours. Personal leave hours do not roll over from year to year. Questions on how to bank Holiday Hours Worked should be directed to the Human Resources Department.
• The following time off types will not contribute to the daily or weekly overtime calculation: Unpaid Days Off, Unpaid Personal Days, and Unpaid Early Release Days.
• The above 2027 Holiday Schedule Resolution was originally approved by the Board of County Commissioners on October 13th, 2026 *

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SICK LEAVE

Regular full-time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month with a maximum accrual of 960 hours.

VACATION LEAVE

• Upon initial date of hire: earn eight (8) hours per month with a maximum accrual of 144 hours.
• After 5 years: earn twelve (12) hours per month with a maximum accrual of 216 hours.
• Ater 10 years: earn sixteen (16) hours per month with a maximum accrual of 288 hours.

RETIREMENT

All Regular Full-Time employees and Elected Officials are required to participate in the County Retirement Plan upon completion of one (1) month of continuous employment. A pre-tax deduction of 8.25% will be deducted from the employees monthly pay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EMPLOYER MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION

Pueblo Countys contribution toward the purchase of your benefit options on a tiered approach and based on which medical plan you elect.

If Benefit Selections:

• Are greater than the employer contribution dollar amount, the difference is deducted from paycheck
• Are equal to the employer contribution dollar amount, there is no effect on pay
• Are less the employer contribution dollar amount, additional pay or cash back is not optional

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MEDICAL INSURANCE - ANTHEM BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD (optional)

Medical, Dental, & Vision Rates and Tiers that are in BLACK are for the 2026 Plan Year (effective January 1st, 2026)

Medical, Dental, & Vision Rates and Tiers that are in RED are for the 2027 Plan Year (effective January 1st, 2027)

NOTE: All Rates are shown on a per month basis which aligns with our monthly pay schedule

HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution

• $29

$115

$191

Employer Contribution

$852$1,428

$1,938

Total Premium

$823

$1,543

$2,129

HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN

Employee Only

Employee + One

Employee + Child(ren)

Employee + Family

Employee Contribution

$130

$285

$233

$415

Employer Contribution

$734

$1,617

$1,323

$2,351

Total Premium

$864

$1,902

$1,556

$2,766

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PPO

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution$29$260$382Employer Contribution

$860$1,453

$1,969

Total Premium$889$1,713

$2,351

PPO

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + Child(ren)Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution

$139

$305

$250

$444

Employer Contribution

$786$1,730

$1,415

$2,516Total Premium

$925

$2,035

$1,665

$2,960

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HMO w/ Deductible

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution$123$442$647Employer Contribution

$876$1,484

$2,014

Total Premium$999$1,926

$2,661

HMO w/ Deductible

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + Child(ren)Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution

$157

$345

$282

$502

Employer Contribution

$889$1,956

$1,601

$2,845Total Premium

$1,046

$2,301

$1,883

$3,347

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Low HMO

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution$157$507$738Employer Contribution

$881$1,495

$2,030

Total Premium$1,038$2,002

$2,768

Low HMO will NOT be offered in 2027

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DENTAL INSURANCE - AMERITAS (optional)

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution$20$43$66Employer Contribution

$7$17

$25

Total Premium$27$60

$91

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + Child(ren)Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution

$20

$42

$55

$66

Employer Contribution

$7$14

$10

$32Total Premium

$27

$56

$65

$98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VISION INSURANCE - ANTHEM BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD (optional)

Note: There is no Employer Contribution to Vision Insurance

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution$6$12$19Employer Contribution

$0$0

$0

Total Premium$6$12

$19

Employee OnlyEmployee + One Employee + Child(ren)Employee + FamilyEmployee Contribution

$6

$13

$11

$19

Employer Contribution

$0$0

$0

$0Total Premium

$6

$13

$11

$19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LONG TERM DISABILITY - THE STANDARD (required)

Coverage pays 60% of your wages up to $4,800 with a 90-day waiting period.

Your monthly cost = (monthly pay)/100 x 0.410

BASIC LIFE AND AD&D BENEFIT (required)

Employees are required to purchase the basic option for $3.10, however, they may elect to purchase additional coverage.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (optional)

This benefit allows you to pay for certain expenses (medical and/or dependent care needs) with "pre-tax" dollars. You specify the dollar amount you would like deducted from your monthly paycheck (minimum of $25), then when you incur an eligible expense, you pay it. Then you submit a claim form and original receipt for reimbursement.

Note: According to IRS rules, any funds left in your FSA account(s) at the end of the year cannot be returned to you. They are considered "use or lose" funds.

ADDITIONAL INSURANCES/BENEFITS (optional)

• Optional Life Insurance
• Spouse/Dependent Life Insurance
• Other Self-Funded Retirement Plans
• These are post-tax benefits. *

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Any questions? Please contact our Human Resources Department at: hr@pueblocounty.us

01

Do you have a High School Diploma or GED equivalency?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a minimum of two (2) years administrative support or related clerical work experience?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a minimum of four (4) years or more experience performing as an Eligibility Specialist?]

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have a minimum of one (1) year or more in a Supervisory capacity, or are you willing to complete a Supervisory Curriculum within six (6) months of hire?

• Yes
• No, but willing to complete Supervisory Curriculum within 6 months of hire.

Required Question

Employer Pueblo County

Address 215 W. 10th St

Suite 303

Pueblo, Colorado, 81003

Phone 719-583-4202

Website http://county.pueblo.org/government/county/department/hr/negov