TEST ANNOUNCEMENT

NUMBER 2012-099

ISSUED October 3, 2012

REVISED March 20, 2013

 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

State Civil Service Commission

 

Examination

 

for

 

INCOME MAINTENANCE CASEWORKER

 

Exam

No.

 

Job Title

Job

Code

Pay Schedule

and Range

1.

Income Maintenance Caseworker

44720

ST06

 

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

 

VETERANS:  Pennsylvania law (51 Pa.C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.  To learn more about employment preferences and opportunities for veterans, visit the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, for Veterans; visit one of our offices; or call out veterans information line, (717) 787-6039.

 

NATURE OF WORK

 

You will participate in classroom and on-the-job training to learn Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare procedures for determining if applicants meet the eligibility requirements for public assistance programs.  You will learn the requirements for programs such as Medical Assistance, Food Stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.  You will also interview persons applying for public assistance programs, establish and maintain with the client an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility, help clients identify and remove barriers to financial self-sufficiency, determine the assistance programs for which applicants qualify, and make referrals for appropriate services.

 

The volume of work for an Income Maintenance Caseworker is high and demanding.  Work is performed under close supervision and is evaluated throughout the training program.  After completing the training program, incumbents are given more responsibility and independence in performing the work.

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

 

You will be tested before your qualifications are reviewed.  Your test results will count only if you meet all job requirements.  If after reading the requirements you are not sure you qualify, contact one of the Commission's offices listed at the end of this announcement.

 

You are subject to Pennsylvania residency requirements and must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.  Visit the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, for PA Residency Information.

 

Minimum Requirements

Four years of experience in interviewing or work requiring the analysis and interpretation of data; OR a bachelor’s degree; OR an equivalent combination of experience and training.

 

Clarification of Requirements

You may substitute related education for the required experience or appropriate experience for the required education.  Unrelated experience or education will not be accepted.

 

You may take the test if you have completed 90 or more credit hours and expect to receive a bachelor's degree before the start of your employment.

 

Conditions of Employment

 

The Income Maintenance Caseworker faces a challenging and complex training program and probationary period in learning the laws, regulations and procedures associated with determining if applicants meet eligibility requirements for public assistance programs, and helping clients identify and remove barriers to financial self-sufficiency.  The training program includes structured classroom instruction as well as “on-the-job” training opportunities.

 

You must agree with the following conditions of employment.  If you are not willing and able to accept all of these conditions, do not apply.  By submitting your application, you are indicating your willingness to:

 

1.  Attend and successfully complete complex classroom and on-the-job training programs.

 

2.  Meet high performance standards for technical accuracy as prescribed by the Pennsylvania

     Department of Public Welfare.

 

3.  Plan, organize and manage large caseloads to ensure timely eligibility determination and

     ongoing case management.

 

4.  Learn to analyze public assistance applicant information to determine eligibility for benefits.

 

5.  Gather important information by telephone, by mail, and in person from clients applying for          

     financial and other assistance.

 

6.  Operate computer and imaging equipment to retrieve, attach and/or enter data to appropriate electronic case records to promote a paperless environment.

 

7.  Interact objectively with public assistance clients in situations or settings that may be stressful,

     including conducting group workshops, and developing individual plans for self-sufficiency.

 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

 

There are 4,047 filled Income Maintenance Caseworker positions.  Positions exist in County Assistance Offices throughout the Commonwealth.  Vacancies may occur in any county.  Counties with larger populations typically have more vacancies. 

 

Additional opportunities may occur due to normal turnover from retirements, promotions, transfers, resignations and so forth.

 

For the most recent information on job opportunities contact: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Human Resources, Health and Welfare Building-Room 106, P.O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675; Telephone:  717-787-5068; Email:  Ra-pwhdqpostings@pa.gov.

 

TESTING

 

The test will be administered on a computer.  Information about computerized testing is available online at www.scsc.state.pa.us OR in paper form at any State Civil Service Commission office. 

 

The test is designed to determine if you have the basic abilities to succeed in the training program and perform the job tasks.  To answer some of the questions, you will read and interpret materials similar to Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare policy statements and perform exercises patterned after actual job tasks.  You do not need knowledge of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare policies, rules, or regulations.

 

You will have a maximum of 3 1/2 hours to complete the test which will cover the following subject areas:

 

Subject Area

Number of Questions

Interpreting and Applying Policies, Rules, and Regulations

25

Benefit Computations

15

Interactive Client Interviewing/Client Referrals

25

Interpersonal Relationships

20

Written Expression

15

TOTAL

         100

 

The test will be administered in the Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh State Civil Service Commission offices, Monday through Friday.

 

The test also will be held approximately 10 days a month at additional test centers located in Allentown, Erie, Johnstown, Lock Haven, and Scranton.  For further details on test dates, contact the Commission’s Information Services Unit; Telephone (Voice) (717) 787-7811, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 783-8896. 

 

If you take the test and want to take it again, you may be retested after six months from the date of your test.  You must submit a new application to be retested.

 

If your name is on an eligible list for this job title and you take this test, your most recent examination result will be the only one counted.

 

TEST RESULTS

 

Employment and promotion lists will be established.  You will be notified in writing of your test results.

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

Complete your application on the Commission’s website, Job Seekers page, by selecting Online Application, or submit your completed paper application to:

 

State Civil Service Commission

ATTN:  Applications

P.O. Box 569

Harrisburg, PA  17108-0569

 

Applications and further information can be obtained from:

 

1.

State Civil Service Commission:

 

 

 

Harrisburg:  2nd Level, Strawberry Sq. Complex, 320 Market St., P.O.

 

Box 569, Hbg., 17108-0569; Telephone (Voice) (717) 783-3058, Text

 

Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing callers only) (717) 772-2685

 

 

 

Philadelphia:  110 North 8th St., Suite 503, Phila., 19107; Telephone

 

(Voice) (215) 560-2253, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing

 

callers only) (215) 560-4367

 

 

 

Pittsburgh:  411 Seventh Ave., Room 410, Pgh., 15219; Telephone

 

(Voice) (412) 565-7666, Text Telephone (Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing

 

callers only) (412) 565-2484

 

 

 

Internet:  www.scsc.state.pa.us

 

 

2.

PA CareerLink offices

 

 

3.

The Human Resources office listed under the "JOB OPPORTUNITIES" section of this announcement

 

For further information on testing, assistance for persons with disabilities, veterans' preference and other items, refer to the instructions provided with the "Application for Employment/Promotion."