Salary : $69,601.00 - $110,382.00 Annually
Location : 1301 Piccard Dr Rockville MD 20850 USA
Job Type: State/County
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Department of Health and Human Services
Division: HHS 60 Office of Eligibility and Support Services
Opening Date: 09/24/2026
Closing Date: 10/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Non-Exempt

About the Position
Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $61,604 to $66,444 if filled at the Grade 17 level, or $69,601 to $99,183 if filled at the Grade 20 level, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience."

Government Assistance Eligibility Specialist I

Multiple Positions

Office of Eligibility and Support Services
What You'll Be Doing
The Government Assistance Eligibility Specialist I (GAES I) will work at the entry-developmental level in determining eligibility of County residents for various programs that assist individuals, families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities needing financial and/or medical assistance and other support services.

The GAES I will receive formal and on-the-job training in income assistance eligibility procedures, while performing duties of limited scope intended to introduce them to the field. They receive assignments of gradually increasing complexity until they become fully proficient in all aspects of eligibility determination and interpersonal relations.

The GAES I works with applicants, their families, and/or their representatives; professional social service and related staff within the department; State and Federal agencies, other counties, community social service agencies, and service providers to obtain or verify information, resolve problems, coordinate actions regarding eligibility determinations, or refer people and cases to other service units or agencies.

After successfully completing several training cohorts, a GAES I will work under the direct supervision of a unit supervisor. Work is subject to specific County, State, and Federal guidelines and regulations.

Incumbents work in an environment that values quality customer service and treats all populations with respect and dignity. Positions may require flexible work hours to provide service at various locations throughout Montgomery County and through teleworking. These positions will also be required to represent HHS in enrollment events or community outreach events to inform the public about the availability of HHS programs. This could require an adjusted work week to cover weekends or evenings.
Programs:

Family Investment/Income Supports: determines initial and ongoing eligibility for Income Support Programs, including Temporary Cash Assistance, Temporary Disability Assistance Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), Public Assistance to Adults, and Medical Assistance; conduct and complete initial interviews, process cases, authorize benefits, make necessary referrals to other services and programs and maintain an ongoing caseload to meet all established requirements.
Child Care Subsidy (Working Parents Assistance) Program: determine initial and ongoing eligibility for the Working Parents' Assistance Program.
Maryland Health Connection and County Health Services: determines initial and ongoing eligibility for various healthcare programs.
Medical Assistance (Long-term Care):covers a portion of the cost of care in long-term care facilities, for aged, blind or disabled persons whose available income is insufficient to meet the entire cost. Other medical services are also covered. The position requires an understanding of financial statements.
Additional Information:

Working Offsite Locations: This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office.

Evening and Weekend Hours: This position requires the ability to work some evening and weekend hours.

Physical Requirements: This position may require the ability to walk up and down steps when attending meetings or working outside the office.

Medical Protocol: If selected for this position, you will be subject to a pre-employment Medical check through the Montgomery County Office of Medical Services. An applicant who fails the medical history review may be disqualified from employment for this position.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Experience: None.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Candidates with the following experiences are strongly preferred: human service eligibility determination, direct customer service functions such as completing interviews, addressing and resolving customer issues
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
Preferred Criteria:

The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:

• Experience working in a high-paced environment providing customer service. Work experience in health or human services environments or call centers is strongly desired
• Experience providing data entry input into computer systems, or working with multiple databases
• Experience working in a health or human services environment, working within policy guidelines

Interview Criteria:

Interview selection will be based on the following interview preference criteria:

• Experience working in a high-paced environment
• Experience multitasking
• Experience working with computer applications and navigating databases
• Experience working with and providing customer service including problem resolution
• Knowledge of Public Assistance Programs

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
01

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

02

How many years of experience do you have in human services eligibility determination, direct customer service functions, such as completing eligibility interviews, or addressing and/or resolving customer issues related to eligibility determination?

• No Experience
• 0-1 Year of Experience
• 1-2 Years of Experience
• 2-3 Years of Experience
• 3-4 Years of Experience
• 4-5 Years of Experience
• 5 or more Years of Experience

03

Do you have experience providing data-entry into computer systems, or working with multiple databases?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provid