How to hire an eligibility specialist

How to hire an eligibility specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step eligibility specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an eligibility specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new eligibility specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an eligibility specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the eligibility specialist you need to hire. Certain eligibility specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an eligibility specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an eligibility specialist that fits the bill.

   This list presents eligibility specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Eligibility Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Eligibility Specialist	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$14-21
   Support Staff	School support staff provide specialized instructional and student support while utilizing school facilities. They often include diverse staff members whose main role is to ensure that students learn in a supportive and safe learning environment... Show more	$12-19
   Eligibility Worker	An eligibility worker is in charge of determining an individual's eligibility for social services and benefits such as financial and housing aid. Their responsibilities include gathering and reviewing applications, conducting interviews and assessments, and coordinating with various agencies to arrange services... Show more	$14-23

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Medicaid
   • Patients
   • Provide Technical Assistance
   • Social Work
   • Data Entry
   • Community Resources
   • Program Eligibility
   • Eligibility Determination
   • Client Eligibility
   • Public Assistance Programs
   • Social Services
   • Social Security
   • Health Insurance
   • Federal Laws

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage assignments of paying medical bills limit in depth that include organizing and researching regulations as pertain to veterans eligibility.
   • Demonstrate competency in basic understanding of Medicaid, policies, forms and DHS policy.
   • Coordinate these efforts by working with DES staff, other state agencies, FEMA and other volunteering private organizations.
   • Conduct Medicaid and TANF eligibility interviews.
   • Interview patients using multiple data base system to assess and determine Medicaid eligibility coverage for long term care services.
   • Experience with disability claim process as DHS eligibility worker desire.

   More eligibility specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your eligibility specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An eligibility specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, eligibility specialists' average salary in florida is 38% less than in iowa.
   • Seniority. Entry-level eligibility specialists earn 33% less than senior-level eligibility specialists.
   • Certifications. An eligibility specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an eligibility specialist's salary.

   Average eligibility specialist salary

   $37,322yearly

   $17.94 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level eligibility specialist salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average eligibility specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$47,733	$23
   2	Minnesota	$47,277	$23
   3	Washington	$44,823	$22
   4	California	$43,486	$21
   5	New York	$42,578	$20
   6	Oregon	$41,733	$20
   7	Nevada	$41,303	$20
   8	Wyoming	$41,184	$20
   9	Colorado	$40,944	$20
   10	Utah	$38,093	$18
   11	Maine	$36,959	$18
   12	Arkansas	$34,583	$17
   13	New Mexico	$33,964	$16
   14	Tennessee	$32,061	$15
   15	Texas	$32,007	$15
   16	Arizona	$31,499	$15
   17	South Carolina	$30,916	$15
   18	North Carolina	$30,549	$15
   19	Florida	$29,633	$14

   Average eligibility specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	CBIZ	$44,990	$21.63
   2	University of Nevada, Reno	$43,068	$20.71	1
   3	Highland General Hospital	$42,846	$20.60
   4	Health Research, Inc.	$42,619	$20.49
   5	Integra LifeSciences	$42,518	$20.44
   6	Alameda Health System	$42,393	$20.38	2
   7	Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority	$42,153	$20.27
   8	Minnesota State Fair	$42,148	$20.26
   9	County of Riverside	$42,099	$20.24	3
   10	Texas	$42,004	$20.19	7
   11	BNY Mellon	$41,741	$20.07
   12	Orange County	$41,678	$20.04
   13	Napa County, California	$41,296	$19.85
   14	Washington State University	$41,112	$19.77
   15	HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County	$41,023	$19.72
   16	S.C. Department of Commerce	$40,978	$19.70
   17	Wyoming	$40,767	$19.60	5
   18	Maine	$40,673	$19.55	1
   19	Graystone Eye	$40,620	$19.53
   20	Arizonas Children Association	$40,387	$19.42	4

4. Writing an eligibility specialist job description

   An eligibility specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an eligibility specialist job description:

   Eligibility specialist job description example

   Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 diverse employees, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.
   
   Performs technical work in obtaining Medicaid/Social Security (SSI) insurance coverage for indigent patients to expedite reimbursement for medical services. Will take the patient through the entire Medicaid application process from application to award or denial. Will have authority to represent the Health Care System at each of the four levels of appeals when applications are denied.
   Responsibilities:
   1. Obtains detailed personal, financial and asset information to determine if patient qualifies for one of ten Medicaid/SSI programs. Completes or assists the patient with completion of Medicaid application. Explains the programs and advises patients of methods to become eligible by rearranging finances and assets. Follows through with applicants to obtain accurate and complete information within strict timeframes. Positions must have substantive knowledge of various rules and regulations governing the ten Medicaid programs. Interprets and applies frequent changes in program regulations to expedite applications.
   2. Reviews denials from Medicaid/SSI and researches denial information with patients. Advocates for patient coverage with local and state Medicaid offices to obtain reversal of initial denial. Abstracts information, prepares appeals and represents UNC Health Care System in appeal hearings at local, state (Division of Medical Assistance), Office of Administrative Hearings, and state court to present supportive evidence for patients denial reversal
   Other Information Education Requirements:
   ● Associate's degree in an appropriate discipline (or equivalent combination of education, training and experience).
   Professional Experience Requirements:
   ● If an Associate's degree: Two (2) years of experience in a social services or healthcare organization.
   ● If a High School diploma or GED: Four (4) years of experience in a social services or healthcare organization.
   
   Job Details Legal Employer: NCHEALTH Entity : Shared Services
   Organization Unit : Medicaid Eligibility Work Type : Full Time
   Standard Hours Per Week : 40.00 Work Schedule : Day Job Location of Job : US:NC:Raleigh Exempt From Overtime : Exempt: No

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find eligibility specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any eligibility specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level eligibility specialists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your eligibility specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit eligibility specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with eligibility specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new eligibility specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect eligibility specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new eligibility specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an eligibility specialist?