How to hire a public assistance caseworker

How to hire a public assistance caseworker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step public assistance caseworker hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the public assistance caseworker you need to hire. Certain public assistance caseworker 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

   Hiring the perfect public assistance caseworker also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of public assistance caseworkers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Public Assistance Caseworker	Description	Hourly rate
   Public Assistance Caseworker	Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.	$15-25
   Youth Development Professional	Youth Development Professionals are specialists in implementing and overseeing programs to help adolescents discover their abilities and interests. They are responsible for coordinating career days and field trips, organizing mentorship sessions, create youth outreach projects, and assisting community organizations in youth provision development... Show more	$9-45
   Youth Advocate	Youth advocates are individuals who responsible for maintaining the human rights of youth while assisting them in developing their skills in all areas of life, such as education, health, employment, and relationships. These advocates are required to discuss youth development and involvement with various leaders in the community... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Medicaid
   • Mental Health
   • TANF
   • Social Services
   • Community Resources
   • Schedule Appointments
   • Child Support
   • Community Agencies
   • Financial Assistance
   • Public Assistance Programs
   • Social Security
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Front Desk

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Establish collaborative relationships with patients within a supportive atmosphere to assist in confronting drug relate behavior and achieving sobriety.
   • Determine eligibility of clients for WIC services.
   • Assist officers from DHS for final round interview before resettlement.
   • Issue WIC vouchers, input payroll, fax and copies records, other clerical duties as needed.
   • Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance, food stamps, and medicaid to gather information pertinent to their applications.
   • Determine eligibility for public assistance programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your public assistance caseworker job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A public assistance caseworker can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, public assistance caseworkers' average salary in mississippi is 58% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level public assistance caseworkers 40% less than senior-level public assistance caseworkers.
   • Certifications. A public assistance caseworker with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a public assistance caseworker's salary.

   Average public assistance caseworker salary

   $41,526yearly

   $19.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level public assistance caseworker salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a public assistance caseworker job description

   A job description for a public assistance caseworker role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a public assistance caseworker job description:

   Public assistance caseworker job description example

   Job Title: Casework Assistant
   
   Sector: Social Work
   
   Employment Category: Regular
   
   Employment Type: Full-Time
   
   Open to Expatriates: Not Applicable
   
   Location: Boise, ID USA
   
   Job Description
   
   Job Overview: The Casework Assistant provides trauma-informed services to refugees and other qualified immigrants to support a positive resettlement experience and the achievement of client self-sufficiency. The Casework Assistant carries out activities to meet individual client needs and preferences utilizing a broad range of financial, medical, social, vocational, and other services and resources in accordance with client eligibility and program requirements.
   
   Major Responsibilities:
   
   Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
   
   + Complete financial education coaching with clients.
   
   + Complete household budgets with clients.
   
   + Complete applications for lower cost housing with clients.
   
   + Support the Financial Education Specialist with credit building loan applications for clients.
   
   + Track Idaho Community Advisory Network (ICAN) enrollments, services, closure in notes in the Statewide Refugee Information System (SRIS) and in Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).
   
   + Complete case note review and file review tasks as requested.
   
   + Carry out timely pre- and post-arrival tasks to ensure each client has living essentials such as housing, food, medical care, and access to transportation, and is oriented to their new environment.
   
   + Support efforts to link clients with appropriate educational, health, and social services. Assist clients to attain their established goals, address challenges, and utilize available resources.
   
   + Detail client interactions in accordance with program requirements. Input client information in database(s) and assist with tracking and reporting as needed.
   
   + Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations. Build and maintain relationships with area service providers for the benefit of clients.
   
   + Use personal, insured vehicle and/or public transportation (where available) to travel and transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area.
   
   + May provide interpretation services.
   
   + Other duties as assigned.
   
   Qualifications
   
   Education: High school diploma strongly preferred; Bachelor's degree in social work or related field of study preferred.
   
   Work & Life Experience:
   
   + Minimum of 1 year of relevant experience strongly preferred.
   
   + Lived refugee or immigrant experience strongly preferred.
   
   + Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferred.
   
   Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:
   
   + Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
   
   + Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
   
   + Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
   
   + Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
   
   + Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
   
   + Fluent in one or more language(s) spoken by a client group.
   
   + Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research and problem-solving purposes.
   
   + Valid driver's license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.
   
   Working Environment:
   
   + A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and 'field' time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
   
   + May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.
   
   Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.
   
   COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement : In accordance with IRC's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find public assistance caseworkers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit public assistance caseworkers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 public assistance caseworker

   Once you have selected a candidate for the public assistance caseworker position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new public assistance caseworker. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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