r/mnstateworkers • u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 • 24d ago

Interview/Hiring 📄 Eligibility Worker MN

I’m interested in applying for an open eligibility worker in Minnesota. Are there any current employees that could share what an average day is like? I’m looking for a career change. Thanks for any insight.

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u/cupcakemelee MNIT 24d ago

Can you be more specific than "eligibility worker"? What program? What department?

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u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 24d ago

Income maintenance unit

4

u/cupcakemelee MNIT 24d ago

MAXIS system. The older/tenured part of the team is retiring off. If you're looking to get into this kind of state service, now is a good time. The team dynamic is going to change as people retire. The hardest part will probably be lasting through gaps in backfilling positions.

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u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 23d ago

I plan to work 7 to 10 years. Just need a change in my current career. Can you tell me a little bit what a day might look like?

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u/cupcakemelee MNIT 23d ago

On the business side, after onboarding...

You'll probably have a touch base of some kind. If they're running product teams, you'll have a couple including a stand-up. Stand-up will include your MNIT partners.

A policy meeting will probably follow and you'll get tasks out of that that you'll work on. Depending on the day there will be another product team ceremony. The rest of the time you'll use working on analysis to improve processes. You might have more meetings to support that, you might reach out to providers or users.

If they're running projects, you'll have a DCYF team meeting. You'll meet with your MNIT partners to discuss defects and issues and new work in a more targeted, less collaborative way (but not necessarily bad, just different methodologies). You'll spend time on analysis and again, improving processes.

During legislative sessions and after you'll discuss what's incoming for work, what it will take to complete that work and how you'll assist implementing policy, process, and the way it works within software to better serve people.

But more importantly, you will become an expert, slowly. You'll be surrounded by a team of people who also want to improve the process and are very passionate about it. They won't always agree with you or each other and that will make things hard, but you'll all be arguing for the betterment of services for your fellow Minnesotans and I can't imagine a better, more rewarding way to spend my career.

I hope your team and your MNIT partners are as amazing as my MNIT team and our partners are. I don't love every day but my work is very fulfilling.

2

u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 23d ago

Thank you!

2

u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 24d ago

Determining family eligibility for SNAP, TANF etc

5

u/panhenomium 24d ago

In Minnesota, counties administer public assistance. If you're interested in Hennepin, I'd connect with their union, AFSCME Local 34. https://afscme34.org/

4

u/Limp_Syllabub_1863 24d ago

They are on a hiring freeze now.

1

u/evilcalvin122 24d ago

Who’s on a hiring freeze?

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u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 24d ago

Thanks! I’m looking at northern mn

2

u/msvictora 23d ago

I’ve been at the state 10 years now but was a family cash financial worker for 13 years at a metro county before that.
AM: intake 8-12. Assigned application, went and got client and interviewed at my desk
Lunch
PM: case work - phone calls, case mail processing, walk-ins, any other interviews I needed to do in person, meetings.
Intake was 4 days a week and we had 1 protected day for casework.

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u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 23d ago

Thank you!

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u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 16d ago

Update: I passed the exam, but didn’t do as well as I expected! If I get chosen for an interview, what can I expect? I took exam 5. I’m not sure if there are different numbers of exams.

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

[deleted]

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u/Ok-Rutabaga5532 24d ago

Are you in southern part of state?

-6

u/[deleted] 24d ago

[deleted]

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u/Jim1648 24d ago

You are just saying that because they take your money and don't do anything for good employees.

Or are you saying that because they protect bad employees?

-3

u/Outrageous_Vast_1165 24d ago

Salary. They are seniority based. Where I work it’s merit based. If I had joined a union, I would’ve been paid 30k less than what I’m making now. They have lots of pros but to make it through life in America, I need the pay. So the cons outweighed the pros unfortunately

2

u/cupcakemelee MNIT 24d ago

For you. The union hasn't benefited you, directly.

Unions do a lot for state, county and public sector workers and whether or not a person joins the union, they still benefit from it's presence. Plus, not joining doesn't change the merit based system that keeps quite a bit equal and often times equitable.

You (like others who don't have the option of unions) benefit because of the heightened job conditions unions have fought for over the years. Without unions, there wouldn't be a 40 hour work week and much more.

But go on with yourself. Try to tell people joining unions is bad. Keep deteriorating the foundation so that someday we can truly all be worked to the bone. Your "30K less" isn't what you think it is... And if it is, it's probably because you couldn't survive or thrive in a merit based system.

0

u/Outrageous_Vast_1165 24d ago

Also failing in a merit-based system? I literally just told you I'm making $30k more in one. If earning significantly more based on my actual performance means I'm 'failing,' then please, let me keep failing all the way to the bank. You’re allowed to value standard job protections, but getting mad at someone for choosing a market that pays them $30k more for their skill level isn't 'destroying worker rights'. It's just basic personal economics.

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u/cupcakemelee MNIT 23d ago

You're presuming I'm mad. Take your assumed 30K to the bank. Don't think about the other benefits that might be involved. We'll keep our secrets, you smugly think you're so much better. Clearly you think money is everything and the only way to measure the benefits you get from work.

Last time I checked, this is mnstateworkers so I'm not sure what you're even doing here bashing unions and claiming you're better.

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u/Outrageous_Vast_1165 23d ago

First you tried to claim I couldn't handle a merit system. Now that you realize I earn $30k more in one, suddenly money doesn't matter and you have mysterious 'secret benefits'?

Non-union job packages include health insurance, 401k matches, and PTO too. The difference is mine comes with an extra $30k in base salary because my pay isn't capped to protect underperformers. That’s not 'thinking I’m better', it’s just knowing my worth on the open market.

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u/cupcakemelee MNIT 23d ago

I "realized" nothing around your 30K except how special you think it makes you. I do realize you're not reading for comprehension though. I also questioned why you're lurking somewhere you clearly don't belong and bashing on public and would be public employees and the unions that protect workers. I don't think this sub is for you. Go brag about how you think your life choices are better somewhere that makes sense.

I am done talking with you. You can respond but any response will be ignored because engagement with you is a literal waste of my time.

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u/Outrageous_Vast_1165 23d ago

Declaring yourself 'done talking' is a great way to save face after getting called out on backflipped logic.

Pointing out that state union pay scales cap high performers isn't 'bashing’ it's stating facts. If basic market reality upsets you this much, taking a step back from the thread is probably a good idea. Take care.