As an eligibility technician, Guillermo Vigil helps customers access vital human services that improves their quality of life and he knows he’s making a difference in the community where he lives and works.
“I love this job. There's nothing as satisfying as helping someone with a serious health issue, get the medical care they need or someone who cannot afford a healthy meal get fresh food on their table,” said Vigil, who is an Eligibility Technician I for the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) in Cathedral City.
Vigil is one of 1233 eligibility technicians at DPSS who assess and facilitate access to crucial assistance programs that ensure residents receive the support they need to thrive in Riverside County. “The best part of my job is when I let someone know that they have been approved to receive benefits,” said Vigil who appeared in this DPSS video. “I can tell how relieved they feel when they hear the good news.”
Eligibility Technician Appreciation Week was celebrated recently highlighting the importance of their daily work as it touches the lives of countless families and adults throughout the region. Last year, DPSS distributed more than $1.2 billion in benefits to one million residents in Riverside County.
“This week is a special time to recognize the important role that eligibility technicians play in bringing resources to communities in need,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors Chuck Washington. “We appreciate their work every single day, including this week.”
Charity Douglas, director of DPSS, expressed her gratitude to these workers for their pivotal role in lifting residents out of poverty.
“This week is reminder of the immense value you bring to DPSS,” said Douglas in a message to staff. “You impact lives daily. Your work does not go unnoticed.”
Vigil, the eligibility technician in the desert, said he was able to turn to DPSS during the pandemic when he and his children needed help. “It is really rewarding for me to help people who are in same spot I was,” he said.
Riverside County is hiring additional technicians like Vigil to assist residents in obtaining childcare, cash, and food assistance, as well as health coverage, housing, and employment services through programs such as CalFresh, CalWORKs and Medi-Cal.
“An eligibility technician is often the first person an individual or family will encounter when they reach out to us for help,” said Allison Gonzalez, assistant director of DPSS who oversees the Self-Sufficiency Division. “Our technicians care deeply and have compassion for those they assist,” Gonzalez added. “This is a fantastic profession for anyone who wants to make a positive impact on their community and has a heart for service.”
The County of Riverside offers eligibility technicians a full-time salary, job training and opportunities for career advancement. This position also includes a comprehensive benefits package with paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan. No experience is required, and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Find out what more about what it is like to be an DPSS eligibility technician here and anyone interested in this career opportunity can apply at DPSSJobs.org.
For over a century, the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) has supported and improved the health, safety, independence and wellbeing of Riverside County’s children, adults, and families. With more than 4,500 employees, the department serves more than one million residents in the nation’s tenth most populous county. Learn more here.