Eligibility Specialist Jobs in Arlington, TX
Most eligibility specialist jobs around Arlington are state jobs with Texas Health and Human Services, which now titles the role Eligibility Advisor and pays Eligibility Advisor I $35,439 to $52,388 a year. Current openings are below, followed by who hires in Tarrant County, pay and how to qualify.
Current eligibility specialist Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Eligibility Specialist Work in Arlington
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) determines who qualifies for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid and Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities (MEPD), and its eligibility advisors do that work by interviewing applicants and authorizing benefits. HHSC's current Eligibility Advisor I posting is based at its Grand Prairie office at 801 S State Hwy 161, just east of Arlington, and lists Arlington and Fort Worth among its North Texas locations. The posting is a temporary position funded through August 31, 2027, and temporary staff may transfer into regular openings, so it is a real foot in the door with the state.
The rest of the local market sits in health care. JPS Health Network, Tarrant County's public hospital district in Fort Worth, runs an Enrollment and Eligibility department that helps patients qualify for coverage, and Texas Health Resources hires financial counselors who walk patients through Medicaid applications at its DFW hospitals.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Eligibility Specialists
Eligibility work in the Arlington area is split between the state benefits agency and the region's hospital systems:
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission - hiring Eligibility Advisor I for SNAP, TANF, MEPD and Medicaid cases out of its Grand Prairie office, with Arlington and Fort Worth among listed locations.
- JPS Health Network - the Tarrant County hospital district's Enrollment and Eligibility department employs eligibility and enrollment specialists.
- Texas Health Resources - hires full-time financial counselors who help hospital patients apply for Medicaid.
Eligibility Specialist Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: Eligibility Advisor I, state salary group B13, $35,439 to $52,388 a year (about $2,953 to $4,366 a month as posted).
- Experienced: Eligibility Advisor II and III, groups B14 and B15, $37,144 to $58,045 a year.
- Senior: Eligibility Advisor IV and V, groups B16 and B17, $40,918 to $64,469 a year.
These are the official state ranges for September 2025 through August 2027; where an offer lands inside a range depends on experience and the agency's hiring rules, so treat the low end as the realistic start. Hospital financial counselor postings do not show pay. State jobs also carry state health insurance and retirement, which adds meaningfully to total pay.
How to Become an Eligibility Specialist in Arlington
There is no state license for eligibility work. HHSC's Eligibility Advisor I posting asks for a high school diploma or GED plus 1 year of customer service experience with public contact; 30 semester hours of college can substitute for the experience, and 60 hours plus client interviewing experience is preferred. Hires pass a fingerprint background check, and HHSC provides paid, formal training on program rules. College hours are easy to build locally at Tarrant County College Southeast Campus on Southeast Parkway, and the Arlington Workforce Center at 2000 E Lamar Blvd is the area's public job center.
What the Job Involves
Eligibility specialists interview applicants by phone or in person, verify income, household and residency details, enter case data, apply program rules and decide whether someone qualifies for benefits such as SNAP or Medicaid. The work runs on processing deadlines and accuracy standards, and much of it happens at a computer, with regular contact with people under financial stress.
Skills Employers Look For
- Fast, accurate data entry and attention to detail
- Reading and applying detailed program policy
- Interviewing and active listening
- Staying organized under caseload and deadline pressure
- Patience and professionalism with people in hardship
- Comfort with case management software
Career Path and Advancement
The state ladder is built into the job title: Eligibility Advisor I through V, each a higher salary group, with experienced advisors moving on to quality review, supervisor and program specialist roles within HHSC. Eligibility experience also carries over to hospital patient access and financial counseling at JPS Health Network and Texas Health Resources, where it leads toward patient financial services management.
Related Careers in Arlington
If eligibility work interests you, these related Arlington roles use similar skills:
- Government Office Clerk Jobs
- Customer Service Representative Jobs
- Data Entry Clerk Jobs
- Records Specialist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be an eligibility specialist in Texas?
No. There is no state license for this role. HHSC hires on education and experience, runs a fingerprint background check, and then trains you on benefit programs with pay.
Is a Texas Works Advisor the same as an Eligibility Advisor?
Yes. The state renamed the Texas Works Advisor job classification to Eligibility Advisor effective September 1, 2025. Some HHSC pages still use the old title, so search for both.
How much do eligibility specialists make in Arlington?
State Eligibility Advisor I pay runs $35,439 to $52,388 a year, and the top Eligibility Advisor V range reaches $64,469. New hires usually start near the bottom of the range.
Can eligibility advisors work from home?
HHSC's current posting says the job is eligible for telework, subject to state and agency policy and the supervisor's approval. The same posting notes travel of up to 10 percent and overtime that can include weekends.
What does a temporary HHSC eligibility job mean?
The current Eligibility Advisor I openings are funded through August 31, 2027. Temporary employees may transfer into a regular vacant position, so many people use these openings to get started with the state.
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