Income Maintenance Workers: Technicians or Service Providers?

Although social services have been separated from income maintenance for almost 15 years, the effects of this separation have not been determined. While the issues surrounding separation are numerous, the role of the eligibility, or income maintenance, worker is of particular importance. Although this role has been defined primarily as a technician, the accuracy of that definition has not been substantiated. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which income maintenance workers are involved in social service activities and the importance of these activities relative to financial eligibility functions. The findings indicate that, while eligibility functions are the central aspect of the income maintenance worker's role, selected access services are being provided by income maintenance workers.