Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
Machines can already do 54% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 80%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 54% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 6% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 80% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 154,800 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $54,210 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 70% for contact with people.
- Also called: Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician), Business and Employment Specialist, Case Manager, Eligibility Examiner.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status | 17% | 70% to 95% | |
| Interview and investigate applicants for public assistance to gather information pertinent to their applications | 15% | 55% to 85% | |
| Keep records of assigned cases, and prepare required reports | 12% | 70% to 95% | |
| Compute and authorize amounts of assistance for programs, such as grants, monetary payments, and food stamps | 9% | 50% to 85% | |
| Interview benefits recipients at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits | 8% | 55% to 85% | |
| Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, payment methods, and applicants' legal rights | 8% | 40% to 68% | |
| Initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate assistance, or refer applicants to other agencies for assistance | 8% | 10% to 32% | |
| Answer applicants' questions about benefits and claim procedures | 7% | 81% to 87% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills eligibility interviewers, government programs use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
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- Special Education Teachers, Elementary School52% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of eligibility interviewers, government programs?
Machines can do 54% of the tasks of eligibility interviewers, government programs today and 80% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 43-4061.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/eligibility-interviewers-government-programs/