Duties

Summary

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM those eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) in the commuting area of the locations listed in the vacancy announcement, VEOA eligible and Military Spouse eligible .

This position is located in our Silver Spring Field Office, 10230 New Hampshire Av, Suite 304, Silver Spring, MD 20903.

Promotion Potential: The GS-11 is the full performance level.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Once selected for the Claims Specialist position in SSA, you will contribute to the Agency's mission through direct and personal service to the public. This includes speaking with beneficiaries about their rights under the Social Security laws, gathering facts and evidence to establish eligibility for benefits, making critical decisions to determine the amount of benefits paid to individuals, and using state-of-the-art computer technology to access and update information about claims. Desired skills: written and oral communication, interpersonal, analytical, problem solving, decisiveness and automation.

The Social Insurance Specialist (Claims Specialist) reviews and authorizes claims and other complex determinations for benefits under Titles II, XVI and/or XVIII of the Social Security Act. Claims Specialists conduct interviews with the public to obtain, clarify, and verify information about initial and continuing eligibility for retirement, survivors, disability, health insurance benefits, and eligibility for supplemental security income including State supplements. In addition, they resolve discrepancies, clarify issues and make final decisions for initial and post-entitlement for benefits and payments; adjudicate and authorize entitlement or disallowance actions at all levels of difficulty and complexity under programs administered by SSA; and use state of-the-art technology to access and update claims information. Adjudicates and authorizes entitlement or disallowance actions at all levels of difficulty and complexity under programs administered by SSA. Develops, investigates, and resolves claims and post-entitlement actions that may involve suspension, resumption, adjustment, or termination of eligibility, or payments.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Proof of ICTAP or VEOA eligibility required
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results.
• Must pass the Competency Assessment Interview Process (CAIP).

Qualifications

COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW PROCESS (CAIP) INTERVIEW

Applicants will be required to participate in a panel interview (after basic eligibility determination) to demonstrate an aptitude for meeting and dealing with the public. Applicants must pass this interview process in order to be found fully qualified for this position and receive further consideration for selection. This interview will cover typical situations, which might be encountered on the job, in person or over the telephone. Applicants must demonstrate qualities such as clarity of speech, ability to listen, ability to establish confidence and put others at ease and the ability to organize and express thoughts clearly. If you do not pass the CAIP interview, you will not qualify for the job.

Bilingual Ability in Spanish and English is required.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

If you are using experience to qualify, you must have:
GS-5: Three years of general experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the federal service that demonstrates the ability to 1) analyze problems, identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; 2) plan and organize work; 3) communicate effectively orally and in writing; and 4) use online technology and automation tools. Examples of qualifying experience include analyzing, explaining, applying or interpreting laws, rules, regulation or policies.

Note: Part-time work is prorated in crediting experience (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12 month period, you will be credited with 6 months of experience).

Education

Substituting Education
For information on substituting education for experience, visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/group-stds/gs-cler.asp

GS-5: Completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree OR a combination of post-high school education and the general experience described above. One year of study is defined as 30 earned semester hours or 45 earned quarter hours.

Combining Education and Experience:
GS-5: Experience and education as described above may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements.

If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position. Experience and education will be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal to 100 percent when combined.

Additional information

In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicants must be eligible under one of the following categories:

Displaced or surplus Federal employees eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP).

Veterans who are eligible for preference OR who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or more years of continuous active service, including veterans who were separated shortly before completing the required 3-year period, are eligible for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

In addition to meeting the basic eligibility criteria, ICTAP applicants must be well qualified for the position. Well-qualified is defined as having knowledge, skills, and abilities that clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Under numeric rating procedures, qualified ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of 85 or higher to be eligible for selection.

Military Spouse Appointing Authority. You may be eligible for an appointment under the Military Spouse Appointing Authority if you are:

1) The spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces;

2) The spouse of a former service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected disability; or

3) The un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while on active duty.

Each of these categories has different eligibility criteria that must be met. Individuals applying for consideration under this authority MUST provide the applicable supporting documentation (e.g., documentation verifying marriage, DD-214 member 4, copy of a statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs or a branch of the military certifying the service member's service-connected disability rating, DD-1300, statement from military installation certifying current active duty etc.). You are no longer eligible if you remarry.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov .

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include:

Knowledge of SSA mission, principles, objectives, policies, procedures, and entitlement programs.
Ability to research, interpret and apply standards, directives, policies and legislation.
Ability to communicate orally.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Skill in using online technology and automation tools.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and balance workloads.

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10944897 ~

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference or qualify on the basis of education.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

• proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
• proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

PROOF OF VEOA ELIGIBILITY: Applicants for consideration under the VEOA appointment authority must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD 214 member 4 copy), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other proof of eligibility. To be acceptable, the document must show Character of Service. For more information visit the Vet Guide .

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO VETERANS : The Office of Personnel Management has published the end date for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as August 31, 2010. To receive veterans' preference for service during the Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom era, you must have served for more than 180 days between September 11, 2001 and August 31, 2010 OR be in receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal. The updated CFR language is available here . Other qualifying eligibility for preference (e.g., disability) remains unchanged.

PROOF OF EDUCATION: If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts with the course title, number of credits, grade, and date of completion. To qualify, the degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in a foreign institution must be certified as equivalent to coursework completed at a U.S. college or university. Certification of equivalency must be submitted at the time of application. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services, log on to: Credential Evaluation Services .