Social Insurance Specialist (Claims Specialist)(TEMP)(ICTAP/Military Spouses)

Summary LOCATION: This position is located in the Xenia Social Security Field Office located at 80 N. Progress Drive, Xenia, OH 45385. TOUR OF DUTY: Flextime | Part-time | Alternate work schedules may be available. Responsibilities Once selected for the Claims Specialist position in SSA, you will contribute to the Agencys 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. 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. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. GS-11: Fifty-two weeks of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-9 level. Examples of specialized experience include developing, examining, investigating or authorizing of claims under a program for SSA benefits, health insurance, pension plan, income maintenance or related programs. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR 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. NOTE: Previous Meet and Deal results are not valid for this vacancy announcement; you will be required to complete the CAIP assessment. Time in grade requirement (ICTAP Eligibles Only) must be met by the closing date of this announcement. GS-11: Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at the GS-9 or higher. In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicants must be eligible under ICTAP, or Certain Military Spouse. Education GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or successful completion of three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, or LL.M. Combining Education and Experience: GS-11: Experience and graduate level education beyond the second year may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirement. Note: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school you attended has determined to represent one year of study. If this information is not provided, we will consider 18 semester/27 quarter hours to be equal to one year of full-time graduate study. 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. Providing Proof of Education or Substituting Education For information on providing proof of education or substituting education for experience, visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/group-stds/gs-cler.asp If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. 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. Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicants must be eligible under the following category: Displaced or surplus Federal employees eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). Certain Military Spouse. See Required Documents section for instructions on submitting proof. 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. Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement. This is a bargaining unit position represented by AFGE. 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.