The Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer) serves within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Office of Compensation Service in Anchorage, AK. The incumbent of this position will adjudicate claims, authorize payments, and input data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the veteran describing the decision and the reason for it.
Summary
The Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer) serves within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Office of Compensation Service in Anchorage, AK. The incumbent of this position will adjudicate claims, authorize payments, and input data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the veteran describing the decision and the reason for it.
This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Anchorage, AK VBA Regional Office employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible.
Specific duties for the VSR Authorizer are as follows:
Serves as an Authorizer reviewing all required work of other Veterans Service Representatives when a second signature is required.
Reviews and approves work for technical accuracy, clarity, thoroughness, and sensitivity of notification.
Ensures that notices of decisions are prepared with an empathetic tone and are complete and phrased in terms that the claimant can understand and must be familiar with rating procedures to ensure proper notification to the claimant.
Makes administrative decisions and special determinations relating to qualifying military service, character of discharge, domestic relations contested claims, homicide, presumed death,line of duty, or willful misconduct, corpus of estate, and violations of U.S. Penal Code, related attorney fees, administrative error, and fraud.
Authorizes administrative decisions made by other Veterans Service Representatives including character of discharge, line of duty, or willful misconduct, corpus of estate, and apportionment decisions.
Explains a final decision if a veteran expresses an indication of dissatisfaction with a determination (filed in person, by telephone, or by mail). Explains the decision in question in an effort to gain acceptance of the determination, and also explains the post-decision review process.
Uses electronic data processing (EDP) systems for inputting data related to claims adjudication, processing, monitoring, and correspondence preparation.
Acts as an advocate for veterans and their beneficiaries in their dealings with other VA elements and organizations that affect their claims.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer), 02105A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
You may be required to serve a probationary period
Subject to background/security investigation
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:01/30/2020.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal employees holding a GS grade, you must meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 level or held the GS-11 or higher grade.
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-11 Grade Level:
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-10). Specialized experience is defined as: (1) Comprehensive experience applying federal, state, and local laws regarding VA benefit programs; (2) Training, mentoring, or working with individuals in a diverse workforce with varying levels of experience; (3) Evaluating supporting evidence to determine eligibility leading to entitlement of awarding of VA benefits; and (4) Applying state laws pertaining to conservator ship and estate administration. OR
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-11 grade level.
Education substitution of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree; OR
Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related. OR
Equivalent combinations of Specialized Experience and Graduate Education: To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two and a half years by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 to qualify.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary.
Education
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. See the Required Documents section for accreditation requirements.
Additional information
VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This is a bargaining unit position.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
You will be rated on your VSR Skills Certification results and the following competencies based on your application for this position:
Knowledge of federal laws pertaining to compensation and pension and VA regulations and procedures which implement these laws including M21-1, 38 Code of Federal Regulations, etc., to accurately adjudicate claims and develop for rating issues;
Ability to work with, train, and mentor individuals with diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and varying experience levels.
Skill in written communication to inform claimants of decisions, the reason and basis for decisions, appellate rights, and evidence requirements.
Skill in interpreting and applying laws, regulations, and procedures to promulgate rating decisions, adjudicate cases and/or authorize claims; AND
Knowledge of medical terms to include anatomy and physiology sufficient to assure that all issues have been addressed to promulgate rating decisions and/or authorize claims.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Resume detailing your specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
A copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50.
To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
CTAP Eligibles: You must submit a Certification of Expected Separation, a Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or a Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and your most recent performance appraisal.
Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/30/2020 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10692577.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Anchorage Regional Benefit Office
1201 North Muldoon Road
Anchorage, AK 99504
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Resume detailing your specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
A copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50.
To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
CTAP Eligibles: You must submit a Certification of Expected Separation, a Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or a Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and your most recent performance appraisal.
Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/30/2020 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10692577.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Anchorage Regional Benefit Office
1201 North Muldoon Road
Anchorage, AK 99504
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
