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.

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.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Must have a qualifying degree or certificate.
• Security and/or background investigation required.
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results.
• Selectees are required to serve a trial period.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Recent Graduates Program, applicants must have completed all requirements of an academic course of study leading to an associates, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or qualifying certificate program from an accredited educational institution within the 2 years preceding the closing date of this announcement. Preference-eligible veterans who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period are entitled to a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the preference eligible veteran completed the requirements of an academic course of study.

FOR RECENT GRADUATE ELIGIBILITY: The transcript(s) or official letter from the registrar's office MUST include the date your degree or certificate was conferred. Applications will not be considered without this documentation. NOTE: Copies of degrees, certificates, and diplomas are not considered acceptable documents to determine Recent Graduate Program eligibility.

Proof of education must be submitted with your application package and received by the closing date of the announcement.
Candidates must meet the basic qualification requirements for the position being filled, including any positive education requirements and/or selective placement factors.

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.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR

Meet and Deal Panel Interview: Applicants will be required to participate in a structured panel interview to demonstrate an aptitude for meeting and dealing with the public. This interview will be administered/conducted utilizing the Competency Assessment Interview Process (CAIP).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. Candidates 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 Meet and Deal panel interview, you will not qualify for the job.
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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.

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/10792894

For additional information see: What to include in your resume.

Numerical scores will be assigned on a scale of 100. Each applicant who meets the qualification requirements for the position will be assigned a rating of 70 or more and will be eligible for appointment. Preference eligible veterans scoring 70 or more will receive additional points for veterans' preference.