The Social Security Administration (SSA) is accepting applications from people who wish to be considered for employment under its Selective Placement Program. SSA seeks to recruit and hire applicants with targeted disabilities by aiding these individuals in obtaining employment consistent with their level of skills and abilities. Such disabilities include severe physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities.
For more about Schedule A and eligibility requirements, please refer to this guide.
Summary
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is accepting applications from people who wish to be considered for employment under its Selective Placement Program. SSA seeks to recruit and hire applicants with targeted disabilities by aiding these individuals in obtaining employment consistent with their level of skills and abilities. Such disabilities include severe physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities.
For more about Schedule A and eligibility requirements, please refer to this guide.
Your application will be placed into a pool of individuals with disabilities for evaluation and referral to selecting officials for non-competitive hiring.
You may be contacted by interested selecting officials and asked to interview.
We will not be able to provide status updates other than the receipt of your application via an acknowledgement email from USAStaffingOffice@opm.gov.
You may update your application at any time until the closing date.
This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies at any time without notification, temporary or permanent, in any series or grade. Typical job opportunities within SSA can include, but are not limited to, the following occupations:
Public Contact: Claims Specialists, Customer Service Representatives
Duties of the positions will be included in the Additional Information section.
If you are using experience to qualify, you must have:
Contact Representative (Customer Service Representative) in Field Offices, GS-0962-5/6/7/8
GS-5: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal Service performing the following tasks: (1) Applying laws, regulations policies or procedures to provide assistance preparing forms or documents; (2) Answering questions from members of the public or their representatives to obtain or provide information; (3) Using a computer to reconcile discrepancies or entering data; and (4) responding to written inquiries and drafting a variety of other written products.
GS-6: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal Service performing the following tasks: (1) researching and analyzing various regulatory sources in order to apply legal requirements; (2) explaining rights, benefits, privileges, or obligations under a body of law to large volumes of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds; (3) using a computer to reconcile discrepancies and enter data in databases; and (4)responding to technical inquiries concerning program requirements, supporting documentation, payment issues, etc.
GS-7: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in the Federal Service performing the following tasks: (1) researching Federal, State, or County laws, regulations, policies and procedures to evaluate program eligibility or claims; (2) explaining legal provisions and resolving complex issues (e.g., obtaining benefits, payment interruptions, etc.) to a large volume of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds; (3) using a computer to reconcile discrepancies and enter data into databases; and (4) responding to technical inquiries concerning benefit entitlement, benefit payments, etc.
GS-8: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal Service performing the following tasks: 1) Using a working knowledge Federal, State, or County laws, regulations, policies and procedures to evaluate eligibility or claims in a benefits program; 2) Explaining complex legal provisions and resolving issues (e.g., obtaining benefits, payment interruptions, etc.) to large volumes of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds; 3) Using a computer to reconcile complex discrepancies and enter data into databases; and 4) responding to highly technical inquiries concerning benefit entitlement, benefit payments, etc.
Contact Representative (Customer Service Representative) in Teleservice Centers, GS-0962-5/6/7/8
GS-5: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service, that demonstrates experience applying rules, policies, or procedures to provide customer assistance, answering or asking customer questions to obtain or provide information, and using a computer to enter data.
GS-6: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service researching and analyzing rules, policies, procedures to respond to inquiries, explaining various sensitive topics to a varied audience, responding to inquiries concerning requirements, supporting documentation, and other issues, and using interviewing techniques to obtain and exchange information.
GS-7: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service independently researching regulations, policies, or procedures to resolve complex issues (e.g. obtaining benefits, payment interruptions, etc.), using a computer to reconcile discrepancies or enter data in databases, and responding to technical inquiries concerning topics such as entitlement to benefits or benefit payments.
GS-8: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal Service performing the following tasks: 1) Using a working knowledge Federal, State, or County laws, regulations, policies and procedures to evaluate eligibility or claims in a benefits program; 2) Explaining complex legal provisions and resolving issues (e.g., obtaining benefits, payment interruptions, etc.) to large volumes of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds; 3) Using a computer to reconcile complex discrepancies and enter data into databases; and 4) responding to highly technical inquiries concerning benefit entitlement, benefit payments, etc.
Social Insurance Specialist (Claims Specialist), GS-0105-5/7/9/11
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.
GS-7: Fifty-two weeks of specialized experience at the GS-5 grade level or equivalent in the federal service 1) assisting individuals in establishing their entitlement to receive benefits; 2) adjudicating, authorizing, or reconsidering claims; 3) explaining benefit entitlements or requirements to the general public; 4) evaluating benefit program operations to assess the integrity and quality; or 5) interpreting benefit program requirements to formulate policies, procedures, or guidelines.
GS-9: Fifty-two weeks of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-7 level. Examples of specialized experience include assisting individuals in establishing their entitlement to receive benefits; adjudicating or investigating claims; or evaluating benefit programs to assess the integrity and quality of operations.
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.
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).
For consideration under the Schedule A non-competitive hiring authority, please submit the following:
Documentation of your disability. Please see the Required Documents section below for examples of acceptable proof of an intellectual, severe physical, or psychiatric disability. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
Resume
College transcripts (if applicable)
Applicants wishing to be considered for employment at SSA through the Selective Placement Program may also submit an application using SSA's competitive selection process by responding to a specific job opportunity announcement listed on SSA's job opportunity page at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=SZ00&hp=public&p=1
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. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services, log on to: Credential Evaluation Services.
If you are using education to qualify, you must have:
Contact Representative (Customer Service Representative) in Field Offices and Teleservice Centers, GS-0962-5/6/7/8
GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study above high school (e.g., 120 earned semester hours, 180 earned quarter hours, bachelor's degree, etc.).
GS-6/7/8:There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at this grade level.
Combine Education and Experience: experience and education as described may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements.
GS-5: Education course work equivalent to a baccalaureate program beyond the second year (e.g., in excess of the first 60 earned semester or 90 earned quarter hours) is creditable toward meeting the minimum qualification requirements.
Social Insurance Specialist (Claims Specialist) GS-105-5/7/9/11
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.
GS-7: One full year of graduate level education in any field. One year of full-time graduate education is defined as 18 earned semester hours or 27 earned quarter hours. A combination of graduate level education and the specialized experience as described above OR a Bachelor's degree and superior academic achievement in any field can be applied as a substitution. Superior academic achievement is based on:
Graduated in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision; OR
Graduated with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher out of 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
Graduated with a 3.5 GPA or higher based on the average of all the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society that meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies (except for freshman honor societies).
GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or successful completion of two academic years of progressively higher graduate education, or LL.B. or J.D.
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.
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.
Combine Education and Experience: experience and education as described may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements.
GS-5: Experience and education as described above may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements. GS-7: Experience and graduate level education as described above may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements. GS-9: Experience and graduate level education beyond the first year may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirement. GS-11: Experience and graduate level education beyond the second year may be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirement.
Experience and education will be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal to 100 percent when combined.
Additional information
Duties of the positions include the following :
Contact Representative (Customer Service Representative) in Field Offices, GS-0962-5/6/7/8
Once selected for the Customer Service Representative (CSR) position in SSA, you will contribute to the Agency's mission through direct service to the public. As the first point of contact, you are responsible for assisting beneficiaries or inquirers in person, by telephone or in writing to provide information on SSA laws, rules and regulations and Medicare Insurance Programs. This includes obtaining information in order to determine eligibility and entitlement for programs administered by SSA, and using automation tools to access and update information about claims or potential eligibility.
Contact Representative (Customer Service Representative) in Teleservice Centers, GS-0962-5/6/7/8
Once selected for the Customer Service Representative position in SSA, you will be contribute to the Agency's mission through direct service to the public. This involves receiving incoming calls through SSA's National 800 number and conducting interviews to determine the nature of the call or provide information on SSA laws, rules, regulations and Medicare Insurance Program; obtaining information in order to determine eligibility for programs administered by SSA; and using automation tools to access and update information about claims or potential eligibility.
Social Insurance Specialist (Claims Specialist) in Field Offices, GS-0105-5/7/9/11
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 conducts 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.
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.
Locality Pay: Actual salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Please visit OPM's Salaries & Wages page for the locality area definitions and pay scales.
This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Decisions to grant reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
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.
Once we have received your required documentation and questionnaire, we will consider you for job placement under the Selective Placement Program. You will be evaluated based on your submitted documentation, as well as the following:
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. Panel interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible.
NOTE: Previous Meet and Deal results are not valid for this vacancy announcement; you will be required to complete the CAIP assessment.
NOTE: Interviews does not guarantee selection for these positions.
Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for the Interview: Applicants should state any accommodation needed for the interview process prior to the interview, e.g., when the interview is scheduled.
Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11376721
Your application will be retained in our active files for one (1) year from the date of receipt.
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.
Documentation of your Disability:
You must provide proof of disability; i.e., Schedule A Letter. This letter must be on official stationery/letterhead with an official signature. The letter should clearly state your full name and that you are a person with a disability or targeted disability and are eligible for appointment under Schedule A hiring authority as outlined in 5 CFR Section 213.3102(u). Such documentation must be from one of the below sources:
A licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional duly certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, to practice medicine)
A licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (State or private)
Any Federal agency, State agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
Resume:
You must submit a resume that provides:
Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
Job title
Detailed duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
Hours per week
Salary, if applicable
Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses
College Transcripts (if applicable):
Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume and Proof of Disability
The Occupational Questionnaire
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 02/02/2023. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Decisions to grant reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
To complete the Application Package, follow the steps below:
To begin the process, create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. We recommend you create a resume using USAJOBS' Resume Builder. Please refer to the Required Documents section for instructions on what to include in your resume.
Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you review the qualification requirements at the OPM link provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section for any occupation for which you feel you may qualify. You may wish to customize your USAJOBS resume to ensure that it supports your eligibility for that occupation.
Click on the "APPLY" button near the top of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the agency's website to complete the application process. If this is your first time applying, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to your account for future announcements.
Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly.
USAJOBS offers two options that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement. (1) You may select a document that you have already uploaded to USAJOBS for a previous announcement. (2) You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS.
Click the "Submit My Answers" button at the end of the process. To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account. Select the position, then the Application Information link.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL DOCUMENTS ARE RECEIVED ON TIME AND THAT THE MATERIALS ARE READABLE. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION BEING EXCLUDED FROM CONSIDERATION FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact CHR Dallas at DA.Recruitment@ssa.gov.
Individuals with disabilities may also contact us using the e-mail address above.
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
Region VI CHR
1301 Young St
Room 550
Dallas, TX 75202
US
Next steps
Your application will be placed into a pool of individuals with disabilities for evaluation and referral to selecting officials for non-competitive hiring.
You may be contacted by interested selecting officials and asked to interview.
We will not be able to provide status updates other than the receipt of your application via an acknowledgement email from USAStaffingOffice@opm.gov.
You may update your application at any time until the closing date.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Documentation of your Disability:
You must provide proof of disability; i.e., Schedule A Letter. This letter must be on official stationery/letterhead with an official signature. The letter should clearly state your full name and that you are a person with a disability or targeted disability and are eligible for appointment under Schedule A hiring authority as outlined in 5 CFR Section 213.3102(u). Such documentation must be from one of the below sources:
A licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional duly certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, to practice medicine)
A licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (State or private)
Any Federal agency, State agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
Resume:
You must submit a resume that provides:
Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
Job title
Detailed duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
Hours per week
Salary, if applicable
Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses
College Transcripts (if applicable):
Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume and Proof of Disability
The Occupational Questionnaire
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 02/02/2023. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Decisions to grant reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
To complete the Application Package, follow the steps below:
To begin the process, create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. We recommend you create a resume using USAJOBS' Resume Builder. Please refer to the Required Documents section for instructions on what to include in your resume.
Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you review the qualification requirements at the OPM link provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section for any occupation for which you feel you may qualify. You may wish to customize your USAJOBS resume to ensure that it supports your eligibility for that occupation.
Click on the "APPLY" button near the top of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the agency's website to complete the application process. If this is your first time applying, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to your account for future announcements.
Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly.
USAJOBS offers two options that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement. (1) You may select a document that you have already uploaded to USAJOBS for a previous announcement. (2) You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS.
Click the "Submit My Answers" button at the end of the process. To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account. Select the position, then the Application Information link.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL DOCUMENTS ARE RECEIVED ON TIME AND THAT THE MATERIALS ARE READABLE. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION BEING EXCLUDED FROM CONSIDERATION FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact CHR Dallas at DA.Recruitment@ssa.gov.
Individuals with disabilities may also contact us using the e-mail address above.
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
Region VI CHR
1301 Young St
Room 550
Dallas, TX 75202
US
Next steps
Your application will be placed into a pool of individuals with disabilities for evaluation and referral to selecting officials for non-competitive hiring.
You may be contacted by interested selecting officials and asked to interview.
We will not be able to provide status updates other than the receipt of your application via an acknowledgement email from USAStaffingOffice@opm.gov.
You may update your application at any time until the closing date.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
