APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM those eligible for Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) in the commuting area of the selected duty location.
SSA's Claims Technical Expert (CTE) is responsible for developing and adjudicating the most complex, non-routine Title II and/or Title XVI cases and on public fraud issues in specific claims and post-entitlement cases. The incumbent provides a lead role in technical training and mentoring other employees.
Applicants must have a fully successful rating of record.
Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.
Proof of ICTAP 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
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
Qualifications
Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-11 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. Examples of specialized experience include functioning as a lead worker or performing quality control functions in reviewing caseloads (e.g., income maintenance, benefits, pension plans, health insurance, etc.); adjudicating, authorizing, investigating or reconsidering claims; and evaluating benefit programs to assess the integrity and quality of operations.
The following time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement:
Applicant must have 52 weeks at the GS-11 or higher.
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. 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.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.
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) who have held a GS-12 or above, and in the commuting area of the selected duty locations.
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.
OTHER NOTES:
This position is temporary, not-to-exceed 1 year. May be extended; will not become permanent.
This is not a career ladder position; GS-12 is the full performance level.
This position is eligible for telework as determined by agency policy.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date of the initial selection.
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: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Refer to Salaries & Wages for locality pay tables.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
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.
The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are necessary to perform the duties of the position:
Knowledge of SSA programs, laws, rules, regulations, and programmatic systems.
Ability to analyze, research, and evaluate to draw accurate conclusions.
Ability to manage multiple priorities.
Ability to communicate orally.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to train, mentor, and coach others.
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/12982403
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.
Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.
You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.
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.
In accordance withOPM's new resume guidance, USAJOBS will not accept resumes longer than 2 pages. You may upload additional documents by selecting the "other documents" option in USAJOBS. Once your application transfers to the agency application system, assign your uploaded documents to the appropriate document types-each required document type must have at least one supporting document assigned. If the document you need is not reflecting in the available documents, you may upload it directly into the agency application system.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume
Proof of ICTAP eligibility
The Occupational Questionnaire
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (ET) on 06/19/2026.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
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 Careers@ssa.gov.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
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.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
Central Processing
6401 Security Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21235-0001
US
Next steps
Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.
You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.
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.
In accordance withOPM's new resume guidance, USAJOBS will not accept resumes longer than 2 pages. You may upload additional documents by selecting the "other documents" option in USAJOBS. Once your application transfers to the agency application system, assign your uploaded documents to the appropriate document types-each required document type must have at least one supporting document assigned. If the document you need is not reflecting in the available documents, you may upload it directly into the agency application system.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume
Proof of ICTAP eligibility
The Occupational Questionnaire
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (ET) on 06/19/2026.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
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 Careers@ssa.gov.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
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.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
Central Processing
6401 Security Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21235-0001
US
Next steps
Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
