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Social Insurance Specialist (Disability Processing Specialist) Direct Hire

Social Security Administration
Risk & Quality/Disability Case Review

Summary

Positions under this announcement are being filled using a Direct Hire Authority (DHA), open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given new appointments to the civil service. Under the provisions of the DHA, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Many" do not apply.

This position is not a hybrid telework position. This position is in office five days per week.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$76,463 - $99,404 per year

Base Salary Only - Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions

Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Flex-Time / Alternate Work Schedules (AWS) may be authorized
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
SSA-13023945-26-RQ DHA
Control number
878846800

Duties

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  • This announcement serves as public notice. Applications submitted will be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available.
  • Vacancies may be filled for up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement. Applicants may not receive notifications of referral status until the full 6-month eligibility period has elapsed.
  • Serves as an authoritative specialist and expert in the adjudication of disability cases under Title II and Title XVI programs.
  • Makes determinations on disability claims – including initial claims, reconsiderations, and medical continuing disability reviews (CDRs) – in accordance with SSA program rules.
  • Provides appropriate support and compelling rationale for conclusions, including preparing assessments of physical and psychological residual functional capacity and medical improvement in CDRs.
  • Obtains and analyzes medical and other evidence in case records, collaborates with medical consultants, and reviews information from beneficiaries, claimants, third parties, and authorized representatives.
  • Effectively organizes and prioritizes multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment, ensuring timely and accurate completion despite shifting deadlines.
  • Prepares correspondence, including notices of determinations affecting claimants’ rights and benefits, and provides responses to inquiries regarding claims information or rationale for determinations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
  • Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
  • Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
  • Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. If you are using experience to qualify, you must have:

To qualify for this GS 12 Disability Processing Specialist position, you must demonstrate the following: at least 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. Such experience should primarily include:
1) making medical determinations of disability at the initial, reconsideration, and/or continuing disability review level; and
2) reviewing, developing, examining, investigating, and/or adjudicating and authorizing complex claims for medical disability programs.


Reviewers cannot assume you perform duties you don't describe.

Education

For GS-12: Substitution is not applicable for the grade level.

Additional information

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 the American Federation of Government Employees.

This position is not authorized to be filled virtually or through outstationing. One or more vacancies may be filled at any of the listed Official Duty Stations (ODS).

Relocation expenses will not be paid; salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions.

This position is on a full-time, flex-time schedule; Alternate Work Schedules (AWS) may be authorized.

This position is not a hybrid telework position. This position is in office five days per week. In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum - Return to In-Person Work - The White House, the Social Security Administration currently has a policy of no scheduled telework. However, episodic telework may be permitted on an occasional, irregular basis for special situations, subject to supervisory approval.

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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

If your resume doesn't clearly describe the duties you perform that demonstrate the required Specialized Experience, you will lose consideration 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/13023945

Social Security Administration

Do you have a desire to:

  • help SSA manage its Social Security programs?
  • analyze and solve problems?
  • help and advise millions of retired and disabled individuals?
  • work on a team to make a difference in people's lives and your own?
Join SSA, one of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government!
Once selected for the Social Insurance Specialist (Disability) position in SSA, you will review selected Title II and Title XVI disability claims and continuing disability cases, including reconsideration of previous denials or cessation by the state agencies to evaluate regionwide application of disability policies and procedures.

Performs a comprehensive and intensive review of the disability aspects of selected title II and title XVI claims and continuing disability reviews, including initial actions and reconsideration of previous denials or cessation by the state agencies to evaluate regionwide application of disability policies and procedures. Modifies, reverses, or reaffirms state agency determinations in accordance with the provisions of Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. Approves disability claims for payment and continuance of benefits; reviews payment and eligibility quality review program sample cases; prepares reports on serious deficiencies and trends in the quality of state agency operations; identifies significant operational problems, training needs; reviews new instructions and policies; conducts training for new examiners, etc.

Agency contact information

Careers at SSA
Email
Careers@ssa.gov
Address
Risk and Quality
6401 Security Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21207
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Social Security Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.ssa.gov/careers

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