The position description number for this position is 38P970. A summary of the major duties are listed below. You may also view the full position description on the Agency intranet at the following link: PD Search
As the Mail Clerk (Intake and Scanning Clerk), you will contribute to the Agency's mission. This involves receiving, evaluating, and categorizing all mail and correspondences sent to the Central Processing. This includes using complex equipment and sophisticated computer software to process this material promptly and accurately, as prescribed in national and local policies and procedures.
All application materials must be received by the closing date.
Applicants must be in good standing.
Applicants must have a fully successful rating of record.
Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.
You must indicate on the SSA45 if you are in/or have held a temp promotion/detail.
You must meet ALL qualifications by the closing date.
Qualifications
Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered. Visit the 'Required Documents' section below for more information.
Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-4 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 includes:
processing incoming and outgoing mail in an office environment
sorting mail and routing it to the appropriate area for processing
interpreting and applying policies and procedures
operating office equipment, such as scanners, mail meters, and personal computers
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Applicants must have 52 weeks at the GS-4 or higher.
Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
If you are qualifying for this position based on completed education at an accredited U.S. college, university, or other educational institution, you must provide a copy of your transcripts or other proof of education prior to being appointed.
NOTE: Education completed in a foreign institution must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs. It is the applicant's responsibility to acquire U.S. Certification and provide it at the time of application. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services, log on to: Credential Evaluation Services.
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.).
COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Experience and education as described above 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.
Note: Experience and education will be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal to 100 percent when combined.
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.
Additional information
Position to be filled under the provisions of the SSA/AFGE Merit Promotion Plan. Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date of the initial selection.
NOTE: Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for consideration.
Applications for noncompetitive consideration will be accepted from SSA employees in the area of consideration who are currently serving under the following types of appointments: Schedule A, Reg. 213.3102 (U) appointments for individuals with disabilities; Veterans Recruitment Appointments; and time limited appointments for veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Applicants serving under these provisions do not need to submit copies of your disability or Veteran's documentation.However, you must submit a current SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired. Otherwise, you will not receive non-competitive consideration.
LOCALITY PAY: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Candidates currently receiving a higher locality pay than the office applied for are advised that should they be selected, they will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay. Refer to Salaries & Wages for locality pay tables.
This is a bargaining unit position, represented by AFGE.
This is not a career ladder position; GS-5 is the full performance level.
This position is not eligible for telework.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
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 following knowledge, skills, and abilities are necessary to perform the duties of the position:
Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures.
Knowledge of mail processes.
Ability to analyze, classify, and distribute work.
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.
In accordance with OPM's new resume guidance, USAJOBS will not accept resumes longer than 2 pages. You may upload additional documents, such as the SSA-45, 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 (e.g., we recommend assigning your SSA-45 as "SSA-45"). If the document you need is not reflecting in the available documents, you may upload it directly into the agency application system (ex., uploading the SSA-45).
The following section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted.
Resume/SSA-45
Your Resume/SSA-45 must provide all of the information necessary to make qualifications determinations (e.g., all experience related to your qualifications for this position, full performance level of your current position, the dates at each grade level of your current or prior career-ladder position(s), etc.). These documents will be referred to the selecting official if you are eligible for the best qualified list. Employees' Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Your Resume/SSA-45 must specifically demonstrate, in your own words, the possession of the required experience related to the minimum qualifications, selective placement factors and/or evaluation criteria. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria, KSAs and/or position description will not be considered. If this occurs, you may lose consideration for one or more grade levels or found ineligible.
Applicants for Non-Competitive Consideration Only - SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired (See "Additional Information" section regarding Noncompetitive Consideration)
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.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).
The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on 11/25/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.
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 Thanh Huynh at Thanh.T.Huynh@ssa.gov.
Individuals with disabilities may call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.
APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK
SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link: https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol/. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g. your personal computer, etc.).
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. 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
After all of the applications have been evaluated, you will receive notification via email explaining the status of your application. If you applied incorrectly or submitted an incomplete application, we will be unable to send you an electronic receipt of your application. Please read the How to Apply instructions carefully to ensure that you submit a complete application.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this 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. 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.
In accordance with OPM's new resume guidance, USAJOBS will not accept resumes longer than 2 pages. You may upload additional documents, such as the SSA-45, 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 (e.g., we recommend assigning your SSA-45 as "SSA-45"). If the document you need is not reflecting in the available documents, you may upload it directly into the agency application system (ex., uploading the SSA-45).
The following section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted.
Resume/SSA-45
Your Resume/SSA-45 must provide all of the information necessary to make qualifications determinations (e.g., all experience related to your qualifications for this position, full performance level of your current position, the dates at each grade level of your current or prior career-ladder position(s), etc.). These documents will be referred to the selecting official if you are eligible for the best qualified list. Employees' Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Your Resume/SSA-45 must specifically demonstrate, in your own words, the possession of the required experience related to the minimum qualifications, selective placement factors and/or evaluation criteria. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria, KSAs and/or position description will not be considered. If this occurs, you may lose consideration for one or more grade levels or found ineligible.
Applicants for Non-Competitive Consideration Only - SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired (See "Additional Information" section regarding Noncompetitive Consideration)
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.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).
The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on 11/25/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.
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 Thanh Huynh at Thanh.T.Huynh@ssa.gov.
Individuals with disabilities may call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.
APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK
SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link: https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol/. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g. your personal computer, etc.).
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. 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
After all of the applications have been evaluated, you will receive notification via email explaining the status of your application. If you applied incorrectly or submitted an incomplete application, we will be unable to send you an electronic receipt of your application. Please read the How to Apply instructions carefully to ensure that you submit a complete application.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this 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. 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.
