Summary

LOCATION : This position is located in the Havre Resident Station located at 123 5th Ave, Havre, Montana, 59501.

TOUR OF DUTY : Flextime | Full-time | Alternate work schedules may be available.

TYPE OF POSITION : Permanent.

This job is open to

Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Current permanent SSA employees nationwide.

Duties

The position description number for this position is 5E2370/A . 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

This is a developmental position leading to the full performance level of GS-11 . Closer supervision and technical guidance and/or on-the-job training are provided. Duties are gradually broadened so the incumbent is eventually performing all of the duties of the full performance level, position description number 5E2370 .

At the full performance level, the incumbent will 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; 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.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

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.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade 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.

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.

Applicants must also meet the following Selective Placement Factor(s) to qualify for this position:

Meet and deal ability is required.

Candidates who are in/have held positions requiring meet-and-deal certification do NOT have to submit documentation when applying for this position. Click here to view a list of positions that meet this requirement.
By the closing date of the announcement, candidates who have not occupied SSA positions for which meet-and-deal ability is required as a selective placement factor MUST upload a completed Certification of Meet and Deal Ability form. If you do not submit the form by the closing date of the announcement, you will be disqualified for the position. If you do not already have this documentation, contact your supervisor or manager.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

GS-9: Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at the GS-7 or higher.

GS-11: Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at the GS-9 or higher.

Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

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.

Combining Education and Experience:

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.

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.

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. Experience and education will be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal to 100 percent when combined.

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.

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.

NOTE : Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Presidential Management Fellows, Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for 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.

OTHER NOTES:

This position is a career ladder leading to GS-11.

TRAINING: Candidates selected for this position will be required to attend a training class that lasts approximately 12 to 14 weeks. This training may be held outside of the selectee's normal commuting area.

Relocation expenses may be authorized.

Benefits
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.
Review our 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:

Knowledge of SSA mission, principles, objectives, policies, procedures, and entitlement programs.
Ability to research, interpret and apply standards, directives, policies and legislation.
Ability to communicate orally.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Skill in using online technology and automation tools.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and balance workloads.

Applicants will be assessed using the rating criteria listed in the following link:

Benefits
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.
Review our 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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
The following section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted.
SSA-45
Your 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 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.
PROOF OF EDUCATION
If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, transcripts are required. Submit an electronic copy of your transcripts with title of course, number of credits, grade, and date of completion. All academic degrees and coursework must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 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.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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.
How to Apply
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:
1. SSA-45
2. 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.
3. Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).
The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on 06/06/2024. 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 Alicia Sewell at alicia.sewell@ssa.gov or (312) 575-4675.
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:
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: 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.
Agency contact information
Alicia Sewell
Phone
(312) 575-4675
Email
alicia.sewell@ssa.gov
Address
Region VIII Area 1
1961 Stout Street
Denver, CO 80294
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. 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.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Criminal history inquiries
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request

Required Documents

The following section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted.

SSA-45

Your 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 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.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, transcripts are required. Submit an electronic copy of your transcripts with title of course, number of credits, grade, and date of completion. All academic degrees and coursework must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

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:

SSA-45
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 06/06/2024. 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 Alicia Sewell at alicia.sewell@ssa.gov or (312) 575-4675.

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:

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: 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.

Agency contact information

Alicia Sewell

Phone

(312) 575-4675

Email

alicia.sewell@ssa.gov

Address

Region VIII Area 1

1961 Stout Street

Denver, CO 80294

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. 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 & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Reasonable accommodation policy
Criminal history inquiries
Financial suitability
Selective Service
New employee probationary period
Signature and false statements
Privacy Act
Social security number request