Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer)

Summary

As a Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer) you will adjudicate and authorize veterans' compensation and pension claims and serve as the primary contact for the veteran and his/her representative or advocate.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/10/2024 to 04/30/2024

• Salary

$62,107 - $80,737 per year

The salary range listed reflects the GS base rate (not including locality). Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted.

• Pay scale & grade

GS 11

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Locations

34 vacancies in the following locations:

• Indianapolis, IN

• Manchester, NH

• Cleveland, OH

• Milwaukee, WI

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0996 Veterans Claims Examining

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

326-24-KP-123801914-BU

• Control number

785892700

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

• Individuals with disabilities

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is ONLY open to current Indianapolis, IN, Cleveland, OH, Milwaukee, WI, or Manchester, NH VBA Regional Office employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs or current VA employees on excepted appointments, Status Candidates ( People with Disabilities (Schedule A); 30% or More Disabled Veterans); and current/former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) CTAP eligible employees.

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Duties

• Serves as an Authorizer reviewing all required work of other Veterans Service Representatives when a second signature is required. Reviews and approves work for technical accuracy, clarity, thoughtfulness, and sensitivity of notification. Ensures that notices of decisions are prepared with an empathetic tone and are complete and phrased in terms that the claimant can understand. The VSR (Authorizer) must be familiar with rating procedures to ensure proper notification to the claimant.

• Makes administrative decisions and special determinations relating to qualifying military service, character of discharge, domestic relations contested claims, homicide, presumed death, line of duty, or willful misconduct, corpus of estate, and violations of U.S. Penal Code, related attorneys fees, administrative error, and fraud. Authorizes administrative decisions made by other Veterans Service Representatives including character of discharge, line of duty, or willful misconduct, corpus of estate, and apportionment decisions.

• Explains a final decision if a veteran expresses an indication of dissatisfaction with a determination (filed in person, by telephone, or by mail). The VSR (Authorizer) will explain the decision in question in an effort to gain acceptance of the determination, and also explain he post-decision review process.

• Uses electronic data processing (EDP) systems for inputting data related to claims adjudication, processing, monitoring, and correspondence preparation.

• Acts as an advocate for veterans and their beneficiaries in their dealings with other VA elements and organizations that affect their claims.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.

• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation.

• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• A probationary period may be required for employees and supervisors.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• You will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.

• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

• Remote: This is not a remote position.

• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: To qualify for the Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer), GS-0996-11 position, you must have at least one 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-10) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves: Experience in the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, death pension benefits, life insurance benefits, etc.

Or

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or have completed 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Note: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

Or

Applicants may substitute a combination of graduate education and specialized experience to qualify for the GS-11 position: A combination of less than the full year of specialized experience described above and less than the full amount of education described above, however, combined the experience and education equal 100% of the required qualification. (You must submit an official or unofficial copy of graduate level transcripts that demonstrates this information).

Time-in-grade: Applicants who are/were federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 level. To support your claim of time in grade, you must submit your most recent appointment, promotion, or within grade increase SF-50 (not an award or general adjustment SF-50). Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 to demonstrate their eligibility. See the required documents section for more information.

Note: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for federal employment. You can verify your education here. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

Work Schedule: Regular office hours; Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. Alternate work schedules may be available.

Title/PD#: Veterans Service Representative (Authorizer) GS - 11; PD# 02105A

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Please contact the special placement coordinator or the human resources specialist listed on this vacancy for more information regarding applying for consideration under schedule A or as a 30% disabled Veteran.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): Provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. A well-qualified candidate is defined as meeting all of the minimum qualification standards and eligibility requirements as well as possessing skills that clearly exceed the minimum qualifications requirements for this position. Information about CTAP eligibility can be found here.

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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• Benefits

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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 window

Learn 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.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Applicants who do not fully address the specialized experience needed for the position (as described above in the job announcement) in their resume or who do not possess the education to substitute for it will not be referred for consideration.

After you have met the minimum qualifications, you will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

• Reasoning: Identifies regulation, laws, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data or other information pertaining to claims processing; analyzes information presented for claims and makes correct inferences and conclusions regarding eligibility for multiple types of benefits.

• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed and objective decisions concerning the claims review process; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action even in uncertain situations in order to assist customers and meet organizational goals..

• Written Communication: Prepares written communication to customers and co-workers via email, letters reports, etc. Using correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner; provides information that is appropriate for the purpose and the intended audience.

• Oral Communication: Expresses information (facts, decisions, ideas) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); listens to others; asks questions and gains or shares information related to the claims review process.

• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, ad automated systems to accomplish work. This includes tasks such as entering, sorting and retrieving data; analyzing data; researching information; monitoring work; and preparing correspondence and reports.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job-related information, which may include, but is not limited to responses to the knowledge, skills, and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.

Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Notice to Applicants: It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.