Benefits & Records Technician (Central Processing) Direct Hire Authority

Summary Positions under this announcement are being filled using a Direct Hire Authority (DHA)(SSA-001), 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 Three" do not apply. NOTE: Telework may be available in accordance with agency policy. This IS NOT a virtual position. Learn more about this agency Duties Benefits & Records Technicians perform a variety of activities involving analyzing, investigating, identifying, coding, reconciling, updating and adjusting earnings data reported by employers, and benefit data reported by recipients and representative payees. Examples of such activities include: -Review and categorize incoming correspondence; -Examine incoming documents and forms to determine acceptability for further processing; -Identify and resolve discrepancies for a wide variety of completed forms and reports; -Initiate and receive direct contact calls from various government agencies, beneficiaries, their representatives, wage earners, and the general public; -Initiate and receive direct contact calls and/or correspondence to report on progress, resolve problems, clarify, exchange, obtain or provide information, and advance a better understanding of SSA programs; -Access computer systems, personal computer, and other related computer equipment for various records and reports; -Enter, correct, and update data in automated systems for management information reporting purposes; -Distribute completed work in accordance with specific workload procedures to the appropriate SSA components and other government agencies; -Follow applicable procedures governing the release of confidential information; -Prepare complex and detailed written reports needed by other government agencies and subsequent operations to accompany the source document for further processing; -Apply individual judgment to identify, evaluate and resolve nonstandard requests or replies utilizing different and often unrelated steps, processes and/or methods. Requirements 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 are 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. Selectees will be required to attend and successfully complete, formal technical training onsite at the designated SSA facility. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Qualifications If you are using experience to qualify, you must have: GS-5: 52 weeks of full-time experience that demonstrates experience applying rules, policies, or procedures to provide customer assistance, answering or asking customer questions to obtain or provide information, and using a computer to enter data. GS-6: 52 weeks of full-time specialized experience performing all or most of the following tasks: 1) Operating a personal computer and utilizing software such as entering and retrieving data, editing, making record changes, verifying information; 2) Applying rules, regulations and written guidelines to work assignments, such as reviewing, verifying, evaluating applications, claims, documents, forms, etc., to determine acceptability for processing; 3) Maintain workload data and monitors workloads to ensure timeframes are met; 4) Communicating orally with the public to provide or obtain information; 5) Writing correspondence/reports such as responding to inquiries or requests for information. Note: Part-time work is prorated in crediting experience (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12-month period), you will be credited with 6 months of experience. Education Substituting Education For information on substituting education for experience, visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/group-stds/gs-cler.asp 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. 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. GS-6: Substitution of education for experience is not applicable at this grade level. Additional information This position is located in the Wilkes Barre Direct Operations Center (WBDOC), 1150 East Mountain Blvd, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.This is a Day Shift Position, 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., Monday - Friday (40 hours) This is a career-ladder position offering the opportunity for annual promotion based on performance leading up to the GS-6 grade level. Normally candidates are hired at step one unless they have prior federal experience with no break in service. This is a bargaining unit position represented by the American Federation of Government Employees. 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. For an overview of SSA Benefits, please visit the following YouTube link - https://youtu.be/uBNlGR3lutk 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. Expand Hide  additional information 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. 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.