Claims Specialist

Summary

Location:

Saginaw, MI, Field Office, 611

E. Genesee Ave. Saginaw, MI 48607.
Tour of duty:
Flextime | Full-time | Alternate work schedules may be available.
Type of position:
Permanent.

Claims Specialists 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. They resolve discrepancies, clarify issues, and make final decisions for initial and post‑entitlement benefits and payments; adjudicate and authorize entitlement or disallowance actions at all levels of difficulty and complexity under programs administered by SSA.

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS‑9 level or equivalent in or related to the work of the position, providing the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties. Examples include developing, examining, investigating, or authorizing claims under a program for SSA benefits, health insurance, pension plan, income maintenance, or related programs. Applicants must meet a time‑in‑grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS‑9 or higher by the closing date.

Selective Placement Factor:
Competency Assessment Interview Process (CAIP). Applicants must participate in a panel interview after basic eligibility determination. Successful completion of the interview is required for qualification. The interview covers typical situations encountered on the job, in person or over the telephone. Applicants should demonstrate clear speech, listening skills, confidence‑building, and organization of thoughts. Failure to pass the CAIP disqualifies the applicant.

Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing if feasible.

Proof of education:
If qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, submit transcripts with required details. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic transcripts are accepted at the time of application. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, official college transcripts may be required before the effective date of personnel action.

GS‑11 requirement:
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, or LL.M. Combining education and experience:
Experience and graduate‑level education beyond the second year may be combined to meet the minimum qualification. One year of full‑time graduate education equals 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. Experience and education are computed as percentages of the overall requirements; together they must equal 100 %.

In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicants must be eligible under the following category:
Displaced or surplus Federal employees eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) who have held a GS‑11 or above and work in the commuting area of the duty location. ICTAP applicants must be well qualified—knowledge, skills, and abilities that exceed the minimum requirements—and receive a rating of 80 or higher to be eligible for selection. This is not a career‑ladder position;

GS‑11 is the full performance level. 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 registration with the Selective Service System or have an exemption.

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of the announcement.

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Once selected as a Claims Specialist, you will contribute to the Agency's mission through direct and personal service to the public. This includes speaking with beneficiaries about their rights under Social Security laws, gathering facts and evidence to establish eligibility for benefits, making critical decisions to determine the amount of benefits paid, and using state‑of‑the‑art computer technology to access and update information about claims.